Geelong home’s 10-star retrofit reveals cheap fixes that slash bills

This three-bedroom house at 233 Hope St, Geelong West, achieved a 10-star energy rating before being listed for sale with a $679,000-$719,000 price guide. A Geelong West home retrofitted to achieve a 10-star energy rating proves upgrading thermal efficiency doesn’t have to break the bank. A series of smaller investments delivered some of the best bang for buck during vendor Wendy Timms’ mission to cut energy use and bills at 233 Hope St. Instead of forking out thousands of dollars on replacing single pane windows at her 1995 residence with double glazing, she retrofitted Magnetite to create an airtight seal that can improve thermal efficiency by up to 70 per cent. RELATED: How to cut hundreds from your power bill in winter The $74k loan saving a 10-minute check just uncovered How much to Australians value energy-efficient homes? This was coupled with airlock blinds and old-fashioned curtains and pelmets to stop heat escaping during winter, along with bigger ticket items such as switching heating, cooking and hot water appliances from gas to electric and installing a 6kw solar system. The changes, made over a five-year period, boosted her home’s star rating from 6 to 10 stars, slash...