Soul Home: Building an Energy Efficient Home

Join Simone Mathews from Soul Home, and Ben Mathews from BAM Constructions as they discuss how they planned and executed the build of their family home with energy efficiency front of mind. There are many ways to achieve energy efficiency, as Simone and Ben explain.

Building an Energy-Efficient Home: Insights from Simone and Ben’s 7-Star Journey

As Australia transitions to more stringent energy standards in 2024, with a move from 6-star to 7-star requirements for residential homes, the journey towards building an energy-efficient home has never been more crucial. With the right planning, design choices, and product selection, you can create a home that not only meets these standards but also offers year-round comfort and reduced energy costs. Here’s how builder and interior design duo, Simone from SOUL Home and Ben from BAM Constructions, navigated their journey to achieve a 7-star energy rating, with a special focus on windows and doors.

Key Considerations for Building an Energy-Efficient Home

1. Home Orientation

• The direction your home faces plays a critical role in its energy efficiency. By maximizing natural light and minimizing heat gain, you can reduce the need for artificial heating and cooling.

2. Design Choices

• From the colour of your roof to the layout of your rooms, design decisions significantly impact energy efficiency. Dark roofs and cladding, while aesthetically pleasing, absorb more heat, requiring a balance with other energy-saving measures.

3. Product Selection

• The materials and products you choose - such as windows and doors, insulation, and solar systems - are crucial in achieving a high energy rating. Selecting energy-efficient products can make a substantial difference in your home's performance.

Simone and Ben’s Journey to a 7-Star Rating

When Simone and Ben decided to build their new home, achieving a 7-star energy rating was a top priority. They understood that many homes in Australia were built before energy standards were introduced, leading to wasted energy and higher electricity bills. Determined to avoid these pitfalls, they meticulously planned every aspect of their home.

Design and Material Choices

"During the planning stage, we considered everything from the home's orientation to the facade's colour and the products we selected, like insulation. These factors are crucial for creating an energy-efficient home before construction even begins, " says Simone.

"As a builder, I focused on materials and products to balance Simone’s design aesthetics with energy performance. Key measures included a solar system, concrete floor panels between levels, high-quality insulation in walls and ceilings, and, importantly, windows and doors," adds Ben.

Windows and Doors: The Stegbar Difference Windows and doors are vital in enhancing a home's energy efficiency. For Simone and Ben, working with Stegbar was a game-changer. Ben elaborates by saying, "We’ve worked with Stegbar for over 20 years and appreciate their ability to customise window and door selections to enhance our home's performance."

For the doors in the main living room, lower living room and one of the bedrooms, Simone and Ben opted for Stegbar’s timber doors, which offer both the design style they were after, as well as energy efficiency. Timber frames are naturally excellent insulators, and they upgraded to Comfort Low E glass to further improve their home's performance.

But the real standout was Stegbar’s new Envira Collection, designed specifically for energy efficiency.

Simone explains, "Stegbar introduced us to their new Envira Collection, which excels in energy efficiency and style. We opted for the EnviraLuxe for its high-end architectural design, which fits perfectly with our classic Bahamas style. We strategically used these windows on the northern side of our house, where we face the most heat and sun in summer, covering the boys' bedrooms, kitchen, pantry, ensuite, and walk-in robe."

The EnviraSlim range, another part of the Envira Collection, offers a minimalist aesthetic while maximizing energy performance, suitable for various home styles and materials.

From a builder’s perspective, Ben says, "The great thing about the Envira range is that the products are installed just like any other Stegbar windows and integrate with the other Stegbar products, like the Alumiere range we used throughout the rest of our home."

The Broader Impact of Energy Efficiency

Building an energy-efficient home is not just about meeting regulations; it’s about creating a space that’s comfortable year-round and cost-effective to run. Homes are the largest users of energy, responsible for around 24% of overall electricity use and more than 10% of total carbon emissions in Australia. By making energy-efficient choices, you’re not only reducing your carbon footprint but also contributing to a more sustainable future.

"Our choice of windows and doors has significantly impacted our home's energy efficiency. Living here, we’ve seen firsthand how little we need to heat or cool our space, which will save us a lot on electricity bills as a family of six," Simone says.

Start Your Energy-Efficient Journey with Stegbar

Whether you’re building a new home or renovating an existing one, there are measures you can take to improve energy efficiency. From upgrading insulation to choosing the right windows and doors, these changes will reduce your energy bills, enhance comfort, and help reduce carbon emissions.

Simone and Ben’s journey shows that with careful planning and expert advice, your home can be designed to suit your lifestyle exactly, delivering comfort and energy efficiency over the long term.

Ready to elevate your home’s energy efficiency and style? Visit your local Stegbar showroom, get in contact or call 1800 681 168 to find the perfect solutions for your next project.