Location: Wonthaggi, VIC

Home Type: 1950s miner’s cottage with fibro cladding

Jessica has called her 1950’s miner’s cottage home for 23 years and has spent years steadily improving the comfort and efficiency.

With a background as an electrician and a long-standing interest in energy saving and electrical innovation, Jessica has taken a practical, hands-on approach to making her home warmer in winter, cooler in summer, and cheaper to run year-round.

Rather than tackling everything at once, she has made improvements as opportunities arose, often making use of rebates and working with others in the community through group bulk buys.

Starting with Understanding the Home

Through the Cosy Homes program, she completed a practice home energy assessment on her own house. The process helped to highlight opportunities to improve comfort and efficiency.

Small Changes, Big Comfort Gains

Many of Jessica's improvements have been simple, low-cost measures that reduce heat loss and improve comfort.

To keep cold winter air out, the front and back doors have been sealed using timber battens fitted with rubber seals.

Window Coverings

Jessica uses thick curtains that extend all the way to the floor to help keep warmth inside. In place of traditional pelmets, rolled-up towels are positioned above curtains to reduce draughts and stop cold air circulating behind them.

She notes that pool noodles can provide a similar solution for households looking for low-cost options.

Heating Smarter

Heating is focused on the rooms that are being used rather than the entire house.

Jessica has a wood heater and a rarely used split system. Internal doors are closed off to contain warmth, and wool blankets are hung over doorways to further help reduce air flow between rooms.

The result is a home that feels comfortable without needing to heat every space.

Heat Pump Hot Water

Around three years ago, she installed an Earthworker heat pump hot water system and included a valve cosy to help prevent heat escaping.

Jessica organised a bulk-buy arrangement with four other households, allowing the homes to make the switch together.

Rooftop Solar

About 15 years ago, Jessica installed a 1.1kW rooftop solar system, also through a community bulk buy initiative.

Although modest by today's standards, the system continues to reduce electricity costs and supports her efforts to use renewable energy whenever possible.

To maximise the benefits of her solar generation, she times high-energy activities such as washing clothes during the middle of the day when solar production is highest.

Looking Beyond Technology

Jessica's approach to sustainability extends beyond household appliances and energy systems.

Coming into winter, she prunes the bush outside a north-facing window to allow more sunlight and warmth into the home. During summer, outdoor blinds help to shade windows and reduce heat gain.

When temperatures rise, she prefers using fans instead of air conditioning as this also helps to reduce energy use.

Jessica also owns an electric bike that is used to travel into town. Purchased around five or six years ago, the bike has become a practical alternative to driving short distances. Jessica has even replaced the battery herself and used the local Repair Café for other small repairs.

Living More Lightly

Jessica maintains a productive vegetable garden of her own and established the Wonthaggi Community Harvest Garden many years ago. During summer especially, growing food locally reduces the cost of groceries and food miles while providing fresh, organic produce.

She acknowledges that gardening requires time and effort, but says the rewards are well worth it.

The Wonthaggi Community Harvest Garden also hosts a food swap at 9am every second Sunday of the month, where community members can share excess fruit, vegetables, seeds and seedlings. No bookings are required and you can email wonthaggicommunityharvest@proton.me with questions.

Future Plans

Jessica's energy efficiency journey is ongoing. Looking ahead, she is considering:

• Installing underfloor insulation to reduce the impact of cold winter winds.
• Replacing ageing ceiling insulation with new insulation batts.
• Removing old halogen downlights to reduce energy use and heat loss through holes in the ceiling.

Tips for Others Starting Out

Jessica's advice is to do lots of research, talk to your friends and family, and ask lots of questions.

She recommends drawing on a wide range of information sources and connecting with community groups and knowledgeable friends.

Jessica recommends finding trusted local tradespeople to do the work improving your home, if you can't do it yourself.

Her experience demonstrates that improving home comfort and energy efficiency doesn't have to happen all at once. Every small improvements add up, and working alongside others through community networks can make the journey easier and more affordable.

Why This Matters

For Jessica, the benefits have been clear: improved comfort, greater liveability and lower energy costs.

Her story shows that even older houses can be transformed over time through thoughtful upgrades, practical DIY solutions and a willingness to learn and share knowledge with others.