Powerhaus Engineering | Energy efficiency consultants

Most people only ever see their NatHERS star rating — a single number that doesn’t explain why their home overheats, why the bills are high, or what to do about it. That’s why we created the Powerhaus App. It’s a simple dashboard that brings all the moving parts of energy efficiency together in one place. You can play with insulation, windows, solar, even airtightness — and instantly see what it means for your comfort, energy use and bills. We wanted to take the overwhelm out of energy efficiency, and give people clear answers backed by data — not just guesswork. Because at the end of the day, a home is more than a star rating. It’s where you should feel comfortable, resilient, and future-ready. 👉 You can check it out at powerhaus.app Questions? Reach out to our team.

Bluey’s house: the results are in! Thanks for all your guesses — you weren’t wrong! We didn’t share our modelling assumptions upfront, so depending on what you imagined, many of you were right in your own way 😄. Here’s what we modelled: 🔹 No insulation at all: 1.2 stars 🔹 Add just R1 to the ceiling: 2.4 stars 🔹 Add R2.5 walls, R2.5 underfloor, and R5 ceiling (still with single glazing): 6.6 stars Wait — almost 7 stars with single glazing? Yep. That’s what happens when you’ve got: ✅ A mild climate ✅ A compact, simple shape ✅ Shading on most windows ✅ Low overall window-to-wall ratio But here’s what’s more interesting than just stars: 👉 This house can reach Monthly Net Zero surprisingly easily. Its small footprint and low energy demand make decarbonising achievable — especially for Queenslanders thinking about electrification + solar. One last curiosity? Despite being subtropical, the house still needs almost as much heating as cooling. Balancing seasons still matters — even in Brisbane. We’ll be talking more about this case study and how to design smarter (new or old homes!) tomorrow at the @b_d_a_a_ National Festival of Design this weekend. #bluey #nathers #powerhaus #smarterearlier #brisbanearchitecture #queenslandhomes #sustainablehomes #monthlynetzero #buildingdesign #nfd25 #bdaa

Save $80,000 and build an even more energy-efficient home? Last week on the @undercoverarchitect podcast, we discussed how using data can help you avoid wasting money on energy efficiency measures that don't have a big bang for the buck. We discussed a project we worked on with the amazing team @architecturerepublic , where we found that switching the north-facing windows from triple-glazed to double-glazed actually made the house more energy efficient overall. As the house is in a cold climate with lots of heating demand, double glazing allowed a lot more sun into the building during the crucial winter months - with minimal summer impact. Yes, triple-glazed windows are very insulative, but you need to balance that with the needs of your design and climate. Having access to data to compare big picture changes to window choice is why we built the Powerhaus app! . . . #windows #sustainablehomes #sustainablehome #energyefficientdesign #energyefficientbuilding

We are pleased to be participating in Sustainable House Day 2026. Our Secret Garden House will be open for a tour or two in May. Further information and a video tour of the house can be found on the Sustainable House Day event page: sustainablehouseday.com/homes/secret-garden-house The event is hosted by Renew, a not-for-profit organisation that inspires, enables and advocates for people to live sustainably in their homes and communities. We will be available on the day to chat about this residential project, specifically how we prioritised energy performance, flexible living arrangements and recycled materials. #sonderarchitects #sustainablehouseday2026 #renewmagazine #sustainableliving #australianarchitecture

Step inside the Secret Garden House and the palette shifts from earthy brick to a world alive with colour. Every room is wrapped in deep, expressive hues, a reflection of the owner’s love of quilt making and the stories woven through handmade craft. There are no white surfaces here. Colour becomes the architecture: shaping mood, defining space, and creating a warm, immersive backdrop for daily life. A dedicated quilt making studio anchors the home, its creative energy flowing into every corner. Where the red brick exterior nods to Canberra cottage heritage, the interior celebrates identity — vibrant, personal and unapologetically joyful. A home stitched together with colour, memory and personality. #sonderarchitects #pichelmanncbs #meld.landscape.design.studio #sellickconsultants #powerhausengineering #lightbulbstudio #acme_scheffer #goldleaftrees #ColourfulInteriors #CanberraArchitecture #ModernAustralianHome #PatchworkInspiration #CraftLoversHome #DesignForLiving #SustainableHomeDesign #AustralianArchitecture #InteriorInspiration #BoldInteriors #CanberraDesign

(New YouTube Video) Designing an energy-efficient home isn’t about trends or checklists — it’s about understanding the first-principles science behind how a building actually performs. In this session, presented to hundreds of builders at the @sustainablebuildersalliance ‘Rethink’ Builders Summit, I use live @powerhausengineering simulations to demonstrate which design and material decisions genuinely matter. You’ll see, in real time, how choices around orientation, glazing, shading, insulation, thermal mass, airtightness, heating and cooling, and construction systems influence the comfort, resilience and long-term energy use of a new home — and which commonly promoted upgrades deliver less value than you may be lead to believe. As an architect and founder of Cooee Architecture, my work is grounded in practical, evidence-based decision-making. This presentation shows how to use modelling to guide smarter, more cost-sensible design — especially for southern/cooler Australian climates. What this presentation covers: • How first-principles thinking removes confusion and complexity • The design variables that have the biggest impact on thermal performance • Which choices meaningfully change real-world outcomes • How to use Powerhaus to compare design options instantly • Why some “high-performance” upgrades offer less benefit than you may be lead to believe • Practical, buildable strategies that support healthier, more comfortable homes Whether you’re a builder, designer, engineer, or homeowner, this walkthrough offers clear, evidence-based insight into what truly matters when aiming for energy-efficient home design in Australia. Note: the address shown is a proxy - you cannot find the demo house at the address shown!

We've been asking ourselves: what's actually meaningful to track when we talk about "better" homes? Star ratings matter. Energy use matters. Carbon matters. Here's a sneak peek at some new results cards we've been working on in the Powerhaus app: ⚡ monthly net zero ⚡ real energy savings ⚡ star rating improvement We're curious: how do you currently track performance and savings on your projects - or your own home? What do you find genuinely useful... and what gets ignored? #energyefficienthome #energyefficienthomes #sustainablehome #highperformancehome #passivehouseaustralia #australianarchitects

Got comfortable house goals for 2026? Us too. We’re back in action — ready to help you design a home that actually works: ✅ Stays warm in winter without fossil fuels ✅ Makes the most of your solar ✅ Feels great to live in, year round ✅ And yes… hits your energy targets without guesswork The Powerhaus App gives you real data to make smarter design choices early — so you don’t have to redesign twice. 📍 Try the app: https://powerhaus.app Let’s make 2026 the year your home feels like home. #powerhaus #housegoals #smarterearlier #sustainablehomes #energyefficienthomes #climateaction #designforclimate #australianarchitecture #backtowork

What a year. Thank you. From launching the Powerhaus app to winning two national awards (!), 2025 has been huge. But more than anything, we’re proud of our team — a brilliant, big-hearted group of humans who care deeply about making homes more comfortable, climate-ready, and fossil-fuel free. (They also don't mind posing for just one more Christmas team photo). To our clients, collaborators, and every architect, designer, and builder pushing for better: thank you. You’ve helped us prove that the decisions made early in design really matter. We’ll be back on Jan 12. Until then, we hope you find spaces and places that make you feel at home-because that's what it's all about.

We’re winding down for a summer break 🎄🌞. Our office will close from Thursday 18 December (COB) and reopen on Monday 12 January. Wishing you a well-earned rest and a patch of shade, breeze or sunshine that makes you feel at home.

It feels so good to get the whole team together. Yesterday we had a guided reflection session with the wonderful @lyndaledwards — a chance to slow down, look back at the year, celebrate how far we’ve come, and notice what we’ve learned along the way. One helpful reflection question: what can I now laugh about (that once stressed me out)? We also spent some time dreaming and planning for what’s next… and let’s just say 2026 is looking exciting. Grateful for these people. 💚

What does it take to get to monthly net zero in Brisbane vs Melbourne? (with just 5 kW of solar) We modelled the YourHome Banksia house (a great solar passive design from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water) in both Brisbane and Melbourne. The result? ⭐ 8.1 stars in Brisbane ⭐ 7.9 stars in Melbourne Same design. Same solar. Very different outcomes. Here’s what we found: > In Brisbane, that solar covers nearly everything — even with cooling. > In Melbourne, heating and lower solar yield mean you’ll need more support. > And to hit 8 stars? Melbourne needs better insulation and high-performing windows. The takeaway? The same star rating can mean very different buildings in different climates. You’ve got to design for place — and test your assumptions early. That’s what the Powerhaus App makes easy. Let us know in the comments what you've found: can you power your home with 5kW of solar? #brisbanearchitects #melbournearchitects #energyefficienthomes #sustainablehomes #zerocarbon #netzero #monthlynetzero #powerhaus