Renovating your home isn’t just about good looks. It’s your opportunity to build energy independence, lower bills, and boost future value. Just ask Bec Douros.
In Episode 5 of Energy Matters, design expert Bec Douros opened her Melbourne home to share how a thoughtful renovation can be both beautiful and energy-smart. Her journey proves that with the right planning and materials, your renovation can lay the foundation for a cleaner, more efficient future.
Think long-term, not just the layout
Too many renovators get caught up in tiles and tapware but forget the big picture. Bec’s home was designed to be liveable today, but ready for tomorrow. That means thinking about your energy use now and what it might be in five or ten years. Will your household grow? Will you need to power an electric vehicle? Will energy prices go up (spoiler: they usually do)?
“When we were building this house, I really wanted to implement things like solar, and zoned heating and cooling, and all the home automation — all that tech stuff — because I thought, I need to be smart here,” Bec said.
By integrating solar, battery storage, and efficient systems during the build, Bec made sure her home wasn’t just sustainable now, but adaptable down the track.
Choosing the right materials
The Douros home is a great example of how building materials impact energy performance. Strategic window placement, insulation, thermal mass, and shading all play a role. Good passive design means your heating and cooling systems don’t have to work overtime.
The materials you choose also have to work in harmony with your energy system. For example, a well-insulated roof helps you get the most from your solar and battery storage, reducing demand and keeping temperatures more stable inside.
Bec stated:
“I really laid them out and replaced things, took things out, added things in… and being quite minimal… I wanted a neutral palette because the whole design was focused on natural light.”
Solar panels: More than just a nice-to-have
Bec’s family installed a rooftop solar system designed for long-term savings and sustainability. A lot of renovators still treat solar as an optional extra, but the Douros house shows why it should be baked in from the start.
With the cost of solar dropping and power prices climbing, panels are now a must-have for modern homes. But not all systems are created equal. Bec’s setup includes high-efficiency panels matched with smart inverters and energy monitoring, all tools that maximise output and give homeowners better control.
Battery storage: When the sun goes down
Adding a battery might seem like a luxury, but it’s fast becoming the new standard for serious renovators. Bec installed a 10kWh battery system that helps her family store excess solar for evening use. That means lower bills, less reliance on the grid, and peace of mind during blackouts.
“I need it to bring my bills down. I want it to just be enough to sustain us as a family,” Bec said.
The battery setup also makes the Douros home eligible for emerging programs like virtual power plants (VPPs), which pay homeowners for feeding energy back to the grid.
Add an EV charger, even if you don’t drive electric yet
Australia’s shift to electric vehicles is accelerating. Whether or not you own one now, installing an EV charger during your renovation is a smart move.
Bec’s family future-proofed their garage with an EV charger, a small cost during the build, but a major value-add in the years to come. “I’m excited to sort of just see how it all runs with us as a family into the future, too,” she said.
Energy independence is the new curb appeal
Design trends come and go, but energy-smart upgrades will keep delivering long after the paint dries. Bec’s renovation shows that good design and energy independence can, and should, go hand in hand.
By choosing the right materials, planning for solar and storage, and preparing for the EV future, Aussie renovators can build homes that are ready for tomorrow’s challenges today.
Whether you’re planning a full renovation or just updating a room, don’t forget to design with energy in mind. The best time to future-proof your home is before you finish building it.
Looking for renovation inspiration? Ready to future-proof your home? Check out episode 5 of Energy Matters on 9Now.
