Part 1: Energy efficiency: what to think about before you build 

Whether you’re choosing a house and land package or working through a more customised build, there are key decisions made before construction begins that influence how comfortable your home feels, and how much it costs to run. 

The good news is that new homes today are generally built with much higher levels of energy efficiency than older homes. In fact, since May 2024, all new homes in Australia are required to meet a minimum 7-star energy rating, lifting the baseline for comfort and performance. 

Even so, there are still choices to be made. Even in a package build, you’ll still be selecting from inclusions, upgrades and options. Understanding which choices impact energy efficiency can help you prioritise what matters most, without adding unnecessary complexity or cost. 

This first blog focuses on the decisions that shape how your home performs from day one. In Part 2 of the series, we’ll look at the everyday habits and small changes you can make once you’re moved in.  

Here’s what’s worth thinking about early. 

Understanding how your home will perform on your block 

Good design and the right orientation does the hard work for you 

How your home is positioned and laid out plays a huge role in how comfortable it feels year‑round.

Even with a fixed floorplan or house and land package, the way a home sits on your specific block still matters. Orientation, sunlight and airflow all influence how your home performs day to day.

Simple considerations like:

• Where the living areas are positioned and how they connect to natural light
• How sunlight enters the home across different seasons, helping warmth in winter and reducing heat in summer
• How windows and layout support natural airflow, reducing reliance on heating and cooling
• How shading is used to manage summer heat
• Together, these design elements help your home stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer, without over reliance on heating and cooling systems.

Think of this as “passive efficiency”: your home working smarter in the background to support everyday comfort and lower energy use.  

Read more on how the orientation of your home can shape the way you live and support energy efficiency. 

Insulation and sealing 

Comfort you notice, even if you never see it 

All new homes include insulation, but not all insulation performs the same way. The amount, placement and overall sealing of a home play a big role in keeping temperatures stable inside. 

While new homes come with insulation as standard, some buyers choose to upgrade insulation levels in key areas to further improve thermal performance. It’s one of the upgrades that can make a noticeable difference to everyday comfort and long-term energy use. 

Strong insulation and good sealing: 

• Reduce heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer 
• Lower reliance on heating and cooling 
• Improve everyday comfort across every season 

These features may not be visible, but they influence how your home feels long after the building is complete. 

System choices that affect ongoing costs 

Thinking beyond the upfront decision 

Heating, cooling and hot water systems are often selected early, whether as standard inclusions or upgrade options. Comparing energy ratings and efficiency can give a clearer picture of how much these systems may cost to run over time, even small differences can add up across years of everyday use. 

In many homes, particularly larger ones, zoning is another worthwhile consideration. Zoning allows different areas of the home to be heated or cooled separately, so you’re not paying to condition rooms that aren’t in use. This helps focus energy use where it’s needed, while maintaining comfort. 

Some households also choose to include smart meters or energy‑monitoring tools, which provide greater visibility over how and when energy is being used. This awareness can help occupants adjust habits over time and get more value from efficient systems. 

Energy‑efficient choices tend to: 

• Use less energy to do the same job 
• Cost less to run over time 
• Perform best when paired with good insulation and smart design 
• Alongside major systems, other features such as energy‑efficient lighting and improved window glazing can also support lower energy use. LED lighting and double‑glazed windows, for example, help reduce heat loss and cooling demand over time. 

Energy ratings are designed to make these comparisons simpler, and while each decision may feel small on its own, the right choices early can save hundreds, or even thousands, over the life of your home. 

Thinking ahead 

Future-ready, at your own pace 

Not everyone wants to install solar or other upgrades straight away, and that’s okay. What’s helpful is understanding whether your home can support those options later if your needs change.  

This might include: 

• Allowing sufficient roof space – ideally  north-facing roof space – for solar panels 
• Having electrical capacity to support future upgrades, such as battery storage or smarter energy systems  
• Flexibility to add features down the track such as pre-wiring for solar panels 

Future ready thinking gives you flexibility, helping your home adapt to changing technology and energy costs, without locking you into decisions before you’re ready. 

A few helpful questions to ask before you build 

• What energy‑efficient features are included as standard? 
• Which options have the biggest impact on comfort and bills over time? 
• How will this home perform in both summer and winter conditions? 
• Is the home set up to adapt as needs change in the future? 
• Can I make floor plan changes to better suit my block orientation? 
• What energy features are more cost effective to add during the build?  

Energy efficiency isn’t about designing a perfect home or choosing every option available. It’s about understanding the choices in front of you and prioritising what will make your home more comfortable, affordable and easy to live in, no matter how simple or flexible your build process is. 

At Marran Run our homes and house and land packages are designed with everyday comfort and long‑term efficiency in mind. Explore the current packages available and see how smart, well‑considered choices can support the way you want to live, now and into the future. 

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