With the shift to 7-star energy requirements, many people are asking what it really means for their home. At ERA Studio, we see it as a positive step and a strong foundation to build from. For us, seven stars is simply the baseline. The real opportunity lies in designing beyond compliance, creating homes that are calmer, healthier, and more sustainable for everyday life.

Why Thermal Comfort Matters

Thermal comfort is about more than numbers on a compliance report. It’s about how a home feels to live in - the steadiness of temperature across the seasons, the way natural light makes a space feel alive, and the relief of not relying on constant heating or cooling just to get through the day.

A comfortable home is a healthier home, with better air quality, fewer drafts, and spaces that feel welcoming year-round. It’s also a more sustainable home — one that treads lightly on the environment while lowering energy bills and improving resilience as our climate shifts.

Think of stepping barefoot onto a warm concrete floor on a winter’s morning, or catching a cool evening breeze through open windows in summer. That’s thermal comfort at work.

Our Approach at ERA Studio

Every project we design is guided by a few clear principles that go well beyond minimum standards:

  • Orientation & light: positioning living areas to capture northern sun in winter while avoiding overheating in summer.

  • Thermal mass: using brick, concrete, or stone where it makes sense, to store warmth in winter and coolness in summer.

  • Insulation & airtightness: maximising insulation wherever possible.

  • Cross-ventilation: designing homes that breathe, with operable windows and carefully considered breezeways.

  • Efficient systems: like hydronic heating and low-energy appliances that quietly do their job without waste.

  • Sustainable materials: chosen not just for performance, but for their craft, longevity, and tactile warmth.

Energy for the Future

We also think carefully about how homes are powered, not just how they’re built. Two priorities guide us here:

  • Solar power: integrating rooftop solar is one of the most effective ways to reduce reliance on the grid. For existing homes, it can also offset the limitations of an underperforming thermal envelope.

  • Electrification: shifting away from gas means heating, cooling, and hot water can all run on clean electricity — maximising the value of solar generation and aligning with Australia’s greener energy future.

These strategies mean our homes aren’t just efficient in how they use energy — they’re smart in how they produce and source it too.

What You Can Do in Your Own Home

Not everyone is starting with a blank canvas, but even small moves can change how your home feels day to day. Some are quick wins, others bigger upgrades:

  • Start with your roof: most heat is lost or gained here, so upgrading roof insulation gives the biggest return. Wall and floor insulation is a bit trickier to retrofit, but it’s worth exploring as this can

  • Check for draughts: seal around windows, doors, and vents to keep warm or cool air where it belongs.

  • Improve your glazing: double-glazing is ideal, but even quality curtains or external shading help.

  • Think about shading: deciduous trees, pergolas, or awnings that protect from summer heat while letting winter sun in.

  • Ventilate smartly: learn when to open up and when to close down to manage comfort naturally.

  • Upgrade appliances over time: swap in efficient models reducing reliance on gas, add ceiling fans, and consider zoning your heating and cooling.

  • Solar: Most Australian homes can support rooftop panels, and even roofs that don’t face north can still generate meaningful green power. Adding solar helps offset the extra energy an existing home may need if its insulation or thermal envelope isn’t ideal.

Comfort That Lasts

The difference between a home that just passes compliance and one that’s genuinely comfortable is profound. When you go beyond the baseline, you create a house that costs less to run, feels good to live in, and remains resilient for decades to come.

At ERA Studio, we believe homes should be built for life - calm, sustainable, and deeply personal. If you’re curious about how your home could perform better, or you’re planning something new, we’d love to talk.