A house with castle calibre is one you're proud to call home
Hi, my name's Blake.
A Mechanical Engineer by trade, I spent many years designing, operating and maintaining complex engineering systems for the industrial world.
In 2019 my wife and I had our first child. 8 months later, COVID arrived in Australia. Time spent at home suddenly reached unprecedented highs - and so did our energy bills. Why was the house so cold? Could we actually afford to keep it warm?... I became so obsessed that I decided on a career change.
I consider myself very fortunate to be a homeowner. Transforming our original 1950s weatherboard home into something that I considered appropriate for our young family became more than a necessity... it became my passion.
I retrained in Home Energy Efficiency & Sustainability, became a Certified Passivhaus Consultant and obtained govenrnment-accreditation as a Residential Efficiency Scorecard and Home Energy Rating assessor.
My focus is to help make your home warmer, drier and use less energy. My service combines not only my technical expertise, but also my practical knowledge and a genuine interest in your wellbeing.
I strive to be at the forefront of industry developments and building science best-practice, so that I can be better informed and offer you the best possible advice for a better performing home.
A home energy assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of a home’s energy performance. Conducted by an accredited assessor, the process analyses the building fabric or 'thermal envelope' of the home, in addition to the key energy consuming appliances. The habits, behaviours, and energy usage patterns are not under scrutiny. The aim is always to give the occupant the best possible platform, to best support the way they live.
Utilising various software and measurement tools, your home is benchmarked according to its overall energy performance. Areas with potential for improvement are identified and paired with tailored, practical recommendations. The result is a clear path towards enhanced comfort, reduced energy bills, and a smaller environmental footprint.
To make drastic changes you may need to consider upgrades, but it's not always the big ticket items that make the biggest impact. I take a fabric first approach which strives to minimise energy losses in the first instance - reducing your reliance on those expensive appliances, making them less impactful. Whilst I tailor my advice to suit your situation and match your budget, it's important to remember that every change helps and for each problem there are typically low-cost (or no-cost) solutions that can be implemented.
I have different levels of assessment to suit your needs and budget. Please see my SERVICES page for more information.
I live in Geelong, but I also service many areas of Melbourne, the Surf Coast and the Bellarine Peninsula. Residents of the following council areas can book with my advertised pricing:
Banyule City Council, Bayside City Council, Boroondara City Council, Brimbank City Council, Darebin City Council, Golden Plains Shire Council, Glen Eira City Council, Greater Geelong City Council, Hobsons Bay City Council, Kingston City Council, Maribyrnong City Council, Melbourne City Council, Melton City Council, Merri-bek City Council, Moonee Valley City Council, Moorabool Shire Council, Port Phillip City Council, Queenscliffe Borough Council, Stonnington City Council, Surf Coast Shire Council, Wyndham City Council, Yarra City Council.
If you are located outside these areas, please get in touch to confirm if there will be any additional travel charges.
The assessment generally takes between 2 and 2.5 hours to complete. This includes plenty of time to hear about your energy-related experiences with the home, to review the assessment once completed, and to discuss your options going forward.
An adult occupant of the home is required to be present during the assessment and as such I make a limited number of time slots available to accommodate after-hours assessments.
I have an online booking system where you can see my availability and select your preferred day and time. Click here to book.
Card payment is handled securely via Link by Stripe. Once your booking is confirmed you will receive a calendar invite and more information via email.