— Mount Alexander Sustainability Group
Home Retrofit for Comfort, Climate and Community
As part of our Zero Net Emissions (ZNET) strategy, we are committed to retrofitting older homes in the shire to reduce emissions, lower energy costs, and improve occupant health.
To achieve the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group’s ZNET target by 2030, it is essential to upgrade the region’s ageing housing stock to low-emission standards. Our approach prioritises transitioning households away from gas, which could save approximately $350 per year per household.
Why Retrofit Your Home?
Retrofitting your home offfers clear benefits for:
Greater comfort
- Warmer winters and cooler summers.
Lower energy bills
- Reduce reliance on rising gas prices.
Healthier living
- Better indoor air quality and fewer drafts.
- Improved thermal comfort and safety.
Climate action
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
A warmer, healthier home is good for more than your energy bills. UK studies show that better insulation and reducing draughts can pay for themselves in around seven years through lower medical costs. Moving to efficient electric appliances can boost those benefits even further.
Why Retrofit Your Home with MASG
Many people want to improve home energy efficiency, thermal efficiency, reduce costs and increase comfort by doing a home retrofit. The will is strong, finances ready, but simply do not have time and/or capacity to take on managing the retrofit.
Enter the MASG Home Retrofit for Comfort, Climate and Community project. Our trained and qualified local professionals will provide an assessment, and manage your home retrofit.
A typical comprehensive retrofit costs around $25,000 and may include:
– Draught proofing
– Window treatments and shading
– Heat pump hot water system
– Reverse cycle air conditioning
– Ceiling and subfloor insulation
– Induction cooktop
– Solar PV (≥6kW) and battery (≥20kWh)
Initial assessment fee is $400 per project, with no obligation to proceed with Home Retrofit Management. For a further $2000 our team will provide project management and oversight of your Home Retrofit.
Financing options to complete the retrofit include mortgage extensions and green loans, with expected annual savings of $3,000 per household. Most loans are projected to be repaid within 10 years, after which households benefit from ongoing energy savings. Flexibility will be shown where houses only require a partial upgrade
Help shape the future of home retrofits in Mt Alex
Complete the brief form below to:
✅ Register your interest in retrofit opportunities.
✅ Help MASG understand local housing needs.
✅ Strengthen the case for grants and funding that can benefit our community.
✅ Receive updates about workshops, resources and support programs.
Your participation today helps create warmer, healthier and more affordable homes across the shire.
Housing Stock Assessment
We have identified suitable homes for retrofitting using data from:
– DELWP Scorecard (Central Victoria)
– REMPLAN community census
– MASG-commissioned Renew Survey
– Sustainability Victoria’s Energy Efficiency Retrofits study
– Mount Alexander Shire Development Services
Consultation with sector experts has informed our strategy. Upgrading poorly performing homes to a NatHERS 6 Star rating, combined with solar PV and battery installation, can bring them close to ZNET standards. Studies show pre-2005 homes average a NatHERS rating of 1.81, and pre-1991 homes average 1.57. Approximately 80% of the shire’s homes were built before 2005. Our initial target is 510 homes, each currently producing around 7.6 tonnes of CO₂-e annually. Achieving this would reduce emissions by approximately 3,876 tonnes per year.
Pilot Project
A $331,000 pilot, supported by Common Equity Housing Limited and the Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation, validated the retrofit process across 10 local homes. Activities included legal review, energy assessments, contractor selection, installation, and post-project analysis. The pilot, completed in 2023, demonstrated the programme’s effectiveness and highlighted the impact of new battery rebates.