A smarter path to 7 stars.
Once you know your home's rating, EnBright builds you a prioritised upgrade plan. It shows what to do, in what order, and what each step will deliver in comfort, savings and star rating gains.
Your upgrade roadmap, prioritised by impact
How Upgrade Planning Works
Not all upgrades are created equal.
Every home is different. The same upgrade that gives 2 stars in one home might only give 0.3 in another, depending on construction type, climate zone, and what's already been done. Generic advice doesn't cut it.
EnBright's upgrade planning is built on your NatHERS assessment data. Every recommendation is modelled against your actual home, giving you a clear, evidence-based plan rather than a generic checklist.
Starts with your assessment
Your NatHERS assessment report is the foundation. Without it, upgrade recommendations are guesswork. With it, every improvement is modelled against your specific home, climate zone and construction.
Prioritised by impact and payback
Upgrades are ranked by how many stars they add, how quickly they pay back, and what they cost, so you get the best return on every dollar spent.
Staged to suit your budget
You don't have to do everything at once. Your plan is structured in stages so you can act now on the highest-impact upgrades and phase the rest over time.
Linked to verified professionals
Each upgrade in your plan connects directly to EnBright's network of accredited builders and installers, so moving from plan to action takes one step, not weeks of research.
Why the order matters
Insulation, windows and air sealing should almost always come before mechanical systems like HVAC or solar. Otherwise you'll be heating and cooling a leaking home.
A right-sized heat pump in a properly sealed home uses up to three times less energy than the same system in an uninsulated one.
Homeowners who complete a planned, sequenced upgrade program consistently achieve 35–45% reductions in energy costs.
Your EnBright plan takes all of this into account, sequencing upgrades so each one builds on the last.
What Can Be Upgraded
Every upgrade, explained.
EnBright plans cover all the major upgrade categories, sequenced to deliver the most improvement for the least cost at each stage.
Ceiling & Roof Insulation
The single biggest lever in most existing homes. Bulk insulation in the ceiling space prevents heat escaping in winter and entering in summer. It typically gives the highest star rating gain per dollar spent.
Draught Sealing
One of the cheapest and most effective upgrades available. Sealing gaps around doors, windows, floorboards and penetrations can reduce uncontrolled air leakage by 30–50%, sharply improving comfort and reducing energy loads.
Windows & Glazing
Double glazing, secondary glazing, window film and external shading can cut heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter. The right solution depends on window orientation and your climate zone.
Wall Insulation
Injected or retrofitted wall insulation addresses one of the major thermal weak points in pre-2000s homes. Best combined with ceiling insulation and draught sealing for maximum effect.
Heating & Cooling Systems
Once the building fabric is sorted, upgrading to an efficient reverse-cycle system or heat pump turns your thermal gains into real energy and cost savings. Right-sizing matters: your plan specifies the right capacity for your improved home.
Solar, Battery & Hot Water
The final layer on a well-sealed, well-insulated home. Solar and battery storage maximise the value of a low-energy envelope, while heat pump hot water replaces one of the largest energy loads in most homes.
Your Plan in Stages
Do it all at once, or one step at a time.
Your upgrade plan is structured in three stages, each one producing measurable star rating gains and energy savings. You choose the pace that suits your budget and circumstances.
- Ceiling insulation (R5.0)Est. 5–8yr payback
- Draught sealing for doors, windows, penetrationsEst. 1–3yr payback
- Underfloor insulation (where applicable)Est. 6–9yr payback
- Double glazing or secondary glazingEst. 10–15yr payback
- External shading: eaves, awnings, screensEst. 7–11yr payback
- Reverse-cycle heating and cooling (right-sized)Est. 8–12yr payback
- Rooftop solar (right-sized to post-upgrade load)Est. 8–12yr payback
- Heat pump hot water systemEst. 5–8yr payback
- Battery storage (optional)Est. 10–15yr payback
Star gains and payback periods shown are indicative. Your EnBright plan will include figures modelled against your specific home and NatHERS assessment results.
What's in your plan
Everything you need to act with confidence
- Prioritised upgrade list based on your NatHERS assessment data
- Star rating gain modelled for each individual upgrade
- Estimated cost range for each upgrade stage
- Payback period and 10-year energy saving projections
- Eligible government rebates and incentives identified
- Links to verified EnBright professionals for each upgrade
- Financing options matched to your plan and budget
- Updated star rating certificate after each completed stage
Approach Options
Choose the approach that suits you.
There's no single right way to upgrade your home. EnBright's plan supports either approach, or a combination of both.
Staged upgrades over time
Start with Stage 1, capture the savings, then reinvest them into the next stage. Each phase builds on the last and becomes increasingly self-funding.
- Lower upfront outlay per stage
- Each stage delivers immediate savings
- Savings from Stage 1 help fund Stage 2
- Easier to manage tradespeople and disruption
- Flexibility to adjust as circumstances change
All upgrades at once
Complete the full program in a single renovation project. Ideal if you're already planning a major renovation or have access to sufficient financing.
- Maximum star rating gain in one go
- Potential savings on combined tradespeople costs
- Less total disruption: one project, done
- –Higher upfront cost
- –Requires financing or significant capital
Either way, your EnBright plan gives you the full picture: a complete, prioritised roadmap so you can act at whatever pace makes sense. Our Financing section can help with both approaches.
Common Questions
What homeowners ask us.
Do I need a NatHERS assessment before I can get an upgrade plan?
Yes. Without your assessment data, any plan would be generic rather than modelled on your specific home. The assessment is what makes the plan meaningful, and it's the first step we recommend for every homeowner.
How do the star rating gains work? Are they cumulative?
Yes and no. Each upgrade's contribution is modelled individually, but the combined total isn't simply additive. There are interactions between upgrades. Your assessor models the combined effect of each stage to give accurate totals.
Can I change the order of upgrades in the plan?
Technically yes, but we don't recommend it. The sequencing is deliberate. Building fabric upgrades first mean that mechanical systems are right-sized for the improved home. Reversing the order typically means oversized, expensive systems and weaker returns.
Will my upgrade plan qualify me for government rebates?
Your plan will identify which rebates and incentives each upgrade is eligible for at both federal and state level. Eligibility varies by state and upgrade type. Your assessor's report is usually the required documentation for most programs.
How long does it take to reach 7 stars?
It depends on your starting point and pace. Homeowners who complete Stage 1 typically see a 2–3 star improvement within a few months of their assessment. The full 7-star target is usually reached after 2 to 4 years of staged upgrades.
What happens after I complete my upgrades?
Once each stage is complete, your assessor can issue an updated NatHERS star rating certificate. It's valuable for refinancing, sale documentation, and government rebate claims. EnBright will also connect you to the next stage of your plan.
Ready to build your upgrade plan?
It starts with a NatHERS assessment. Book an accredited assessor through EnBright and get the data your plan is built on.