Image 1 of 1
Do you feel like winter in your house is a battle and summer is a marathon? And you dream of coming home to a comfy, easy, affordable, nurturing home?
I’m guessing you’re smart, and you already know you can do something about it, but where do you even start? What do you prioritise? How do you find time to research? What’s the best bang for buck?
I built this for YOU!
The Cooee Retrofit Method is for homeowners with $500 - $250,000 to spend on their home. It guides you through likely priorities, checklists, and what you can do yourself versus what you should get professional help for, as well as what to tackle depending on your budget range. It also includes two video tours of very different houses where I walk you through how to apply the information in real-world scenarios. The first house is a 1990s brick veneer slab-on-ground, and the second is a 1950s block-wall, timber-floor farmhouse with a 1970s extension. You’ll also be invited to our Cooee Retrofit Method community on Facebook.
You might be familiar with Cooee’s expertise in this space, but did you know I previously spent a decade at a building science practice that not only advised on hundreds of retrofits and renovations but also tested them and tracked the data to really see where effort was best spent. (Just quietly… I also won the 2020 National Emerging Architect Prize for my efforts in this space.)
Don’t overthink it; don’t waste hours down internet rabbit holes - it’s all distilled in the resource! I’m going to help you get it done, so you can get on with your wonderful life.
Don’t just take it from me!
“Practical, actionable advice that delivers great bang for buck. If your home gets uncomfortably cold or hot; if you are worried about your energy bills, your family’s health, or the changing climate then this is the guide for you. Don’t delay – start your science-based retrofitting journey today.”
Jenny (Jenergy FixItChick) Edwards
B.Sc M.Sc GradCert EnvHealth. EER & Air Leakage Assessor. Director, Light House ArchiScience
“Retrofitting our existing homes offers a huge opportunity to improve comfort and liveability, lower energy costs and transform lifestyles … and yet anyone who has tried to do this can attest to it being a potentially arduous task in an industry often favouring more significant intervention. In The Cooee Retrofit Method, Architect Sarah Lebner has packaged up a wealth of experience and industry knowledge to radically simplify retrofitting your home.”
Amelia Lee
B.Arch (1st Cls Hons), Registered Architect 9654. Founder, Undercover Architect. Co-Founder, Live Life Build
“In a time of rising energy prices and the need to minimise the impact of our of our homes on the environment, Sarah has created a clear and practical resource that anyone can use to both improve the comfort of the home they live in, and lower it's running cost - for your hip pocket...and the planet.”
Jeremy Spencer
Builder + Energy Assessor, Director, Positive Footprints. Co-founder, Sustainable Builder’s Alliance.
“This is an outstanding resource — clear, practical and grounded in real-world retrofit experience. Sarah has distilled complex ideas into something genuinely useful for homeowners and professionals alike. We were delighted to see the Powerhaus App featured, and we’ll be recommending the guide widely.”
Andy Pickard
B.Eng (Hons), B.Sc, Building Scientist. Director, Powerhaus Engineering