SUNSHINE COAST, QLD - As warmer conditions continue to shape how people live on the coast, an architect Sunshine Coast practice is seeing more homeowners question how well their houses handle heat, airflow and day-to-day energy use.
Environmental Building Designs, which has worked across the Sunshine Coast since the early 1990s, says many residents are reassessing design choices after experiencing several summers in homes that struggle to stay comfortable.
According to the firm, issues often emerge once people move in. Rooms that trap heat. Limited cross-ventilation. High reliance on air conditioning during long warm periods.
These concerns are now driving earlier conversations at the design stage.
“We’re hearing from clients who want their homes to cope better with heat before they build, not after,” a company representative said. “Energy use and comfort are front of mind.”
The practice reports increased attention on orientation, shading, roof form and window placement. These factors can affect how heat moves through a home across the day, particularly in coastal and semi-coastal areas where humidity also plays a role.
Rather than adding technology later, many projects are now shaped around passive solar principles suited to Sunshine Coast conditions. Homes are planned to capture breezes, reduce heat gain and moderate internal temperatures through layout and structure.
Builders and designers working locally say energy bills often reveal design shortcomings that are difficult to fix once construction is finished. Poor airflow and excess heat can push cooling systems harder and for longer periods.
Environmental Building Designs says its work is shaped by years of observing how homes perform once occupied. That experience is informing design decisions aimed at improving comfort through form and placement rather than add-ons.
While new builds remain a focus, the firm says renovation projects are also shifting. Homeowners are adjusting layouts, openings and shading to deal with heat that existing structures were never designed to manage.
As energy use becomes a more regular concern for households, the firm expects performance-focused design to remain a deciding factor for people building or altering homes on the Sunshine Coast.
About Environmental Building Designs
Environmental Building Designs is a Sunshine Coast–based architectural and building design practice established in 1993. The firm works across residential and commercial projects, with designs shaped by local climate, site conditions and practical construction needs.
For more information, visit https://environmentalbuildingdesigns.com.au
Media Contact
Company Name: Environmental Building Designs
Contact Person: Kaarlo Pesu
Email: Send Email
Phone: +61 411 207 707
City: Sunshine Coast
State: QLD
Country: Australia
Website: https://environmentalbuildingdesigns.com.au
