Sarah Fiess Architect

Sarah Fiess Architect Helping Aussies Build with Confidence. Build an Energy Efficient Home that doesn't cost a fortune. Architect & Certified Passive House Designer.

A home isn’t just walls and windows.It’s a collection of systems.Structure.Insulation.Airtightness.Ventilation.Glazing.H...
18/02/2026

A home isn’t just walls and windows.

It’s a collection of systems.

Structure.
Insulation.
Airtightness.
Ventilation.
Glazing.
Heating and cooling.

Each one influences the others.

Comment *CLARITY* to find out more.

When one system is weak, another has to work harder.

When they’re designed in isolation, performance suffers quietly.

Higher bills. Uneven temperatures. Comfort that never quite settles.

But when the systems are considered together — intentionally — something shifts.

Energy use drops.
Air feels fresher.
Temperatures stay stable.
The house feels calm.

You have to understand that High performance isn’t about adding more.

It’s about making sure the systems are working with each other, not against each other.

That’s where clarity begins.

11/02/2026

I love this for my clients!

When homeowners reach out to me they want piece of mind and to know they haven't missed anything in the energy efficiency of their projects.

It's a smart move as every design decision will have an impact on how comfortable their home is at the end of it all.

Reach out if you need a confidence boost for your project. 🚀

I see this happening in small ways all the time.**Send this to someone you know who's planning on building or renovating...
08/02/2026

I see this happening in small ways all the time.

**Send this to someone you know who's planning on building or renovating rn**

A window size that wasn’t questioned.

A wall build-up chosen without seeing the whole system.

Orientation locked in before performance was considered.

Nothing looks “wrong” at the time.

But months later, the home overheats. Or feels cold. Or costs more to run than expected.

That’s the tricky part about performance.

When decisions are made too late, the consequences only show up once it’s expensive to change.

High-performing homes aren’t the result of perfect construction alone.

They’re the result of clear thinking and design at the very beginning.

That’s why planning matters more than products.

And why clarity upfront saves you from fixing quiet mistakes later.

If you’re building or renovating, start where it actually counts — before anything is locked in. 🌿

05/02/2026

Here’s how:

1️⃣ You map your site, climate, and goals
2️⃣ You see how your home works as a system
3️⃣ You prioritise the decisions that actually affect comfort and energy
4️⃣ You avoid spending money where it won’t move the needle
5️⃣ You walk into design and builder conversations with clarity

No overwhelm.

No technical rabbit holes.

Just a clear, personalised plan you can actually use.
If you’re building or renovating and want your home to perform as promised, this is where to start.

Comment PLANNER and I’ll send you the link.

Building can be totally overwhelming when everything is happening at once — without a clear framework to guide decisions...
02/02/2026

Building can be totally overwhelming when everything is happening at once — without a clear framework to guide decisions.

In my experience, most stress comes from not knowing what matters now versus what can wait.

From being asked to decide before you have enough context.

From trying to hold the whole project in your head at once.

When you slow the process down and see your home as a system, the noise drops away.

Decisions become simpler.

Conversations become clearer.

And confidence replaces second-guessing.

You don’t need to do everything at once.

You just need a clear plan — and the right decisions in the right order.

That’s how building becomes calm again.

01/02/2026

One of the biggest surprises in my Passive House wasn’t what we spent money on.

It was what we didn’t need. Statement lighting fixtures throughout.

On the lighting plan it all looked great … but they rarely get switched on. Turns out I'm more of a mood lamp kinda gal!

Plus when a home is designed well, natural light does the heavy lifting during the summer months!

In a truly high-performing home, lighting becomes supportive — not compensatory. But you live and learn!

I'm glad I spent the money on what counts!
Performance first.
Fancy finishes second.

Spending money where it actually improves how you live.

It’s another reminder that clarity upfront saves you from paying for things you don’t end up using.

If you’re planning a build or renovation and want your decisions to earn their place, it starts with a clear plan.

Here's how:We save the amazing reels and Pinterest-stalk the homes we love.But what worked beautifully for them can quie...
27/01/2026

Here's how:

We save the amazing reels and Pinterest-stalk the homes we love.

But what worked beautifully for them can quietly underperform for you.

High performance isn’t a formula you replicate.

It’s a system you design — specifically for your home.

That’s why real comfort and efficiency don’t come from screenshots, Pinterest boards, or someone else’s specs.

They come from understanding your constraints and making the right decisions in the right order.

A personalised plan gives every choice context.

It shows you what actually matters for your site, your climate, and your goals — so nothing critical gets missed.
If you’re designing or renovating, don’t copy.

Clarify.

Comment START and I’ll show you how to create a plan that’s tailored to your home — not someone else’s.

Clarity is what makes everything else easier. Here's how:Comment START and I’ll show you how to get clarity on your proj...
25/01/2026

Clarity is what makes everything else easier. Here's how:

Comment START and I’ll show you how to get clarity on your project.

When I designed my own Passive House, I didn’t chase complexity or clever tricks.

I focused on simplicity.

A clear form.

A logical layout.

Fewer junctions. Fewer compromises.

Because when the design is simple, the detailing can come together seamlessly.

Airtightness is easier to achieve.

Insulation is continuous.

Builders understand the intent.

And the home performs exactly as it should.

That experience reinforced something I now see again and again.

Performance isn’t about doing more.

It’s about being clear enough to do less — better.

That’s the value of clarity upfront.

It saves time, money, and stress later.

And it gives every decision a place to land.

If you’re building or renovating and want that same sense of ease and confidence, it starts with a plan.

25/01/2026

We plan our budget for the build. But very few budget for the next 30 years.

Energy bills.
Maintenance.
Retrofits that shouldn’t have been needed.
Health costs from poor indoor air quality.
Having a home that never quite feels right.

These are the real long-term costs — and they’re usually decided long before construction starts.

When you design for performance upfront, you’re not just reducing running costs.

You’re buying stability. Predictability. Peace of mind.

A home that holds its temperature.

Uses less energy by default. And quietly costs less to live in every single year.

That’s why planning matters more than products and early decisions shape decades of outcomes.

If you’re building or renovating and thinking long term, start with the planning, match it to your budget and build from there.

Most new homes look finished — but don’t actually perform.Once construction starts, comfort mistakes are locked in for d...
24/01/2026

Most new homes look finished — but don’t actually perform.

Once construction starts, comfort mistakes are locked in for decades.

If you’re building or renovating and want a home that stays comfortable through Australian heatwaves and cold snaps, this is for you.

The Whole Home Performance Plan shows you what actually controls comfort, efficiency, and running costs without blowing the budget or relying on guesswork.

Takes less than 60 minutes.

Costs less than a site visit.

Build once. Build it right.

For a successful project, It’s all about clarity.Once you understand how heat moves in your home, where air leaks, and w...
22/01/2026

For a successful project, It’s all about clarity.

Once you understand how heat moves in your home, where air leaks, and what truly drives comfort it all starts to make sense.

That was my turning point.

I was deep in the rabbit hole when I realised efficiency is something you design in from the very start.

And the best part? You don’t need to be an expert to get there.

You just need a clear plan.

That’s why I created the Whole Home Performance Planner

to help you see the patterns, prioritise the right upgrades, and design a home that feels as good as it performs.

Comment Planner and I’ll send you the link to start your own clarity moment.

21/01/2026

This was when it clicked for me.

Energy efficiency isn’t about complicated systems or expensive technology.

It’s about clarity.

Once you understand how heat moves, where air leaks, and what truly drives comfort, the real physics behind it all — it all starts to make sense.

That was my turning point.

Efficiency isn’t something you add on at the end — it’s something you design in from the very start.

And the best part? You don’t need to become an expert. You just need a clear plan.

The Planner I designed helps you see the patterns, prioritise the right upgrades, and design a home that feels as good as it performs.

Comment Planner and I’ll send you the link to start your own clarity moment.

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Torquay, VIC
3228

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