Realestate.com.au Adds Energy Efficiency Scores to Listings
The platform now features VALAI energy scores to help Australians compare the performance of 14 million properties.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Home Renovation
Live Poll
Would knowing a property's energy efficiency score influence your decision to purchase a home?
Realestate.com.au has integrated VALAI energy efficiency scores into its property listings, providing data for 14 million homes across Australia. The scores evaluate heating, cooling, hot water, appliances, and thermal building fabric.
Why it matters
The partnership aims to help prospective buyers and renters compare home energy performance against suburb benchmarks. It allows homeowners to update specific energy data through the Home Efficiency Australia website to reflect improvements.
VALAI generates scores out of 10 for 14 million properties based on thermal fabric and appliances. Households plan to spend an average of $8,340 on energy upgrades over the next five years, up from an average of $7,950 spent in 2025.
The players
Realestate.com.au
This digital property portal provides comprehensive real estate listings and market data for properties across the Australian market.
VALAI
This technology company specialises in generating automated home energy performance scores based on building characteristics and appliance data.
Home Efficiency Australia
This organisation serves as a resource for homeowners to verify energy efficiency details and manage data regarding their property improvements.
The details
Scores are calculated automatically using data, meaning no property visits or device installations are required. While 43% of respondents identified upfront costs as the primary barrier to adoption, 20% cited lack of control and 16% pointed to limited incentives.
Timeline
Average energy upgrade spend was $7,950 in 2025.
The Australian Home Energy report is scheduled for publication in September 2026.
The news article was published on 15 October 2026.
Planned household energy efficiency investments are set for the 2026-2031 period.
Culture Shift
This integration reflects a broader shift towards energy transparency in the property market, mirroring the increasing consumer focus on sustainable living. It positions energy efficiency alongside traditional metrics like size and location as a core factor in household investment decisions.
Homeowners can visit the Home Efficiency Australia website to ensure their property profile reflects their actual energy upgrades, which may influence listing performance. Buyers and renters can now use energy scores to estimate potential utility costs when comparing properties.
The takeaway
Understanding your home's energy rating is now a critical step in planning future renovations and managing long-term household expenses. With 69% of Australians planning upgrades by 2031, prioritising high-impact installations like insulation or heat pumps remains the most effective way to improve scores.
What happens next
The Australian Home Energy report is scheduled for publication in September 2026, which will provide further insight into national energy investment trends.
Further reading
For more information on improving your property, visit the Home Renovation section.
More information
To update your property energy details, visit the Home Efficiency Australia website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Real Estate Australia.
Live Poll
Would knowing a property's energy efficiency score influence your decision to purchase a home?
