Changing Australia: Jenny Edwards and creating more energy efficient homes

Jenny Edwards, a former molecular biologist turned energy efficiency advocate, joins Radio National Breakfast to discuss her mission of transforming Australia's housing stock through science-based retrofitting and education. Drawing from her experience with the Fix It Chicks—her social media initiative with ABC broadcaster Lish Faya—she emphasizes that most Australian homes, despite being poorly built for climate and energy efficiency, can be significantly improved without major renovations. She highlights low-cost, high-impact measures like draft sealing and insulation as game-changers for comfort and energy savings, challenging the myth that energy efficiency requires expensive upgrades like double glazing or solar panels. Edwards also reflects on the gender dynamics in the male-dominated construction industry, explaining how Fix It Chicks was born out of a need to reach women directly, bypassing institutional resistance. Her personal health challenges and the broader cost of living and energy crises fuel her drive to make homes healthier, more comfortable, and affordable for all Australians.