Jess recently joined Jenny and Ken on Gippsland FM to chat all things sustainable home design, sharing his experience as a preferred building designer at the Live at The Cape eco village in Cape Paterson, Vic.
They covered why smart design matters, a snapshot into passive solar design principles, how it helps smash the 7-Star NatHERS energy rating, and the simple choices that make energy-efficient homes more comfortable year-round. Jess even shared what it’s like living in his own Cape-designed home, right down to the family’s energy bills and the difference it makes in both winter and summer.
It’s an honest, down-to-earth conversation about the real benefits of sustainable building design and why it’s the way forward for future-proof, comfortable living.
Listen to Jess’s full interview below:
Full Interview Transcript
For those who’d prefer to read the full interview, we’ve included the full transcript of Jess’s chat with Jenny and Ken.
Gippsland FM Radio Transcript – 4 September 2025
Guest: Jess Cuman (Adapt Design Group)
Hosts: Jenny & Ken
Segment: Live at the Cape
Ken: Joining us now is our Live at the Cape segment and we’ve got Jess Cuman of Adapt Design Group joining us on the line.
Ken: Good morning, Jess.
Jess: Good morning.
Jess: Thanks for having me.
Jenny: Oh, thanks for getting up so early.
Jess: My pleasure.
Jess: Don’t worry, I was up early. Four kids at home that don’t let me sleep in, that’s for sure.
Jenny: Oh, wow. Now you’re going to tell us about why it’s important—and why, particularly down at the Cape—it’s important to have a design for your home?
Jess: Yeah, that’s correct. So obviously at the Cape there are some design guidelines that we need to adhere to and we have to be very mindful of how we design the homes to make sure we achieve those minimum standards, especially the 7.5 star NatHERS rating.
Jess: So yeah, the design portion of the projects at the Cape is very important, just to make sure you get that green tick so you can build your house.
Ken: So what are the big-ticket issues that need to be incorporated in a design to get the seven plus stars?
Jess: There’s a couple of things. The guidelines require a maximum living area of 200 square metres (or about 21 squares), a 10,000-litre water tank, and a minimum 2.5kW solar array on your house.
Jess: From there we can get stuck into the design. We design for place—every block’s different. Orientation is a big one—making sure living rooms face north, with appropriately sized glazing to capture the sun and keep the house warm.
Jess: We also look at multiple-use spaces, especially since people work from home or host visitors often. Making the most of the 200 square metres is key.
Ken: So is that 21 squares for the whole house?
Jess: Everything except garages, carports, and workshops.
Ken: But can it be larger?
Jess: Special considerations can be made, especially for accessibility or disability needs. But generally, they like to keep it under 200.
Jenny: What about multi-storey homes?
Jess: Absolutely. We do single and two-storey houses. Coastal views are often to the south, so people want to take advantage. Two-storey houses are a bit harder to get to perform well due to shape and surface area, but we usually achieve over 8 stars.
Jenny: Oh wow. Congratulations.
Jess: Thanks. It’s been a great learning process working with local builders and designers. Everyone shares knowledge and we’ve all improved.
Jenny: Has it been a challenge?
Jess: Adapt Design Group was set up to do this from the start. Even before the Cape, this is what we were focused on. The Cape gave us a platform to prove that beautiful, high-performing homes are possible.
Ken: Energy-wise?
Jess: Absolutely. For example, our house is 140 square metres, family of six, four bedrooms, one living space, two bathrooms, plus an office. In summer, our energy bill is basically zero thanks to solar and a battery. In winter, it’s about $400.
Jenny: For the whole of winter?
Jess: Yep. Even though we’re likely one of the higher energy users—washing machine and dryer never stop.
Ken: How does it handle summer heat?
Jess: That’s where shading comes in—eaves, pergolas, and other features block hot sun while still allowing winter warmth.
Ken: Do you ever have to tell clients no?
Jess: Every client’s brief is different, but I won’t design a house that won’t meet minimum standards. Sometimes we have honest conversations early—if someone wants a big south-facing window, we may need to offset it elsewhere.
Jenny: Just asking for a friend—have any houses there been built with lifts?
Jess: I’m doing one now with a lift, and I believe there’s another one. We’ve also designed homes ready for a future lift installation.
Ken: If people want to learn more, do they contact you or Live at the Cape?
Jess: Either. I’m happy to chat to anyone about the process, what we do, and give some pointers. People can find us via our website or Instagram—Adapt Design Group.
Jenny: And how are you enjoying life at the Cape with your family?
Jess: It’s pretty cool. Open space, walking tracks, knowing all our neighbours—it’s wild. In Melbourne, I didn’t know anyone. Here, there’s social connection, light-filled homes that perform all year. It’s a game changer.
Ken: Sounds wonderful. Thanks for joining us this morning, Jess.
Jenny: You have a good day.
Jess: You too. Thanks, guys.
Ken: Great to hear stories from Cape Paterson. That’s designer Jess Cuman of Adapt Design Group.