Energy efficiency retrofits to help vulnerable Victorians

The Victorian Government has announced a $6 million initiative to improve home energy efficiency and save money for those most in need. It is the first of several upcoming energy efficiency programs to help Victorian families and businesses with their energy bills, thus seeking to fill the gap left by the closure of the federal government’s Low Income Energy Efficiency Programs in 2016.

The Making Home Energy More Affordable program will deliver energy efficiency upgrades for 800 concession and low-income households. It will include home renovations, replacing appliances and installing solar panels, giving households the option to improve their homes with no and low-interest loans.

The program is expected to save participants an average of $500 per year on their energy bills, based on a typical retrofit of $4500 for measures such as draught proofing, ceiling insulation and a heater upgrade. Additionally, the program will partner with community organisations to deliver the best outcomes for low-income households.

The news has been welcomed by Environment Victoria, which looks forward to even greater opportunities for Victorian households to save money and cut pollution.

“These retrofits will significantly improve the lives of vulnerable Victorian families, making their homes safer, more comfortable and cheaper to live in,” said Environment Victoria Efficiency Campaigner Anne Martinelli.

“But we also urgently need a comprehensive government strategy to improve the efficiency of all Victorian houses.”

Martinelli noted that Victorian homes average less than two stars in terms of energy efficiency — a particularly worrying statistic given the long, uncomfortable heatwaves that are expected to come with climate change. She also pointed out the benefits of energy efficiency programs, such as saving money, reducing emissions, creating new jobs and diversifying the economy in regional areas.

“We are looking to the Victorian Government for leadership on sensible policy reforms, such as better standards for new and rental homes, to drive the broad-scale improvement we need if our homes are to meet the challenges of the future,” she said.

“When you consider that efficiency improvements can save money from day one, and could deliver a significant proportion of the government’s recently announced 2020 emissions reduction target, it makes sense to take decisive action.”