Healthy, efficient homes

Inefficient homes are unhealthy, expensive to run and vulnerable to extreme weather. Clear solutions exist, but low-income households and renters need support to access them.

Too many Australians live in energy-inefficient homes. Rooftop solar and energy efficiency upgrades (such as efficient hot water systems, heating and cooling) can make these homes healthier and less costly to run. However, many low-income households face financial and information barriers to improving their homes.

To make homes healthier and more comfortable, Australian governments need to act.

Introduce minimum efficiency standards for rental properties

Many rented homes are inefficient and neither landlords nor renters generally have an incentive to improve them. Requiring landlords to ensure rented homes meet minimum standards for energy efficiency would systematically improve people’s health, cost of living and the quality of housing in Australia.

Support low-income households to access energy efficiency and solar upgrades

Australian governments should assist renters, those in public housing and home-owners to upgrade their homes, including financial assistance to upgrade high-cost, inefficient fixtures, such as hot water systems, heating and cooling, and to install solar panels.

Gary (pictured above) is on a pension and couldn’t afford a solar power system. The Brotherhood’s Home Energy Assist Affordable Retrofits pilot project enabled him to install solar panels, which he says will dramatically cut his energy bills.

More of our work is available by viewing our Social Policy and Research Centre climate change and energy topic page .