Share and Follow
On chilly days, 32 percent of Australians nationwide reported avoiding the use of heating due to costs.
In the Northern Territory, despite its reputation as one of Australia’s warmest regions, a significant number of renters are hesitant to heat or cool their homes because of financial concerns. This reluctance marks the highest percentage of cost-related energy avoidance among renters across the country.
A graphic representation highlights the percentage of renters in each Australian state and territory who refrain from using heating or cooling systems to save money.
Ashley Bradshaw, the Executive Manager of Analysis and Advocacy at the Energy Consumers Australia (ECA), emphasized that these findings underscore the urgent need for implementing minimum energy efficiency standards in rental properties nationwide.
In a survey of 1,056 people, nearly half of the participants expressed that landlords should be responsible for the cost of upgrading homes to meet these energy standards, albeit with government assistance. Meanwhile, 27 percent believed landlords should shoulder the entire cost, 14 percent felt that the government should fund the upgrades entirely, and 7 percent suggested a cost-sharing arrangement between landlords and tenants.
“At the moment, some state restrictions are simply very high level, just that the house needs to be ‘in working order’ — essentially words around that respect — so nothing at all related to energy efficiency,” Bradshaw said.
What changes are being proposed?
“On the other hand, a zero star would essentially be you are literally outside, a one star would be a tent.
Australian homes are of “very poor quality” when it comes to energy efficiency, Bradshaw said. Source: Getty / Maryna Terletska
“I think the average rating of a house in Australia is 1.8, so we’re kind of closer to a tent in terms of certain quality of homes, particularly rentals.”
“If we look forward, we’re going to seemingly have more extreme weather and see the health and societal impacts of that, so it becomes more and more important.”
How much could energy efficiency standards save you?
“Depending on the size of your home and how much heat or cool you like, we’re looking at saving a considerable amount per year — up to $2,000, our modelling showed, particularly in the homes that are the lowest performers,” she said. “So that’s no insulation and things like you’ve got gaps around windows, you’ve got old vents that are not blocked up, so your house is very leaky.”
They can also make your home quieter, reduce pressure on the energy grid, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve your physical and mental health and well-being.
