Thousands of renters in social housing across Victoria will soon save hundreds of dollars annually on their energy bills through a new wave of free energy efficiency upgrades and modern electric appliances.
A joint funding package of $51.4 million has been allocated to the Energy Efficiency Social Housing Program (EESHP), enabling upgrades in 6,000 additional social housing homes, bringing the total to 11,000 homes receiving improvements. Among these, 5,000 homes will be fully converted to electric, significantly reducing energy costs.
The upgrades include hot water heat pumps, ceiling insulation, draft and gap sealing, alongside highly efficient reverse-cycle air conditioners for heating and cooling. These improvements will make homes warmer in winter, cooler in summer, and lower energy consumption with cleaner electricity.
Renters switching their hot water systems from gas to heat pumps can expect to save approximately $330 per year. Those upgrading ceiling insulation and draft sealing could save around $110 annually. Homes adopting all the upgrades and going fully electric may save up to $1,130 each year.
This new funding builds on previous investments aimed at providing social housing tenants with affordable energy and comfortable living conditions.
In addition, a further $120.3 million will be invested over four years to install solar panels and battery systems in more than 8,000 public and community housing properties as part of broader energy performance initiatives.
For more details, visit homes.vic.gov.au/energy-efficiency-social-housing-program.