‘A win-win’: Power bills go down with good climate policy
A partnership between the Federal and New South Wales Governments to upgrade energy efficiency across tens of thousands of homes is a great outcome for cost-of-living and for climate.
Deputy Director of Solutions for Climate Australia Sophia Walter said:
“These energy efficiency upgrades are a win-win for Australians - power bills go down, homes are cooler in summer and warmer in winter, and ultimately climate pollution is reduced through less energy consumption.”
“Improving energy efficiency is a really important piece of the puzzle in tackling global warming and meeting our targets to reduce climate pollution - according to International Energy Agency projections, energy efficiency could reduce annual energy-related emissions by 12% globally compared with 2017 levels.”
“And it’s not just the climate outcomes - more comfortable homes and more affordable bills are going to make a big difference for renters and lower income people across New South Wales.”
“The best thing we can do for homes is move them off expensive and unhealthy gas, install solar panels, replace polluting coal and gas for grid electricity with renewable energy, and install efficient heating and cooling mechanisms like insulation, heat pumps, ceiling fans and reverse cycle air conditioners.”
The Federal/NSW government’s investment in household efficiency comes as the USA’s climate investment package—the Inflation Reduction Act—continues to improve household energy efficiency. Australian advocates are looking to the Albanese government to follow the lead and deliver a historic investment in climate solutions.
“A scale up of investment in energy efficiency will deliver huge outcomes for Australia - governments should implement much, much more of these upgrades nationwide. This $206 million package will upgrade up to 30,000 homes - imagine what we could do with AUKUS scale funding in the hundreds of billions.”
‘Climate Works’ reports that ‘quick-fix’ and ‘climate-ready’ thermal upgrades along with full electrification of appliances would avoid a national average of between 2.1 and 2.3 tonnes of carbon emissions per home annually, equating to an average reduction of 60–66 per cent of domestic emissions per home.
The funding from the Albanese Government is the delivery of commitments to solar banks and a Household Energy Upgrades fund, matched by funding from the Minns Government.
“It’s good to see the Albanese Government acting a month after signing onto the pledge to double global energy efficiency by 2030 at the COP 28 world gathering in November. We’re looking forward to seeing the government’s plan to double energy efficiency in Australia by 2030.”