More than 24,000 social homes across Queensland will receive ceiling fans to provide cooling relief from the summer heat, along with ceiling insulation, energy-efficient hot water systems, solar photovoltaic systems, and cooling systems.
The initiative is part of a $98 million program designed to improve living conditions and reduce energy costs for social housing tenants. Under the four-year program, up to 32,000 social homes will also undergo a range of energy performance improvements, including installing ceiling insulation, energy-efficient hot water systems, solar photovoltaic systems, and cooling systems in some of Queensland’s hottest areas.
The Program is being supported through a broader $116 million joint partnership under the Australian Government’s Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative.
Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Josh Wilson MP, said the Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative is making a real difference by lowering energy costs and making homes more liveable.
“The Australian Government is determined to help Queensland deliver energy efficiency and liveability upgrades to the state’s social housing stock to improve the wellbeing of tenants.
“People doing it tough shouldn’t have to struggle in housing that is oppressively hot or cold, nor should they have to cut essentials to afford the energy it takes to provide a liveable and healthy temperature at home.
“That’s why the Australian Government’s cost of living measures included immediate energy price relief, and we’re delivering the expanded $800 million Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative in partnership with the states and territories to upgrade dwellings over the next four years.”
Minister for Housing and Public Works Sam O’Connor said the upgrades are part of a broader initiative to install ceiling fans in the bedrooms and living areas of Queensland’s 63,000 government-owned social homes.
“Queensland summers can be unforgiving, and heatwaves can have serious impacts on the health and well-being of vulnerable Queenslanders, particularly the elderly, babies and young children, and those with medical conditions,’’ Minister O’Connor said.
“Many of our tenants in social housing across Queensland fall into these categories, so this long overdue improvement to their living standards will make a huge difference.
“We care about the health and well-being of our tenants, which is why we are committed to ensuring our social housing properties are as comfortable as possible and environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.”
For more information about the project, visit https://www.qld.gov.au/health/staying-healthy/environmental/heatsafe.