Hundreds of air-cons and 1,000 hot water heat pumps cut costs, boost comfort in social housing

A state and federally-funded effort to boost the energy efficiency and performance of up to 5,000 public and community housing properties in Australia’s capital has already installed hundreds of reverse cycle air conditioners and 1,000 hot water heat pumps.

The Albanese and ACT governments said on Monday that the $35.2 million Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative (SHEPI) partnership has so far provided 3,000 households with vital energy performance upgrades that will cut energy bills and make homes more comfortable.

Backed by the Albanese government’s $800 million Federal SHEPI investment, the ACT Home Energy Support Public and Community Housing Upgrades Program supports the installation of ceiling insulation and replacement of existing gas appliances with efficient electric alternatives.

So far, according to both governments, the ACT program has installed more than 250,000 square metres of insulation, over 700 reverse cycle air conditioners, and 1,000 hot water heat pumps.

“This is making a real difference to the wellbeing of individuals and families, not to mention easing cost of living pressure,” said Yvette Berry, ACT minister for homes, homelessness, and new suburbs.

“Through the Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative, thousands of public homes now have upgraded insulation, reverse cycle air conditioning and efficient electric appliances.

“More than 3000 homes have already been improved under the Home Energy Support Program, and between the ACT and Commonwealth Governments’ joint investment of $35 million, we’re on track to upgrade up to 5,000 public and community housing properties.”

Nationally, more than 9,500 social housing properties have received energy performance upgrades through SHEPI partnerships, helping households to save around $1,800 on their energy bills each year.

When the federal government’s $800 million SHEPI investment and contributions from states and territories are all spent by 2029, the program is expected to provide up to 100,000 social housing properties across the country with energy performance upgrades.

Next on the cards for SHEPI in the ACT, however, is a $12.9 million project announced earlier this year that will install rooftop solar and batteries on social housing properties, as well as connect them to a virtual power plant (VPP).

According to Suzanne Orr, ACT minister for climate change, environment, energy, and water, rooftop solar systems and batteries will be installed across thousands of social housing properties in the ACT and then operated as a larger VPP, helping to deliver “an innovative and long-term solution to reducing electricity costs and supporting grid reliability.”