$250 million for energy-efficient community housing
A $250 million program is expected to help drive the construction of around 1000 energy-efficient community houses in 2016 as part of the Australian Government’s better cities commitment.
The program, delivered through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation’s (CEFC) Community Housing Program, will help provide affordable energy-efficient housing to low-income earners, at the same time as help lower their living costs.
“By financing the development of homes which have the latest energy-efficient measures built in, we can lower their long-term energy needs and also minimise their impact on the environment,” said Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment.
“This is a very practical way to drive down household energy costs, which can make a real and positive difference for low-income families.”
Energy-efficient homes could feature double glazing on their windows, or include high-quality insulation and ventilation to reduce heating and cooling needs.
At the same time, Community Housing Providers will be able to access finance to retrofit existing buildings to improve energy efficiency for tenants, which may include switching to LED lighting, updating household appliances, installing solar panels and improving insulation.
“Community housing is already a substantial part of Australia’s overall housing stock and is expected to experience strong growth in the years ahead because of high tenant demands,” said CEFC Community Housing Sector Lead, Victoria Adams.
“Over the next year, our goal is to help finance the construction of 1000 new dwellings, built to an average seven-star rating under the Nationwide Housing Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS). With this standard, energy use can be reduced by an estimated 25%, delivering significant savings benefits to tenants and building owners.”
The CEFC has also released its new market report, which identifies strong demand for new community housing over the next decade as well as the need for significant private sector investment.
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