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About the Energy Efficiency in Social Housing Program (EESHP)
Improving the energy efficiency and liveability of older social housing dwellings can help renters save on their energy bills and deliver other benefits, including homes that are healthier and more comfortable to live in and have lower greenhouse gas emissions.
The Victorian Government is partnering with the Australian Government and investing $158 million to improve the energy efficiency and liveability of social housing properties across Victoria.
The Energy Efficiency in Social Housing Program (EESHP) will deliver up to 45,000 individual energy efficiency upgrades, including 5,000 fully electrified homes.
This is an expansion of the original program that commenced in 2020.
Approximately 19,000 individual upgrades have already been delivered as part of the first phase of the program. The second phase will run between June 2024 and June 2027 to deliver the remaining upgrades.
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Phase 1 - rollout and completion of single upgrades
2020 – 2024 (COMPLETE)
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Phase 2 - pilot testing of upgrades
June-December 2024
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Phase 2 - rollout and completion
Early 2025 - Mid-2027
Energy efficiency upgrade activities
As part of the program, gas appliances will be replaced by efficient electric ones, including:
- Air conditioners for heating and cooling
- Heat pump hot water systems
- Electric ovens and cooktops.
And where possible, the following may also be carried out:
- Draught and gap sealing
- Insulation to ceilings
- Removing gas connections.
The number and range of energy efficiency upgrades that may be completed will depend on the home and circumstances. Upgrades will be made to social housing in all regions across Victoria where there is gas infrastructure.
Benefits to renters
Renters will benefit from:
- More comfortable homes in hot and cold weather
- Improvements in health for some people e.g. those with asthma, arthritis
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
- Hundreds of dollars in savings.
- Improve sleep quality
- Improve mental health, mood and energy levels
- Improve health and respiratory conditions like asthma, emphysema, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, epilepsy, diabetes and arthritis
- Reduce headaches and fatigue
- Improve productivity at home.
These benefits were supported by findings from the Sustainability Victoria Victorian Healthy Homes Program 2022.
Program eligibility
We’re targeting homes across Victoria with gas appliances and low energy efficiency.
Renters don’t need to apply to participate in the program. Renters from eligible properties will be sent a letter, followed by a phone call and face to face discussion to confirm enrolment in the program.
Participating renters will need to agree to the removal of existing gas appliances.
Background
The first phase of the Energy Efficiency in Social Housing Program (EESHP) began in November 2020 when the Victorian Government announced it would invest $112 million to deliver 35,000 individual energy efficiency upgrades to public, community and Aboriginal housing homes.
Following the announcement of further funding for social housing upgrades from the Commonwealth Government – including an additional $46 million to EESHP – the scope of the program has been expanded and its duration extended.
In Phase 2, instead of a single upgrade, eligible homes will receive a package of upgrades to significantly improve their energy efficiency.
Phase 2 also includes a pilot phase which will allow the opportunity to test processes and renter engagement and collect feedback.
For more information about EESHP
Check out the Frequently Asked Questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many renters who have received upgrades told us the energy efficiency upgrades helped to:
- Improve sleep quality
- Improve mental health, mood and energy levels
- Improve health and respiratory conditions like asthma, emphysema, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, epilepsy, diabetes and arthritis
- Reduce headaches and fatigue
- Improve productivity at home
In 2022, findings from the Sustainability Victoria, Victorian Healthy Homes Program, showed that:
- Upgrades had health benefits - including reduced breathlessness, improved quality of life and mental health.
- Healthcare costs reduced - on average by $887 per winter period for people who suffer from chronic illness.
- There was increased social connectedness – people are less likely to go to bed early to keep themselves warm, or more likely to invite people over for a cup a tea.
- There was less condensation over winter - dramatically reducing risks of mould build up.
This research included 1,000 participants and it was designed to measure the impact of an energy efficiency home upgrades on temperature, energy use, health and quality of life.
Energy efficiency upgrades are improvements to your home that help to reduce your energy use and your energy bills. They include:
Changes to major appliances: Some homes have old major appliances that use a lot of energy and cost a lot to run (especially space and water heaters). Modern energy efficient appliances reduce the amount of energy you need to use, cost less to run and can improve comfort.
Changes to your home: Some homes don’t have any or much insulation (especially older homes) and they can leak air to the outside. This means it’s harder and more costly to keep these homes warm in winter and cool in summer. Adding extra insulation and sealing gaps and cracks around doors, windows, helps maintain indoor temperatures, costing less to heat and cool.
All-electric homes are only powered by electricity, only include electric appliances and don’t use gas. Dual-fuel homes use electricity and gas and a mix of appliances.
All-electric homes are cheaper to run, healthier to live in, and are better for the environment.
Air conditioners – have been selected for heating and cooling. Space heating and cooling accounts for more than 50 per cent of home energy use in Victoria. Reverse cycle air conditioners, also known as split systems, are very energy efficient, cheap to run and generate the lowest greenhouse gas emissions.
Heat pump hot water systems – these use the same technology as air conditioners, and they are known for their exceptional energy efficiency. They are set to work best during the day rather than overnight.
Electric ovens and cooktops – these include a mix of standard electric ovens and hotplates, and induction cooktops. Induction cooktops will be introduced later in 2024.
Only pre-approved high-quality, energy efficient appliances have been selected for installation. These are registered in the Victorian Energy Upgrades Program Product Register.
Solar panels are not included in the testing stage of the program. They will be considered as a part of the future package of upgrades under certain circumstances (e.g. where the roof is not shaded).
No. The program is in addition to any special accommodation requirements for an air conditioner related to a medical condition.