Energy Efficiency in Social Housing Program

Improving the energy efficiency and liveability of older social housing dwellings can help residents 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.

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.

Residents 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.  

Many residents who received upgrades in the first phase of the program 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.

These benefits were supported by findings from the  Sustainability Victoria Victorian Healthy Homes Program 2022.

We’re targeting homes across Victoria with gas appliances and low energy efficiency.

Residents don’t need to apply to participate in the program. Residents 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 residents will need to agree to the removal of existing gas appliances.

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.

If you have any questions about the program, please send us an email.