The Hon Josh Wilson MP, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy
The Hon Kerry Vincent MLC, Tasmanian Minister for Housing and Planning
Richard Dowling, Senator for Tasmania
More Tasmanian social housing tenants will get lower energy bills and more comfortable homes thanks to an upgrade program funded by the Albanese Government.
The Albanese Government is providing a further $14.6 million under the Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative (SHEPI) to enable works around Tasmania to provide around 1,200 more social housing properties with much needed energy performance upgrades.
Work has commenced for upgrades that could include double glazing, electric heat pump hot water systems, thermal insulation, and LED lighting.
SHEPI is a $1.1 billion nationwide program working with states and territories to deliver energy performance upgrades to 100,000 public and community homes.
The Albanese and Rockliff governments have already co-funded $16.6m - contributing $8.3 million each - in energy performance upgrades to 1,700 properties under the SHEPI program.
The Tasmanian Government is working alongside community housing providers to deliver the program upgrade works.
Social housing homes in Tasmania are among the least energy efficient in the state, with most built long before minimum standards for energy performance were introduced.
These upgrades will make a real difference, especially during Tasmania's cold winters, by making homes easier to heat, more comfortable to live in and cheaper to run.
More than 26,000 properties in social or community housing nationwide have so far benefited from the SHEPI program.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Josh Wilson:
"No matter their circumstances, all Australians deserve to benefit from cheaper energy bills and more liveable homes and that's why the Albanese Government is investing $1.1 billion to upgrade the nation's stock of social and community housing - with 100,000 dwellings to be upgraded.
"Upgrades like double glazing, electric heat pump hot water systems, thermal insulation, and LED lighting will deliver instant and permanent hip pocket relief for thousands of Tasmanians while also helping to reduce system costs overall through better efficiency."
Quotes attributable to Tasmanian Minister for Housing and Planning, Kerry Vincent:
"We're delivering for Tasmania by ensuring more people can benefit from energy-efficient homes that reduce costs and make life more comfortable.
"These upgrades are about delivering relief to the people in our community who need it most, helping to lower energy bills while making homes warmer and more comfortable."
Quotes attributable to Senator for Tasmania, Richard Dowling:
"Energy efficiency is one of the smartest upgrades we can make to a home because the savings keep showing up on the power bill, year after year."
"For too long, Tasmanians in older social housing have been asked to battle cold winters with homes that leak heat and cost too much to run. This program upgrades the home, and keeps more money in tenants pockets."
