Mel Yuan for Brunswick

50% of people in Brunswick rent.

47.9% in Brunswick West.

54.9% in Brunswick East.

While the Victorian average is 28.7%.

That means roughly half of all people have limited means to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

Coupled with this, much of Brunswick’s housing stock is either pre-1960s or new developments (1990s onwards). Both these building types typically have poor thermal properties.

Insulation, building orientation and shading – the things that make the most difference to comfortable energy efficiency – are often expensive and not in new developments, while cheap and easy things like solar hot water or energy-efficient appliances are preferred by developers.

Almost all Victorian this year are subject to “bill shock” when their electricity, gas and water bills come in with working and learning from home.

Despite the great advice available to renters to improve their energy efficiency (and here and here), the advice is very reliant on having a supportive landlord and/or often involves the purchase of new or more expensive products.

New regulations are in the works. These make some improvements for energy efficiency and mandate that reasonable permission to make improvements should not be withheld, but more is needed.

Now, more than ever, we need minimal energy efficiency standards for rental properties. (Renew)

Council should use the quarterly ratepayer notices to: 

• encourage landlords to become more energy efficient as part of their effective use of maintenance costs 
• provide State Government advice regarding their obligations for rental standards
• refer landlords to sources of advice, granting programs, and/or buying arrangements for energy efficiency and associated products

Council should partner with relevant organisations (including https://www.aef.com.au/ https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/ https://www.tenantsvic.org.au/ ) to implement support for renters to improve their energy efficiency such as small grants, product trade-ins, and/or bulk buys. Opportunities for commercial support for such schemes should be fully explored. 

While the current Covid crisis has put landlords and tenants under extreme stress, we have seen first-hand how the poor thermal performance of our buildings costs money, wastes energy and reduces peoples’ comfort at home. Heat and cold stress can have negative impacts on human health.