How energy upgrades can improve health and wellbeing for vulnerable people
Project summary
Despite new homes in Australia being required to be built to a 7-star energy rating, almost half of current Australian homes are rated under 2 stars. The gap in the energy efficiency of our housing not only contributes towards the cost of living in homes like this and to the health of our planet but can be greatly detrimental to the health of the people living in them. These health and wellbeing issues disproportionately impact lower income households, especially those with older residents or residents with chronic health conditions.
Under direction of Sustainability Victoria, UTS researchers collaborated with the Australian Energy Foundation to conduct a randomised control trial in which minor energy upgrades were installed to measure the impact on the energy use, thermal comfort, health, and wellbeing of Victorian residents on lower incomes with existing heath conditions. These upgrades, tailored to maintaining winter warmth, averaged a cost of $2800 and included improvements to insulation and sealing out draughts. The research found that participating households spent 43 less minutes each day in harmful ‘cold indoor temperatures’ (below 18°C).
The study noted lower heating requirements as well as improvements in quality of life with improved health and well-being of participants being recorded and significantly reduced healthcare related costs per person over the course of the winter. The study showed that the investment in upgrades would become cost-savings within 3 years.
Results of this research were discussed at a launch event, and you can read more here.
Project timeframe
2017-2022
SDG targets addressed by this project
Reduced inequalities:
10.2 - By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status
10.3 - Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard
No poverty:
1.2 - By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions
1.5 - By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters
Affordable and clean energy:
7.3 - By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
7.a - By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology
Sustainable cities and communities:
11.1 - By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums
Climate action:
13.1 - Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
Partnerships for the goals:
17.17 – Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships Data, monitoring and accountability. Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships Data, monitoring and accountability.
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Program Lead - Healthy Environments -
Director, CHERE Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation -
Key collaborators
- Sustainability Victoria
- ISF
- CHERE
