Energy efficiency for disadvantaged households
Energy efficiency is a key way to insulate low-income households from rising energy costs. Disadvantaged households already spend proportionally more of their income on household power than do high-income households. The rising cost of energy that will result from carbon prices and other policies threatens to make this worse unless ways can be found to help disadvantaged households make necessary investments in energy saving – like better insulation, appliances that use less power and cleaner forms of heating and cooling. Rather than subsidising continuing inefficient energy use, we can help low-income Australians cut energy use and reduce the impact of climate change.
Media
Media releases
Energy efficiency key to tackling rising energy bills 25 May 2011
One Million Homes program best path to meet Brumby's five-star home upgrade promise 27 July 2010
Media discussion on our work in this area
The Breakfast Program, ABC Radio National, 25 May 2011 (MP3 file, 4.6 MB)
John Thwaites, Chair of the Brotherhood of St. Laurence's Low Income Climate Change Task Group, and former deputy premier of Victoria, speaking with Fran Kelly.
Carbon tax lobbyists seek poor relief by Adam Morton and Tom Arup, The Age, 25 May 2011.
Energy sellers may have to help customers cut use by Lenore Taylor, Sydney Morning Herald, 25 May 2011.
Submission
BSL submission re the National Energy Savings Initiative February 2012 (PDF file, 174 KB)
Articles, reports and papers
Energy efficiency and affordability for Australian households, May 2011 (joint statement) (PDF file, 320 KB)
Josie Lee and Damian Sullivan 2008, ‘Towards climate-proofing: a national energy efficiency program for low-income households’, Brotherhood Comment, November, pp.1–2 (PDF file, 442 KB)
Damian Sullivan and Josie Lee 2008, ‘Responding to climate change: UK lessons for protecting low-income households’, Brotherhood Comment, August, pp.14–15 (PDF file, 294 KB)
Damian Sullivan 2008, ‘Responding to climate change: Steps to assist low-income private renters’, Brotherhood Comment, pp.6–7 (PDF file, 255 KB)
KPMG 2008, Stimulating the Australian economy through a national energy efficiency program December 2008 (PDF file, 24 KB)
Brotherhood of St Laurence and KPMG 2008, A national energy efficiency program to assist low-income households (PDF file, 1.7 MB) (also submitted to Carbon Pollution Reduction scheme green papers)
Brotherhood of St Laurence 2008, Enabling low-income households in the private rental market to respond to climate change: recommendations and report from the roundtable convened December 2007 by the Brotherhood of St Laurence (PDF file, 600 KB)
Damian Sullivan 2008, Climate change: addressing the needs of low-income households in the private rental market: background paper, Brotherhood of St Laurence (PDF file, 80 KB)
Go to research in progress about climate change.