One Million Homes program best path to meet Brumby's five-star home upgrade promise

27 July 2010

The One Million Homes Alliance today has welcomed the Brumby government’s commitment to increase the energy efficiency of Victorian homes to an average of five stars by 2020 and to a comprehensive retrofit program that includes support for low-income households and public housing tenants.

Kelly O’Shanassy, CEO, Environment Victoria, said, ‘The best way to achieve a five-star standard in low-income homes is through a One Million Homes energy and water efficiency retrofitting program’. She added, ‘The One Million Homes program has the backing of the leading social and environment groups across Victoria’.

Kelly O’Shanassy said, ‘The commitment to a comprehensive retrofit program must now be backed up by financial investment to ensure low-income households have no out of pocket expenses’.

Damian Sullivan, Manager – Equity and Climate Change, Brotherhood of St Laurence, said, ‘Helping low-income households improve the energy efficiency of their homes is an important step, as it reduces the impact of rising energy prices on their cost of living whilst also assisting people to live more sustainably’.

Ian Porter, CEO Alternative Technology Association, said, ‘A five-star standard is a big step up from the one to two-star standard of most houses today and should ensure measures such as low‐flow shower roses, insulation, sealing of gaps and cracks, efficient hot water and compact fluorescent globes are in place in all homes. These changes don’t have to be expensive as many Victorians have shown over recent years’.

Kate Colvin, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Victorian Council of Social Service, said, ‘Minimum rental standards and additional investment in retrofitting public housing will be needed to achieve the Victorian Government’s five‐star goal for low-income renters’.

View the report One Million Homes: A 2010 Energy and Water Efficiency Campaign (PDF file, 3.33 MB)

View the full list of One Million Homes Alliance members.

For comment contact: Kelly O’Shanassy, Environment Victoria, 0421 054 402; Ian Porter, Alternative Technology Association, 0412 254 200; Kate Colvin, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, VCOSS, 0418 103 292; Johanna de Wever, Brotherhood of St Laurence, 0424 751 920.

Media assistance: Louise Matthiesson 0417 017 844

Download this media release (PDF file, 163 KB)