Addressing the problems of health, housing and energy poverty
CSH addressed problems of poor health, poor housing conditions, and energy‑related financial hardship experienced by households with low-income in Greater Melbourne.
In Australia, poor housing quality undermines health and makes it difficult for households to maintain safe indoor temperatures. This leaves many people with health conditions living in homes that are too cold in winter or too hot in summer.
Poor housing often has inadequate insulation and inefficient or unsafe heating and cooling systems. Because of unsafe indoor temperatures, many Australian households experience energy-related hardship. They may be forced to use too little energy (to save money at the expense of health), struggle to pay unaffordable bills, or cut other essential costs to afford energy. These issues often overlap with chronic illness or disability, which can reduce income and increase time spent in their too hot or too cold home.
For people with medical conditions, living without adequate heating or cooling can increase their risk of illness or death. Those most at risk include older people; young children; and individuals with chronic respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, musculoskeletal or mental health conditions. These groups are over‑represented in low‑income households.
Even if people own their own home, the high cost of energy upgrades (for example, installing reverse cycle heating and cooling) stops households being able to improve their living conditions. In addition, limited information and difficulty finding trustworthy suppliers create barriers to making upgrades that could improve indoor temperatures.
CSH was designed as a targeted response to these combined challenges. It aimed to help identified households undertake energy upgrades that would enhancing both health and climate resilience by improving indoor temperatures, reducing energy bills and lowering CO₂ emissions.
The pilot program was designed in 2019 by Anica Niepraschk, Damian Sullivan and Magnus Garathun, who used stakeholder consultation and a literature review to identify major gaps in Australian policy and programs [then what?].
Interconnected factors addressed by Climate Safe Homes
Examples of the effect of extreme temperatures on life in the home
One Climate Safe Homes participant explained they could not afford to heat their home overnight, which caused their MS symptoms to worsen significantly. Another described how being too cold intensified pain from severe spinal and nerve injuries. Participants with Parkinson’s Disease explained they experience increased spasms in cold conditions, and one told us they walked around wrapped in blankets to stay warm, which poses a serious falls risk. For many people with poor health, breathing in cold air can cause chest pain and persistent coughing, prolonged episodes of which can lead to extreme exhaustion.
Similarly, hot indoor temperatures can severely affect participants’ wellbeing. One person with MS found it extremely difficult to function in the heat, as it exacerbates all their symptoms. A parent shared that their son who has autism faces extreme challenges with temperature regulation, which makes the home environment very uncomfortable for him and can trigger behavioural difficulties. For others, hot weather makes it harder to breathe due to the dry air and can lead to feelings of exhaustion, breathlessness and lung pain.