WAGA and several WAGA Councils (Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton and Wyndham) participated in the Victorian Healthy Homes Program led by Sustainability Victoria.
The Victorian Healthy Homes Program delivered thermal comfort and energy efficiency upgrades to 1000 homes of low-income Victorians with a health or social care need. It ran over 3 study years (2018, 2019, 2020) across western Melbourne and the Goulburn Valley. The program was designed as a randomised controlled trial, with households randomised to either the intervention (upgraded before winter) or control (upgraded after winter) group. The purpose of the trial was to evaluate the difference between groups over winter on thermal comfort, energy use, healthcare utilisation, health, and quality of life.
The analysis indicated that a minor upgrade of average $2,809 would be beneficial over the winter period, with the upgrade having cost savings associated with healthcare over the winter period of $887 per person. Cost-benefit analysis indicated that the upgrade would be cost saving within 3 years – and would yield a net saving of $4,783 over 10 years – due to savings in both energy and health. Savings were heavily weighted towards healthcare: for every $1 saved in energy, more than $10 is saved in health.
Find out more about the research on the old SV website snapshot captured on Trove.
Read the report here here.
The Western Alliance for Greenhouse Action (WAGA) respectfully acknowledges and recognises the Woiwurrung, Bunurong, Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and we pay respect to their Elders, past, present and future.