As homebuilders around the world are trying to innovate to meet escalating levels of demand, some argue in the value to refocus on retrofitting current buildings. This The Guardian article explores the social and economic benefits.
Right now, we are choosing the course of our economic recovery. We can choose to stimulate the economy in the short term, make huge progress on climate and take care of vulnerable people.
Last week’s homebuilder policy was a blunder, leaving too many benefits on the table, and handing out budget treats to the wrong people and projects.
For less than the $25,000 homebuilder grant we could retrofit a social housing property. On average this would cover solar, a hot water heat pump, upgrades to thermal performance (through underfloor, cavity or rooftop insulation, sealing and draught-stopping), a good-sized battery, and replacing gas heating with electric.
The benefits are clear and go further than immediate economic stimulus. As the thinktank ClimateWorks found, upgrading and electrifying our housing stock is a powerful climate lever. That’s already happening for a lot of middle class housing, but our clean energy revolution is leaving too many people behind.
When it comes to energy efficiency, our private rental stock is awful; it’s even worse in social housing where our most disadvantaged citizens live. For those households, we can provide energy security, cut energy cost burdens, make their houses healthier, while taking climate action and stimulating the economy.
Right now, social housing tenants can’t make improvements to their homes, community housing providers have inadequate funds, and governments haven’t adequately prioritised energy retrofits. But now is the time, and it’s a better stimulus option than homebuilder.
Read More
