Energy Literacy: The Key to a Comfortable and Sustainable Future for Australia

As Australia sets its sights on ambitious net-zero targets, energy literacy has become a critical tool for navigating the journey. Understanding energy use is no longer just about saving a few dollars on the power bill, it’s about empowering individuals and communities to make informed choices, improve home comfort, and reduce energy consumption. Yet, compared to global standards, Australia is still lagging when it comes to energy-efficient housing practices. In many ways, our mild climate has led to complacency. We don’t often face the sub-zero winters that drive urgent improvements in housing efficiency elsewhere, but this comfort has become a curse, trapping us in outdated standards and inefficient practices.

Achieving a net-zero future requires more than just awareness, it calls for active participation from federal, state, and local governments to prioritise energy literacy, elevate efficiency standards, and promote programs like the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) and free energy assessments for all residents. By raising awareness of these programs, governments at all levels can play a critical role in ensuring every household, from renters to homeowners, benefits from a more sustainable and comfortable living environment.

The Consequences of Lagging Standards: Why Energy Efficiency Matters

Australia’s housing stock is well behind the energy efficiency curve compared to countries where double glazing and airtight construction are the norm. Concepts like Passivhaus, which focuses on maximising insulation, reducing drafts, and regulating indoor temperatures, are still far from mainstream here. While Passivhaus standards are widely adopted across Europe to tackle extreme temperatures, Australia’s approach has remained reactive, relying on quick fixes rather than building a foundation for lasting comfort and efficiency.

Our solution to extreme heat often involves escaping to air-conditioned spaces like shopping centres or cranking up power-hungry heaters on cold days. But these short-term fixes don’t address the underlying inefficiency of our homes. It’s time for a change in mindset, where home comfort is built into the design rather than added as an afterthought. By promoting energy literacy and supporting sustainable home improvements, we can shift towards homes that stay naturally comfortable year-round, reducing reliance on costly appliances.

Energy Literacy as a Catalyst for Change

Energy literacy is not just a catchphrase; it’s an essential tool that enables people to navigate the complexities of energy use, efficiency options, and available support. Understanding concepts like thermal envelope, draught proofing, air tightness, tariffs, renewables, storage and the role of energy-efficient appliances empowers individuals to make choices that reduce costs and improve comfort. However, for many, these concepts remain unfamiliar and overwhelming.

Government initiatives such as the VEU and programs like Residential Efficiency Scorecard are pivotal to bridging this gap. These programs provide clear, practical information on improving energy efficiency and making homes more comfortable. Promoting such initiatives at a national level could empower households to take action, reducing energy bills and improving living conditions in the process.

Tackling Energy Poverty: A National Imperative

Energy poverty is a complex issue that deeply affects communities across Australia. It extends beyond financial strain to impact physical health, mental well-being, and community stability. We see families making difficult choices: paying for heating in winter or affording groceries, running a fan in summer or saving for school supplies. This burden is especially severe for the elderly and vulnerable, who are most at risk in extreme temperatures.

Energy poverty, where households struggle to maintain a comfortable indoor environment due to high energy costs or inefficient housing, is a growing issue in Australia. Many low-income families and renters face a harsh reality of substandard housing with outdated appliances and inadequate insulation, leading to higher energy bills and diminished comfort.

Federal and state governments have the responsibility to ensure that energy efficiency isn’t just accessible to those who can afford home improvements but is an achievable standard across all housing. Programs like the VEU help make upgrades more affordable, but broader, more robust policies are needed that target these at risk demographics. By expanding subsidies for energy-efficient upgrades and providing targeted support for renters, governments can ensure that all Australians, regardless of income have access to comfortable and sustainable homes.

Raising the Bar: Minimum Standards and Global Comparisons

In 2021, Victoria introduced minimum standards for rental properties, including basic heating requirements, but many homes continue to fall short. The 2023 updates have raised the bar, mandating more stringent standards for fixed efficient heating in living areas. Yet, these improvements still leave Australia behind global leaders in energy efficiency. In countries like Germany and Sweden, double glazing, airtight construction, and robust insulation are standard practices.

For Australia to catch up, we need to move beyond minimum requirements and adopt enforceable, ambitious standards that prioritise long-term comfort and efficiency. Federal and state governments should look at international benchmarks and commit to standards that ensure homes are well-insulated, draft-free, and comfortable, regardless of external temperatures. By prioritising upgrades like double glazing and insulation, Australia can improve not only energy efficiency but also year-round comfort for all residents.

Education and Transparency: A Shared Responsibility Across Government Levels

Energy literacy is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration across federal, state, and local governments. At the federal level, policies can support energy literacy programs and provide incentives for energy-efficient upgrades. State governments can facilitate education campaigns that raise awareness of available programs and rebates, helping residents understand their options. Local governments, meanwhile, can implement workshops and community events that provide practical insights into home efficiency, from understanding appliance ratings to evaluating insulation needs and getting families in touch with professionals in their area.

One powerful government tool for promoting transparency is the Residential Efficiency Scorecard, which provides a clear, accessible energy efficiency rating for homes. Mandating this disclosure for rental properties would empower renters to make informed choices and push landlords to prioritise efficiency upgrades. Such policies would create a ripple effect, raising awareness of energy efficiency and driving market demand for high-quality, energy-efficient housing.

Debunking the Myths of Comfort: “Size Doesn’t Matter” When It Comes to Efficiency

One of the biggest misconceptions in Australian homes is that smaller appliances, like compact heaters or fans, use less energy. In reality, size doesn’t matter; these small devices are often among the most inefficient, consuming substantial power while providing limited comfort. Energy assessors commonly encounter rental properties where residents rely on radiator heaters or fan heaters to warm an entire room, racking up high bills with minimal results.

The truth is, sustainable comfort requires more than appliance-based fixes. By improving insulation, sealing drafts, and adopting sustainable heating and cooling systems, households can achieve lasting comfort without the high energy costs. Government incentives and education efforts should emphasise these sustainable methods, empowering households to make the shift from temporary comfort fixes to efficient, long-term solutions.

Future proofing the minority:

While the recent increase in new-build standards to a 7-star energy rating is a promising step toward sustainable housing, it only addresses a fraction of Australia’s housing stock. This shift is a positive sign for the future, ensuring that new homes are built with higher insulation, better appliances, and improved energy efficiency. However, it does little to impact the millions of existing homes that continue to consume excessive energy due to outdated construction and lack of modern efficiency measures. These older properties, which form the backbone of Australia’s housing market, require extensive retrofitting to reach similar energy efficiency levels. From insulation upgrades to installing double glazing and sealing drafts, these homes need targeted support through incentives, subsidies, and accessible programs to become part of Australia’s sustainable future. Addressing this retrofitting need is crucial, as it’s not just about new builds but about bringing all homes up to a standard where they are affordable, comfortable, and energy-efficient.

The Path Forward: From Energy Literacy to Sustainable Living

Australia’s mild climate has lulled us into a mindset where home comfort is often an afterthought. As we push toward a sustainable future, it’s time for a shift in perspective. Every level of government has a role to play in creating a culture where energy literacy is the norm, not the exception. From supporting practical programs like the VEU to ensuring mandatory energy disclosures and minimum efficiency standards, governments can bridge the gap between knowledge and action.

The path forward is clear:

1. Enhanced Minimum Standards: Federal and state governments should align Australia’s standards with global leaders, focusing on insulation, glazing, and energy efficiency as baseline requirements. By implementing enforceable standards, we can move beyond temporary fixes and build homes that maintain comfort naturally.

2. Energy Literacy Programs: Expanding on initiatives like the VEU and free energy assessments, energy literacy programs should be a nationwide priority. Every Australian deserves access to the information and resources needed to make informed energy choices, reduce costs, and contribute to a sustainable future.

3. Transparency and Disclosure: Mandatory energy disclosures using tools like the Residential Efficiency Scorecard can bring transparency to the housing market, empowering renters and buyers with the information they need to make smart choices about energy efficiency.

Creating a Culture of Sustainable Comfort

A comfortable, energy-efficient home shouldn’t be a luxury, it should be the standard for every Australian household. As we work toward net-zero targets, it’s time for governments to embrace energy literacy as a cornerstone of this transformation. Through better standards, robust education, and collaborative support, we can foster a society where energy efficiency and sustainable comfort go hand in hand. This journey isn’t just about meeting targets; it’s about building a future where everyone benefits from a healthier, more comfortable, and sustainable Australia.