The Queenscliffe Energy Efficient Homes Program is an initiative of Queenscliffe Climate Action Now (QCAN) delivered by Geelong Sustainability and supported by the Borough of Queenscliffe. The aim of the program is to provide residents of the Borough of Queenscliffe with expert advice on how to improve the energy efficiency of their homes in order to reduce their energy consumption and emissions. It represents a key action under the Sustainable Buildings pillar of our Climate Emergency Response Plan.
If you live in Queenscliffe, this program offers the first 90 applicants a detailed energy efficiency audit of your home at a subsidised rate. Audits are conducted by a professional, accredited energy assessor and will help you:
- make informed, cost-effective improvements to your home to reduce energy consumption and save money on your energy bills
- make your home more comfortable, especially during the winter and summer months
- make your home more economically and environmentally sustainable
- contribute to the goals of our Borough’s Climate Emergency Response Plan
Why should I get an energy efficiency audit?
If your home is too cold in winter or too hot in summer or energy bills are high, there may be cost-effective ways to upgrade or retrofit your home to make it more comfortable and cheaper to run. However, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to prioritising home upgrades: you may be unaware of where heat is being lost or gained and may be unsure of the effectiveness of various measures that can be taken to improve energy efficiency and comfort in your home. An energy efficiency audit will help you determine what’s making your home inefficient, and what you can do about it.
Australia is in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, and households are facing rapidly increasing gas and electricity bills – an acute issue in our Victorian winter. If your energy bills are rising an energy audit will tell you which appliances may be contributing to that and what cost-effective measures could be taken to reduce your bills. With a well-sealed, well-insulated home with energy efficient appliances, you could save thousands of dollars each year.
Reducing your energy usage will also contribute to the ambitious targets of the Borough of Queenscliffe to support our community towards a more sustainable future.
What’s included in an energy efficiency audit?
The in-home audit will be delivered by an experienced and accredited home energy assessor from Geelong Sustainability, assisted by a volunteer from QCAN. While conducting the audit, the assessor will talk you through opportunities for improving home comfort and reducing your energy bills. At the end of the audit, you will receive a detailed report including:
- A review of the features of your home that contribute to energy efficiency
- Efficiency issues identified within the home, such as insulation gaps or inefficient appliances
- Suggested prioritisation of upgrades of your building and/or appliances
- Government rebates available
How much will it cost?
Home energy efficiency audits typically cost around $500. This program is offering the first 90 audits at only $100 each. Costs have been reduced by the use of suitably trained volunteers from QCAN to support the accredited energy assessor from Geelong Sustainability. In addition, the Borough of Queenscliffe is providing a subsidy for the first 90 audits in the Borough.
Book today by following the link below. The audits take between 1-1.5hrs and are currently being offered during business hours every Wednesday from 2nd August 2023.
This program is being delivered by Geelong Sustainability with the support of Borough of Queenscliffe and Queenscliffe Climate Action Now.
