Lower bills and cooler homes on the way for Queensland community housing tenants

• Community housing providers can now apply for rebates to install energy efficiency and thermal comfort upgrades.
• Up to $4,500 available for Community Housing Providers to install upgrades like solar, insulation, and energy efficient hot water systems and appliances.
• Upgrades will help keep homes cooler in hot Queensland summer and reduce power bills for vulnerable social housing residents. 

Thousands of Queenslanders living in community housing will benefit from cost-of-living relief and better thermal comfort in their homes thanks to the new Queensland Community Housing Energy Upgrades (Q-CHEU) program jointly funded by the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments.

Applications are now open for up to $4,500 in rebates to help eligible community housing providers deliver energy efficiency and thermal comfort upgrades to around 4,000 community homes across Queensland.  

Upgrades could include:  

• insulation and shading for homes
• installation of efficient electric appliances like hot water systems, ovens and cooktops and split-cycle air conditioners 
• solar systems such as solar panels. 

The Q-CHEU program is the latest part of a broader $116 million investment by the Australian and Queensland Governments to improve energy performance for up to 32,000 social housing properties across the state. 

Federal Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson said the Commonwealth's Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative is a great example of policy delivering positive results for people.

“No matter their circumstances, all Australians deserve to benefit from cheaper energy bills and more comfortable homes and that’s why the Albanese Government is investing $1.1 billion to upgrade the nation’s stock of social and community housing – with 100,000 dwellings to be upgraded. 

“Upgrades like shading, insulation energy efficient appliances will deliver instant and permanent hip pocket relief for Queensland’s community housing tenants.” 

Queensland Minister for Housing and Public Works Sam O’Connor said the scheme would help to reduce the cost of living for some of the state’s most vulnerable people. 

“This is a practical program that will change the lives of our community housing tenants by helping to cut their power bills and making their homes more liveable,” he said. 

“Our tenants in community homes are on low incomes, so reducing energy costs and improving thermal comfort will make a real difference especially during our scorching hot Queensland summers."