BSL: The Victorian Government has called for lives to be saved in dysfunctional homes

The Victorian Government is responding to calls to save lives by supporting a charity group’s year-round efforts to bring energy efficiency into the homes of people with serious health conditions.

A non-profit group, along with construction experts, have renewed warnings that older homes across the state are harming the health of their residents – and can even lead to deaths.

Over the past year, the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s Climate Safe Homes program has developed 126 homes across Melbourne for people with chronic health conditions who live on low incomes, with improvements including solar panels, air conditioning and insulation.

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BSL’s senior policy and research officer and climate leader David Bryant said the results reinforced concerns that poorly fenced homes could kill some of the state’s most vulnerable.

“Today’s are definitely better, but pre-2007 homes tend to be worse,” said Mr Bryant.

“And that’s going to be a big part of the stock for a long time, so it’s really important that we get them back.”

The program resulted in improved temperatures in 90 percent of homes, with participants’ summer comfort ratings doubling and winter comfort increased by 25 percent.

Solar panels added to homes for a few thousand dollars are making a life-changing difference to some of Melbourne’s most vulnerable residents.

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Four out of five of those involved had improved health outcomes, particularly better sleep and mobility.

“Many people do not have the money lying around to improve their homes even though it can reduce their debts and help them live well in the long run,” said Mr Bryant.

“If you roll out a program at a high level, you can expect to save some lives.”

Noting that charities are supporting other government programs, including the abolition of gas, he said it should still be recognized that the upfront cost of development is a barrier for tens of thousands of Victorians – and the government’s expansion of their program could save the state coffers.

“There are savings for the government, as they pay 17 percent of most people’s debts, and there are also savings for health in hospitals and the wider economy,” said Mr Bryant.

Melbourne resident Greer is unable to receive minimum wage due to complex medical issues including past cancer battles, auto-immune disease and musculoskeletal-neurological issues.

Greer at his Melbourne home, where he can now use the heating and cooling.

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He is one of those who will have solar panels and draft detection technology installed in his home as part of the BSL program, and he said that in addition to reducing his electricity bill, it has also benefited his health conditions.

“I had situations where I had to choose between eating and holding the heater,” he said.

“And on hot days, the heat can make me very sick. Now I can handle those days better, without fearing how much it will cost.”

In the past there have been instances where Greer could not afford heating or cooling repairs and to escape high or freezing temperatures at home a professional caregiver had to help him move to a cooler location.

“And that means the government was paying someone to help me take me to another place to recover,” she said.

“Anything built in the 1970s wasn’t built for people in my situation.”

Sustainable Homes Melbourne founder Simon Clark said the average Australian home scored around 1.7 points on the nation’s energy efficiency scorecard, NatHERS.

Jack Furphy and Geua Montana from Melbourne spent six figures making their home energy efficient by 2023. Photo: Mark Stewart.

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Today, the lowest level in Victoria is 7.

With almost no insulation in them, homes from the 1970s to early 2000s often have temperatures similar to the outside — and pose serious health risks in extreme cases if residents can’t afford adequate heating or cooling.

Noting that it could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to rehabilitate the home, the architect said it would take decades for gentrification to develop without government input.

“It’s very possible that you can save lives, by expanding the system,” Mr Clark said.

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