Fed Election: ICANZ welcomes insulation retrofit policy for tenants
28/Oct/2007
The Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand (ICANZ) today welcomed the announcement by the ALP of a $500 rebate to landlords who retrofit building insulation into uninsulated rental properties.
Dennis D'Arcy, ICANZ President, said that he was particularly pleased that the rebates are in addition to the ALP's previously announced $10,000 interest free loan for Australian households.
"Many rental properties do not have insulation installed because the direct benefits of lower energy bills flow to the tenants, and not to landlords.
The ALP's proposal will greatly encourage landlords to retrofit insulation into their rental properties, thereby reducing heating and cooling bills for tenants, and improving property values for landlords," he said.
For some time now ICANZ has called for multilateral commitment across the political spectrum to improving the energy efficiency of Australian buildings, particularly homes.
"Australia currently has among the least energy efficient housing in the developed world, with 40 per cent of homes having no ceiling insulation. We have a long way to go to achieve international minimum standards, but with the Green's insulation retrofit proposal, and the ALP's latest announcement, clearly there is now the political will to address this issue in Australia," Mr D'Arcy said.
"The critical importance of improving Australia's energy efficiency as a primary response to climate change is a policy area where all election contenders should share common ground. I encourage all parties and independents to come onboard with support for a national insulation retrofit program for homes," Mr D'Arcy said.
"The need to curb energy waste in Australia goes far beyond party politics to the very heart of the national interest," he said.
