A new digital platform has been launched to support councils and community organisations deliver home energy upgrades.
Key takeaways
- New digital platform launched to help councils and community groups deliver home energy upgrades.
- More than 70–80 per cent of existing Australian homes have poor energy ratings, with upgrades offering savings on bills and lower emissions.
- The initiative aims to support energy upgrades in one million homes by 2030.
Australia’s first shared digital platform to help councils and community organisations upgrade existing homes, the Energy Upgrades for Australian Homes Platform, launches today at All Energy 2026, the Asia-Pacific’s largest clean energy exhibition and conference.
The Platform brings together evidence, insights and practical tools to help program organisers plan, design, implement and evaluate home energy upgrade programs at scale.
It was developed by the Energy Upgrades for Australian Homes project, a collaboration funded by RACE for 2030 CRC, co-led by Climate KIC Australia at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), BehaviourWorks Australia and Monash University’s Sustainability Transitions Lab, and supported by partners across government, industry, research and community organisations.
Australia is a world leader in residential solar uptake, yet household energy demand remains high because most homes have poor thermal performance.
Australia’s housing stock is among the least energy efficient among OECD nations, with more than 70 per cent to 80 per cent of existing Australian homes rated 2 stars or less out of 10.
Basic thermal upgrades alone, including insulation and glazing film, can lift home ratings to an average of 5.1 stars, saving households hundreds of dollars a year in energy bills, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Yet local programs run by councils and community groups that work directly with households to support upgrades are often under-resourced, operate in isolation and don’t know where to start.
Program organisers frequently lack the tools and resources needed to establish and scale programs efficiently in their local areas, meaning many Australians remain unaware of options to electrify their homes or improve thermal insulation.
The Platform helps councils and community groups to design and deliver programs that householders trust. It also helps to strengthen the effectiveness and reach of upgrade programs by providing a single, trusted resource, built with end users nationwide.
The Platform includes:
- 25 evidence-based tools and resources
- Insights from 65+ Australian home energy upgrade programs
- Research insights across 6 key themes
- Step-by-step program design, implementation and evaluation guidance
Residential housing in Australia accounts for around 10 per cent of national carbon emissions and around a quarter of overall electricity use.
Reducing emissions from homes is therefore critical for Australia to achieve its climate targets. To achieve this, millions of existing homes must be retrofitted by 2050, ensuring homes are well insulated and all appliances are efficient and electrified.
Climate KIC Australia Director Belinda Whelan, at the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures, said the systems thinking underpins the Platform design, tackling the interconnected problems of home energy upgrades.
“Household energy upgrades require collaboration across research, industry, community organisations, councils and program leaders,” Ms Whelan said.
“This Platform reflects this whole-of-system approach, containing tools and resources grounded in local insights and geared for broader impact.”
The Platform has already attracted strong interest from local governments, community groups, third-party service providers and state and federal agencies seeking to accelerate household energy upgrades and support healthier, more energy-efficient homes.
“No other digital infrastructure in Australia integrates evidence, insights and practical program support for locally-led home energy upgrade programs in one place,” said Dr Christoph Brodnik, Research Knowledge Manager, Monash University.
“The Platform gives councils and community organisations the tools they need to design effective, scalable programs that improve comfort, cut energy bills and reduce emissions.”
The Energy Upgrades for Australian Homes project aims to enable home energy upgrades for 1 million homes by 2030.The Home Energy Upgrades Platform is now available to councils, community organisations and partners across Australia.
Access the Platform at: homeenergyupgrades.com.au