More than 1 600 households will have energy efficiency upgrades to their homes under a $16.6 million program co-funded by Commonwealth Government ,Homes Tasmania and the Community Housing Providers under Australian Government’s Energy Savings Package.

Cameron O’Shea is responsible for rolling out the program in Homes Tasmania managed homes. Although he started his time in tenancy services, he has spent most of his career in property maintenance services.

“As Project Manager Planned Maintenance, I am implementing the energy efficiency program which is making a real difference for tenants,” Cameron said.

“I had one tenant who told me he hadn’t used his gas heater in years because of the cost.”

The energy efficient upgrades are being rolled out through three different packages prioritising older properties that have had minimal energy efficiency upgrades in the past and that are prone to mould and damp issues.

“In the first package we are replacing heaters and hot water cylinders. This includes removing ageing gas heating and hot water systems which was originally installed because it was cost effective. It’s now more cost effective to use electric heating and heat pump hot water systems and we are providing a more sustainable energy option which electricity provides us in Tasmania.”

The second package includes LED lights, insulation and installing window and door seals to keep cold air out and warm air in.

“Tenants are saying that they are saving money and that their house feels warmer,” Cameron said.

These upgrades can be completed while the property is tenanted but the third package of works, requiring more extensive work, is generally completed when the property is vacant.

“The third package includes replacing single glazed windows  with  more efficient double-glazing, installation of roof blanket insulation, cladding and flooring with underlay” Cameron said.

Homes Tasmania works hard to keep the turnaround time of vacated properties within the national benchmark, which is the average time it takes from when a house becomes vacant to when it is re-tenanted.

“We know that installing new windows for example, will increase our turnaround time because there is such high demand for window manufacturing and there is up to a 12 week wait for windows once a property has become vacant and we can then place an order,” Cameron said.  In some instances the property may be tenanted and the windows installed when available.

This the balancing act between getting people into homes as quickly as possible and ensuring they are quality, liveable homes for tenants.