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With heatwaves sweeping the country, Queenslanders are calling for energy upgrades to reduce the effects of extreme heat.
Over the last month, Queensland has been hit with a tropical cyclone, devastating floods and severe storms. Now, with temperatures forecast to hit 40 degrees, the Bureau of Meteorology has delivered heatwave warnings for parts of the state.
For many Queenslanders who rent, the weather has been hitting them hard.
“Renters often live in the poorest quality homes,” said Luke Reade, a climate scientist and president of Energetic Communities Association.
“Heatwaves are a big killer, and renters have minimal agency to make their homes more efficient, comfortable and resilient,” said Mr Reade.
With landlords reluctant to “allow even basic upgrades when asked”, Mr Reade warned that “it is only through regulation that renters will get a fair deal”.
Paul Worroll, managing director of Reddog Architects, emphasised that “many residents default to the air conditioner by necessity rather than choice”.
“But what if power is too expensive, or unavailable because of a blackout?” Mr Worroll asked. “Our home is not designed for it.”
Recently, Queensland experienced its worst power outage since 1985, with half a million Central Queensland homes affected. Meanwhile, residents in the state’s south-east pocket are preparing for 10 days without power as severe storms continue to rage through the Gold Coast.
With extreme weather expected to increase in decades to come, Dr Gill Armstrong, senior project manager at Climateworks Centre, revealed that retrofitting existing homes with quality insulation is the way to go.
“It’s the house itself that protects you during extremes,” Dr Armstrong said. “The way your home is built is just as important for better performance as the efficiency of the installed appliances and having rooftop solar.”
Dr Armstrong stated: “Our research shows that for typical Queensland homes, households could save $2,600 per year if they insulate ceilings, walls and floors; ensure they have well-fitted windows and draught-proofing; switch from gas to efficient electric appliances; and install rooftop solar.”
Ultimately, Mr Worroll underscored that it is “not possible to create a design that can cope with every unpredictable event”. Despite this, he stressed that good design is integral to creating resilient communities.
“The frequency of floods is increasing and heatwaves are becoming more prolonged and intense, so we need to adapt our designs, materials and construction,” Mr Worroll said.
“Making houses energy-efficient is part of this adaptive process,” he concluded.
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