A coalition of Australia’s leading property and sustainability bodies have applauded the Victorian and NSW Governments’ significant investments in harnessing the power of energy efficiency and social housing to create jobs and drive the economic recovery from COVID-19.The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, Energy Efficiency Council, Green Building Council Australia and Property Council of Australia welcomed what were billion commitments to a more sustainable future.

 A coalition of Australia’s leading property and sustainability bodies have applauded the Victori an and NSW Governments’significant investments inharnessingthe power of energy efficiency and social housing to create jobs and drive the economic recovery from COVID-19.The Australi an Sustainabl e Built Environment Council, Energy Efficiency Council, Green Buildi ng Council Australia and Property Council of Australiawelcomed what were cumulativelymulti-bil l i o n commitments to a more sustainabl e future.Theorganisati onscommendedthe Victorian Government’soutstanding leadershi p with anunprecedented$5.3bnspend to increase and upgrade the state’s stock of socialand affordabl ehousing, while creating some 10,000 new jobs annually.The benefits of this record investment are being further enhanced through a commitment to higherenergy efficiency standardsfor new buildsThe Victorian Government is also setting a record for the single largest state-based investm en t in housing energy efficiency measures witha $797mpackage that includes:•$335m for heating system upgradesfor low income househol ds•$112m to upgrade theenergy efficiency of 35,000 social housingproperti es(window and door sealing, upgrading heating/c ooling and hot water systems) •Introduci ng minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties •Supporti ng the transiti on to 7 star NATHERSfor new buildings and supporti ng skills and training •$14m expansion of the Victorian Energy Upgrades program to enableall households to accessrebates for more smart appliances •$191m expansion of the Solar Homes program•Offering 17,500 househol d battery rebatesover 3 years•Direct bill relief with aone-off $250 payment to eligible concession card holders and other recipients of government income support The NSW Government is adding almost $900 million to its social and affordable housi ng investment, creating up to 3,000 jobs and taking the state’s total investment in social and affordable housing to $4.4 billion over four years.A $157.8 millionLED light replacement program in schools across NSW will also enhance energy efficiency.These announcem ents build on the recent SouthAustrali anGovernmentcommitment of$60millionto improvetheenergyefficiencyofgovernmentbuildings.A collective COVID-19 economic recovery plan launched by the groups earlier this year,Buildi ng Efficiency for Jobs and Growth, presented a series of recommendati ons for governments to achieve job creation and emissions savingsby leveraging the potenti al of high quality buildi ngs and infrastruc ture. Several states have now recognised the benefits highlighted in the report, wi th many of the recommendati ons now adopted.