Environment Victoria has welcomed the announcement by the Victorian Greens to extend clean energy to renters with a five point solar plan.
“The Greens’ solar for renters plan is a welcome recognition that it’s not just homeowners who want to reduce their environmental impact and cut their power bills by shifting to clean energy,” said Environment Victoria CEO Mark Wakeham.
“We know Victorians love cheap, clean energy. Making solar accessible to renters is the next logical step in our small scale clean energy transition.”
“The announcement from the Greens recognises that renters and apartment dwellers are often locked out of solar and efficiency improvements to their homes. Victoria’s growing number of renters should not be excluded from the clean energy revolution.
“Renters are often doomed to live in houses with low energy efficiency. They can be freezing in winter and dangerously hot in summer, whilst still paying a fortune in energy bills. Under this plan, that would all change.
“We welcome the recognition that creative solutions like solar gardens are needed to help renters and apartment dwellers to access solar and the benefits it brings to households and communities.
Wakeham says the plan also highlights the need for mandatory efficiency standards for rental homes, and the proposed amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act that are currently before Parliament would enable these minimum standards. It is critical this legislation is passed before November’s election.
News item provided courtesy of Ecogeneration - www.ecogeneration.com.au
