1.11.3 Scalable Retrofit Pathways for Government Housing Portfolios

Building

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1.11.3

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In Progress

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Core

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2026 - 2027

Government agencies and community housing providers collectively manage more than 400,000 social and staff housing dwellings. The majority of these homes will still be occupied...

Overview

Government agencies and community housing providers collectively manage more than 400,000 social and staff housing dwellings. The majority of these homes will still be occupied when 2035 and 2050 decarbonisation commitments come due, making retrofit—not replacement—the critical pathway to emissions reduction.

This project will identify and prioritise feasible, high‑impact retrofit strategies to support decarbonisation while reducing operating costs across large social housing portfolios in Queensland, New South Wales, and Western Australia. Through cross‑jurisdictional data analysis, structured decision‑making frameworks, and energy modelling of priority reference buildings, the project will deliver clear, evidence‑based guidance on which interventions offer the strongest balance between carbon abatement and practical implementation.

Expected outcomes include improved asset management decision‑making, reduced energy costs for tenants, and actionable pathways to support partners’ progress toward their 2035 and 2050 net‑zero housing targets.

Objectives

The objectives of this project are organised under four broad categories:

Characterise partner housing portfolios – With support from partners, compile and analyse existing data on building types, construction, age and energy demand to identify a priority building typology in each state.
Assess decarbonisation options – Catalogue and evaluate retrofit options (building fabric, building management systems, electrification, behavioural) relevant to priority building typologies and climates using current evidence and partner input.
Model performance and cost impacts – Quantify approximate energy, emissions and bill savings for shortlisted interventions on a reference building in QLD, NSW and WA.
Determine practical feasibility – Engage technical experts and asset managers to qualitatively assess buildability, cost, maintenance, reliability, and social factors for short-listed interventions.
Prioritise scalable interventions – Apply a transparent matrix balancing decarbonisation impact and ease of implementation for each reference building
Prioritise scalable interventions – Apply a transparent matrix balancing decarbonisation impact and ease of implementation for each reference building

Industry Outcomes

This project aims to deliver the following key industry outcomes:

Portfolio insights and analytical framework for prioritising retrofit strategies to cut carbon and operating costs across housing portfolios.
Evidence-based guidance on retrofit strategies for a typical building type in QLD, WA, and NSW housing portfolios.
Strengthened decision-making frameworks that align impact and feasibility with 2035 and 2050 net-zero targets.
Improved tenant comfort and lower household energy bills.