Kambah residents are leading the way in using the ACT Government’s Sustainable Household Scheme, borrowing more than $9 million to finance 800 upgrades to make their homes and lifestyles more energy efficient.
The government has released its end-of-year statistics for the scheme, revealing it has reached the 20,000 household applications milestone.
It says the scheme has approved $200 million in interest-free loans through Brighte and supported the installation of almost 17,000 upgrades since it started in July 2021, saving households money on their energy bills and reducing the ACT’s carbon footprint.
The scheme included loans and rebates for efficient heating and cooling, cooktop and hot water systems, solar panels, battery storage, electric vehicles and ceiling insulation.
The government has also launched a new interactive tool that allows users to explore the impact of the scheme across the ACT.
The Sustainable Household Scheme Dashboard shows which suburbs are leading the charge in sustainability, the most popular upgrade in your neighbourhood and the number and types of upgrades being installed.
In Kambah, the most popular product was solar panels with 528 installs, the average loan was $11,347 and 731 homes and community groups had accessed the scheme.
The Tuggeranong suburb also had the most number of loans for electric vehicles (12).
Solar installs also dominated upgrades (98%) in the new suburb of Whitlam, the highest take-up by proportion in the Territory.
In Campbell, a third of upgrades were for electric vehicles, new and used.
Across the lake in Kingston, reverse cycle air conditioning was the most popular product, with seven systems or 39 per cent of all upgrades installed.
Batteries were popular in Uriarra Village in the mountains west of the city, making up almost half of all installs.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the government was committed to supporting Canberrans in their transition to a cleaner future.
“This new dashboard will help us track our progress and share the success stories of our community,” he said.
Mr Barr said the Sustainable Household Scheme was a key part of the government’s strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2045 as part of its climate action policy.
“The success we are seeing demonstrates the power of collective action,” he said.
“This milestone is a testament to the dedication and leadership of our community in tackling climate change.
“Canberrans are leading the way, showing that transitioning to a clean energy future is achievable and beneficial for everyone.”
More information about the Sustainable Household Scheme is available on the Climate Choices website.