Ventnor resident Leela Maki: Energy Efficiency Program made her house more comfortable.
By Dee Smith
ACROSS Bass Coast and South Gippsland, a shift has been happening inside some of the region’s coldest, draughtiest homes.
Since 2023, Mycelia’s Energy Efficiency Program has been working with local households to tackle the everyday problems that make winter harder than it needs to be - heat leaking out through gaps, old appliances working overtime, and bills that climb faster than comfort levels.
The program focuses on the basics that make the biggest difference: draught‑proofing, insulation, servicing existing heating and cooling appliances, and helping people to understand how their home actually uses energy. They’re small, practical upgrades, but the impact is immediate. Homes stay warmer, bills drop and people breathe a little easier.
ACROSS Bass Coast and South Gippsland, a shift has been happening inside some of the region’s coldest, draughtiest homes.
Since 2023, Mycelia’s Energy Efficiency Program has been working with local households to tackle the everyday problems that make winter harder than it needs to be - heat leaking out through gaps, old appliances working overtime, and bills that climb faster than comfort levels.
The program focuses on the basics that make the biggest difference: draught‑proofing, insulation, servicing existing heating and cooling appliances, and helping people to understand how their home actually uses energy. They’re small, practical upgrades, but the impact is immediate. Homes stay warmer, bills drop and people breathe a little easier.
For many participants, the change has been deeply comforting. Ventnor resident Leela Maki, who took part in the program last year, says the upgrades were well worth it.
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“I’ve only just got home after being away for a couple of weeks, and the house didn’t feel icy on return, like it usually does. As a retiree, I have to conserve resources, and I’m sure the draught-proofing will make all the difference to my power bills this winter”.
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Info session for rental providers Location: Wonthaggi Town Hall Date: Wednesday June 3 Time: 12.30-2pm Cost: Free Register at Humantix |
Stories like this are common across the program. More than 30 homes have now been assessed, with typical energy savings of 20-40 per cent. Householders also report improved comfort, safety and wellbeing.
It’s a reminder that energy efficiency isn’t abstract, it’s about whether a family can heat one room or the whole house, whether a child sleeps warm, whether a pensioner can afford to run their air‑con on a 38‑degree day.
While owner‑occupiers can act on problems in their homes, renters can’t. They live with whatever heating, insulation or hot water system happens to be there.
Victoria’s Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) – announced in 2025 and mandated from 2027 – are finally beginning to reshape what rental homes must provide, but renters remain one of the most locked‑out groups in the energy transition. Supporting them means also supporting rental providers, who now need a clear, affordable pathway to meet the new standards without unnecessary cost or complexity.
That gap is exactly what Mycelia’s new Energy Upgrades for Rentals project is designed to close, funded through a $30,000 AusNet Helping Our Mission for Equity Grant.
While owner‑occupiers can act on problems in their homes, renters can’t. They live with whatever heating, insulation or hot water system happens to be there.
Victoria’s Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) – announced in 2025 and mandated from 2027 – are finally beginning to reshape what rental homes must provide, but renters remain one of the most locked‑out groups in the energy transition. Supporting them means also supporting rental providers, who now need a clear, affordable pathway to meet the new standards without unnecessary cost or complexity.
That gap is exactly what Mycelia’s new Energy Upgrades for Rentals project is designed to close, funded through a $30,000 AusNet Helping Our Mission for Equity Grant.
The project focuses on what actually helps rental providers to improve their properties. |
The project focuses on rental homes in Victoria and aims to understand what actually helps – and what gets in the way – when rental providers try to improve their properties. It builds on AusNet’s broader work supporting vulnerable households and brings those insights into a renter‑focused context.
Most importantly, the pilot offers direct, hands‑on support for rental providers, including:
To help rental providers get started, Mycelia is hosting a free community information session in Wonthaggi on June 3, where people can learn exactly what the new standards mean for their property and how to access support through the pilot.
The session is designed to be friendly, practical and genuinely useful, a space where rental providers can get straight answers, understand their obligations, and feel supported rather than overwhelmed.
Rental homes make up a significant share of the region’s housing. If they remain cold, inefficient and expensive to run, the energy transition will leave thousands of people behind. With the right support, rental providers can make meaningful improvements that benefit both their tenants and their properties.
Dee Smith is co-ordinator of the Mycelia Energy Collective.
Most importantly, the pilot offers direct, hands‑on support for rental providers, including:
- Free home energy efficiency and electrification assessments
- Clear guidance on what MEES requires and when
- Costing and quotes for recommended upgrades
- Support with rebate and incentive applications
- Up to $1000 in co‑funding to reduce upgrade costs
To help rental providers get started, Mycelia is hosting a free community information session in Wonthaggi on June 3, where people can learn exactly what the new standards mean for their property and how to access support through the pilot.
The session is designed to be friendly, practical and genuinely useful, a space where rental providers can get straight answers, understand their obligations, and feel supported rather than overwhelmed.
Rental homes make up a significant share of the region’s housing. If they remain cold, inefficient and expensive to run, the energy transition will leave thousands of people behind. With the right support, rental providers can make meaningful improvements that benefit both their tenants and their properties.
Dee Smith is co-ordinator of the Mycelia Energy Collective.