APY Lands energy efficiency retrofit pilot

The RACE for 2030 Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands Energy Efficiency Retrofit Pilot took place in the Indulkana community, led by Adelaide University (formerly University of South Australia), the South Australian Housing Trust (SAHT) and the Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) to address the high energy demand and poor thermal comfort of community housing in the APY Lands.  

Building assessments at the commencement of the Pilot revealed uncontrolled air leakage and thermal bridging as key areas of concern. To understand household lived experience, the team conducted community engagement and interviews with the assistance of local energy education workers. 

A wide range of industry partners supported the project by cash and in-kind contributions, and it was through the expertise of the technical partners that retrofit solutions were developed. 

Six homes were retrofitted, while six reference houses were monitored during the study period. Three levels of retrofit were implemented:  

• Level 1 – gap sealing 

• Level 2 – gap sealing and additional ceiling insulation  

• Level 3 – gap sealing, additional ceiling insulation and a continuous layer of rigid insulation applied to the façade of the house. 

The project demonstrated that reduced air leakage and thermal bridging, along with insulation improvements, can deliver greater thermal comfort as well as energy savings for residents. Modelling predicts that households receiving at least a Level 1 retrofit can save approximately $400 per year, with cost for government to supply electricity to households reduced by at least $2600 per household per year, and a reduction of 10 tonnes of CO₂ per household per year. 

Implementation of the findings from the Pilot are underway, with SAHT rolling out the retrofits to the remaining APY Lands community housing. Findings from the Pilot have also influenced SAHT new builds, and it is hoped that this project will continue to influence government housing policy across Australia. 

See the RACE project page to read the reports or visit our partner project page for additional information.