A commitment to installing rooftop solar on social housing properties could see Tasmanians living in low-income homes could see all Tasmanians better off.
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That is according to the Tasmanian Council of Social Services which says a new Deloitte Access Economics reports supports its ongoing calls for investment into household energy efficiency upgrades.
The state government said rooftop solar was already being installed on some state owned housing, and outlined a slew of commitments it has made to reducing household energy costs for Tasmanians.
TasCOSS chief executive Adrienne Picone said "energy efficiency of Tasmanian homes is so poor that tens of thousands of people on low incomes are at greater risk of getting sick or dying".
Ms Picone said the economic report made it "abundantly clear" investment in the area could have an ongoing impact in several ways.
"Targeted investment in energy efficiency programs and initiatives for low income households will improve the health and wellbeing of Tasmanians, as well as stimulate our economy in the post-COVID-19 recovery, create jobs and lower emissions," she said.
The report itself, which was prepared for the Australian Council of Social Service, said two effective ways to reduce energy costs were through efficiency and rooftop solar.
It said a national program to reduce energy costs could deliver 22,000 jobs, and could save households between $788 and $1138 dollars each year.
A state government spokesperson said a residential electricity price deduction approved earlier in the year had provided 243,000 Tasmanian households savings of more than $30 million.
They said a $30 million commitment over two years for and energy efficiency loan scheme continued to be in the works, with a provider for the scheme set to be procured, and a further $12 million was laid out in the August budget to improve energy efficiency in community housing.
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