An extra $1.3bn to upgrade Australia’s energy-inefficient homes might not do much – here’s what would help

‘Over many decades and across many countries, the universal experience is landlords do not undertake energy efficiency upgrades unless required to by law.’ Photograph: David Mariuz/AAP

In the recent federal budget, it was announced that $1bn would be allocated to provide discounted loans to households to upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes and replace gas appliances with electric ones. A further $300m was provided for states to upgrade the energy efficiency of social housing.

This was intended to deliver on a promise the Albanese Labor government made in exchange for the Greens agreeing to caps on gas prices – in effect subsidising its cost below international prices.