Scorecard was featured in a Premier of Victoria media release.
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Scorecard Update: July - December, 2023
Energy Savvy Upgrades report launched!
Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources releases key learnings report from Energy Savvy Upgrades program.
Scorecard assessor Belinda Baker joined the Hon. Minister Lily D'Ambrosio, Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, when she visited the home of Trish, Chris and Serge the guide dog to release the Learnings from the Energy Savvy Upgrades program for vulnerable householders report.
The report documents the outcomes of the innovative Energy Savvy Upgrades (ESU) program and demonstrates best practice in reaching vulnerable households, while reducing upgrade and program management costs.
The ESU program supported vulnerable households by delivering 792 Scorecard assessments across Victoria, with 987 individual energy upgrades installed across 612 households. All upgrades were guided by the Scorecard Assessor's expert advice and recommendations.
Belinda assessed Trish, Chris, and Serge’s home as part of ESU. Her expert advice and assistance coordinating upgrade installations improved their home from 2 to 8 stars!
Key outcomes documented in the ESU report include:
- Overall the program achieved an average annual energy cost reduction of $550 per household and a 21% reduction in energy consumption after upgrades;
- over 80% of all householders experienced improved comfort and resilience to extreme weather;
- the program design and implementation proved successful in engaging with a range of hard-to-reach sectors, including Indigenous Elders, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and renters; and
- 24% of assessed homes were rental properties that experienced a 23% decrease in total energy consumption.
The report contains clear information about program design, lessons learned and implementation recommendations to support the planning and delivery of similar programs at any scale.
We welcome enquiries from governments and organisations interested in using Scorecard in their own projects and programs. Please contact us at: scorecard@delwp.vic.gov.au
A media release can be found on the Premier of Victoria's website.
Improving employee costs and comfort whilst helping the environment with Scorecard
Scorecard assessor Sebastian Crangle helped Aussie business Quiip improve their employee's energy costs and comfort and reduce their carbon footprint.
Quiip is a social media company with nearly 20 staff working remotely across Australia. They wanted to reduce their carbon emissions associated with staff working from home. So, they reached out to Seb for help.
Seb (alongside fellow assessors in other states) conducted 15 assessments across the country, giving staff members targeted advice to improve their home.
What a great way to support the comfort or their employees and help the environment!
It is now easier to find a Scorecard assessor
You can now search for Scorecard assessors near you based on your address.
Planning a renovation? Want to reduce your energy bills? Go all-electric? Or live more comfortably? Your local Scorecard assessor can help.
Scorecard assessors are energy efficiency experts. They provide a clear pathway to help you achieve your goals, for your home. They’ll guide you on your journey to a cheaper to run, cleaner, greener and more comfortable home.
That's why 96% of Scorecard customers agreed that their assessor provided a clear list of priorities to help achieve their goals*.
*Residential Efficiency Scorecard: independent customer telephone survey, 2023.
Scorecard is Australia's only energy performance verification and advice solution for existing homes.
Did you know, the Scorecard program was tested and found to be accurate from tropical Darwin all the way down to chilly Hobart?
The success of this National Field Trial underpinned the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme's (NatHERS) endorsement of the Scorecard software tool, and the 2021 roll out of the National Scorecard Initiative. Scorecard is currently the only rating tool for existing homes endorsed by NatHERS.
The NatHERS benchmark tool and software accreditation process for existing homes are currently under development. The Scorecard team is actively engaged with NatHERS to share learnings and support this development. It is anticipated that Scorecard will become accredited once this process is established.
Scorecard has been designed for scalability
This means that increased demand for Scorecard assessments is able to be met with confidence. Scorecard is currently supporting a range of programs across Australia, including: state, territory and local government programs, an energy company's wind farm development as well as two green loans banking products. If your organisation is interested in starting a program using Scorecard, please feel free to be in touch by replying to this email.
Accredited Scorecard assessors are home energy efficiency experts
Scorecard assessors verify the fixed features of a home such as wall construction, windows and insulation, and major fixed appliances including hot water, heating and cooling. This data is entered into the Scorecard software tool which rates the home and produces the government-endorsed Scorecard certificate. The certificate provides a range of information including a star rating out of 10 reflecting the average annual energy cost to run the home - the higher the star rating, the lower the cost.
The Assessor combines the information on the certificate with their expert knowledge to make upgrade recommendations and connect the householder with applicable government rebates and subsidies. Poor upgrade choices are avoided as recommendations are targeted to the specific opportunities and constraints of the home. The assessment process provides householders with a clear path forward.
Decarbonising the residential sector
A key opportunity in decarbonising is for householders to take action to improve the energy performance of their homes. Many are keen to do this, but don’t know where to start or who to trust. Scorecard builds trust, provides householders with answers and a clear decision pathway. International evaluations show a home visit by a skilled assessor, providing a trusted, comparable rating is crucial to program success.
Removing barriers to uptake and ensuring accurate and targeted upgrade recommendations translates to 94% of householders taking upgrade action after a Scorecard assessment*.
And the best bit, the Scorecard program is available for use across Australia, now!
If you would like to learn how the simpler approach offered by Scorecard can support the goals of your program, organisation or institution, please contact us: scorecard@delwp.vic.gov.au
*Residential Efficiency Scorecard: independent customer telephone survey, 2023.
Working with a Renewable Energy company
Golden Plains Wind Farm have partnered with Scorecard assessor Cal Forsyth from Ephe, and Geelong Sustainability to deliver complimentary Scorecard assessments for eligible residents.
The Golden Plains Wind Farm is a state-significant project that will be Australia’s largest wind farm to date and power more than 765,000 homes. This $3 billion + project is a landmark clean energy project for Victoria and Australia.
You can learn more about this great initiative on the Geelong Sustainability website.
'Get it Right ' with Scorecard and the Undercover Architect
Scorecard has been featured again on the Undercover Architect's 'Get it Right' podcast!
In episode #284: Why is my House Cold? 7 Reasons Why, Amelia explains how a Scorecard assessment is beneficial to improving the energy efficiency and comfort of existing homes.
The 'Get it Right' podcast ranks in the top 5 Australian design podcasts. It is listened to in over 191 countries with over 1.5 million downloads.
Scorecard assessor Melanie Lupis was also featured in episode #262 The Residential Efficiency Scorecard for existing homes, talking all things Scorecard.
Interested in helping people to save money and live more comfortably?
Consider becoming a Scorecard assessor!
There are many benefits, like:
- working for yourself, or for an organisation
- choosing your work hours, being as flexible as you need
- a national program that supports you to work anywhere in Australia
- ongoing support including: mentor opportunities, free ongoing access to our assessor helpdesk, marketing materials, and more
- Scorecard software training and exams currently available at no cost
- joining a growth industry
- you can be sure your work is making a positive impact on people’s lives, and the planet.
There are 6 ways you can enter the Scorecard assessor accreditation process. There are options for everyone, whether you are new to the industry, have recognised qualifications or are an experienced home energy assessor. Scorecard training is online which makes it easy to access wherever you are.
Thoughts?
Anything you want to see more or less of in these updates?
Send a reply to this email, we would love to hear from you!
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