Project
Climate Safe Rooms
Building resilience to extreme weather
The Climate Safe Rooms program provides free upgrades to selected, eligible households to improve your home's comfort and your health during both summer and winter weather extremes, without increasing your energy bills.
Following the success of the pilot program from 2019 to 2021, Geelong Sustainability has now launched the full-scale program. The Climate Safe Rooms program aims to support people with complex healthcare needs that become worse during heatwaves and extreme cold.
One room in their home is modified to ensure it does not become uncomfortably hot in summer or too cold in winter. The modifications may include:
- ensuring the room is well insulated
- draughts are sealed
- an efficient reverse cycle air-conditioner (for heating and cooling) may be installed, together with a small solar system to generate electricity and to offset the running costs of the air-conditioner
- window coverings or external blinds may be installed too.
All would be determined during our assessments, and is done at no cost to the selected eligible participants.
The Climate Safe Rooms pilot featured on ABC News in a segment about innovation in Geelong.
Video Credit: ABC News, 2 April 2023.
Am I Eligible for this Program?
To be eligible you must:
- Be aged 18 years or older and live in the City of Greater Geelong council area.
- Hold one of these Commonwealth concession cards:
- Centrelink Health Care Card
- Centrelink or DVA Pensioner Concession Card
- (DVA) Gold Card - For All Conditions.
- Plan to reside in your home for at least the next two years.
- Currently receive home care support services provided through either the City of Greater Geelong or another community organisation.
- Have an existing chronic health condition that becomes worse during heatwaves and extreme cold.
- Have capacity to provide consent and to fill in various related forms. Involving family members or carers is highly recommended, especially for completing rebate forms which are mostly done online.
How Do I Apply?
Please contact your home care provider and apply for this program through them. If they are not aware of this program, please encourage them to contact Geelong Sustainability directly.