The British Government has launched the “Green Homes Grant”, a £2 billion grant scheme to allow homeowners to retrofit their properties for greater energy efficiency. Under the scheme, a property owner can receive a £5000 or £10,000 voucher to be used for heat pumps, insulation, window glazing, or new, more efficient heating technologies.

And there are calls for a similar scheme to be implemented in Australia.

We’ve tried this before, with the Rudd Government’s now-infamous Home Insulation Program, and there are currently several schemes in place to encourage the adoption of renewable energy, such as solar panels.

But the time is right to implement further incentives towards energy efficiency and renewable energy. The HomeBuilder scheme is intended to encourage renovations, but the scheme has been criticized for its high barrier to entry.

Another scheme specifically focused on energy-efficient upgrades can have a smaller barrier to entry, while still achieving the goal of housing upgrades for Australians and work for tradies. It would also have the benefit of cutting energy costs and helping Australians save money during a recession.