Heating and Cooling Policy

1 Purpose of policy

1.1 Purpose

The Homes NSW Heating and Cooling Policy outlines the process to improve the thermal comfort within social housing properties through the provision of passive measures, and heating and cooling devices.

1.2 Background and policy links

Homes NSW aims to deliver improved outcomes to social housing households through the provision of passive energy-saving design features, and heating and cooling devices through Homes NSW’s available annual funding.

The provision of thermal comfort is important in housing as it is strongly linked to the health and wellbeing of the occupants. Good design that fosters natural cross ventilation and solar access by considering building orientation, unit configuration, and the external building envelope is important at the design phase. Thermal comfort can be provided through passive measures such as insulation, draught proofing, window shading, etc. and by active measures via heating and/or cooling devices such as heaters, ceiling fans and air conditioners.

The suite of Homes NSW Asset Standards outline thermal comfort requirements for new properties. The Asset Performance Standards ensure the heating and cooling measures and devices are appropriately maintained. Homes NSW’s Home Modifications (Disability) Policy stipulates the provision of heating and cooling devices in all climate zones on medical grounds.

In the development of this Policy, Homes NSW was guided by specialist consultants and has worked with a range of internal and external stakeholders to identify and assess options to improve thermal comfort in properties across all climatic zones in NSW. The stakeholders included the Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) and Homes NSW Divisions.

As the use of heating and cooling devices impacts household energy bills, it is important to consider passive measures such as insulation and draught proofing to assist improve thermal comfort.

This Policy encapsulates the practices and processes adopted by Homes NSW over the past decades from the provision of adequate heating and cooling in its owned and managed properties.

The development of the Policy considered the operational safety of heating and cooling devices, running costs, energy efficiency, and climate change adaptation, particularly the prevalence of hot weather and heat waves.

2. Definitions

The table below is a list of terms, keywords and/or abbreviations used throughout this document.

3  Scope and application

This Policy applies to properties owned and managed by Homes NSW.

This Policy does not apply to headleased properties, properties managed by Community Housing Providers (CHP) or Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) owned properties where their own policies apply.

4 Legislation and Policies

The development of the Homes NSW Heating and Cooling Policy has taken into consideration the following legislation, policies, codes, standards and agreements:

• Housing Act 2001
• Residential Tenancies Act 2010
• Residential Tenancies Regulations 2019
• Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000
• State Environmental Planning Policy (Sustainable Buildings) 2022 (Sustainable Buildings SEPP)
• National Construction Code (NCC)
• Homes NSW Home Modifications (Disability) Policy
• Homes NSW Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2024-2026
• Apartment Design Guide 2015
• Homes NSW Design Requirements
• Homes NSW Asset Performance Standards
• Terms of the residential tenancy agreement.

5 Policy statement

Tenants can expect Homes NSW to ensure that all properties are in a reasonable state of cleanliness and meet minimum standards to be ‘fit for habitation’.

Homes NSW will ensure that construction of all new residential properties comply with the National Construction Code (NCC) and Sustainable Buildings SEPP requirements for thermal comfort and energy efficiency.

Improving the thermal comfort and energy efficiency of new and existing social housing is important to maintain the health and well-being of social housing residents and reduce energy costs. Air conditioners are an important climate change adaptation measure to minimise tenant heat stress.

5.1 Air Conditioners and Solar Systems

Homes NSW will provide energy efficient reverse cycle air conditioning units and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to all new properties in all NCC climate zones, where possible.

Reverse cycle air conditioning is the most energy efficient form of both heating and cooling. When existing heaters are beyond economic repair, they will be replaced with an air conditioner, and existing heating and cooling appliances (electric, flued gas, solid fuel wood fire and old inefficient air conditioners) in living areas will be removed.

Homes NSW will retrofit energy efficient reverse cycle air conditioners and solar PV systems to existing properties in NCC climate zones 4, 7 and 8, subject to availability of funding. Homes NSW will utilise the Bureau of Meteorology and Adapt NSW’s NARCliM models to monitor changing climatic conditions and prioritize the retrofitting of air conditioners and solar PV systems to communities in most need.

Homes NSW will retrofit solar systems to properties that are two stories or less in height, with adequate roof areas to accommodate solar panels, and subject to availability of funding.

The retrofitting of solar systems will assist social housing households to offset electricity costs from the operation of reverse cycle air conditioners during daytime hours.

5.2 Removal of Solid Fuel Wood Fire Heaters

Due to associated safety risks, Homes NSW will not permit the installation of any new solid fuel wood space heaters. Homes NSW will prioritise removal of solid fuel wood space heaters and retrofit a reverse cycle air conditioner.

5.3 Ceiling Insulation and Draught Proofing

Homes NSW will retrofit ceiling insulation and draught proofing to existing properties, subject to availability of funding.

5.4 Ceiling Fans

Homes NSW will provide ceiling fans in living rooms and bedrooms within all new social housing properties.

Homes NSW will retrofit ceiling fans into existing properties subject to suitable ceiling height, and availability of funding.

5.5 Heating and Cooling Provisions for Medical Grounds

Homes NSW will provide additional heating and cooling measures on medical grounds in all climate zones in accordance with the Home Modifications (Disability) Policy.

6 Support and Advice

You can get advice and support about this policy from:

• Homes NSW Portfolio Management Division. Refer to Homes NSW for contact information.

7 Appealing decisions or actions

Many decisions made by Homes NSW can be reviewed and appealed. If a tenant disagrees with a decision, they should first contact their Homes NSW Client Service Officer to discuss the matter. If they are still not satisfied, tenants can ask for the decision to be reviewed. A review is a formal process that checks whether the right decision has been made on a matter. For more information about how reviews work visit the appeals and reviewing decisions page.