INSULATION

Installing insulation helps reduce household energy consumption. Effective insulation reduces overall energy consumption and helps limit spikes in electricity demand associated with more extreme weather conditions (Australia's Environment: Issues and Trends, ABS, Jan 2010, cat. no. 4613.0).

Of the 1,654,000 households in Queensland in October 2009, insulation was installed, or on order, by 57% (935,300) of those households. A further 28% (465,100) of households did not have insulation at their dwelling. The remaining 15% (253,600) did not know if their dwelling had insulation (table 2.1).


Insulation and tenure type

When comparing insulation status across the tenure types, households that rented their dwelling were noticeably different to households that were paying their dwelling off or owned it outright. Of the 486,200 households that rented their dwelling, 27% (130,300) had insulation installed, or on order, and 40% (192,200) did not know if insulation was installed or not. Of the 550,300 households that owned their dwelling outright, 68% (373,100) had insulation installed, or on order, and only 5% (28,200) did not know if insulation was installed or not. Households paying their dwelling off (586,500) were similar to those that owned it outright with 71% (415,900) having insulation installed, or on order, and 5% (28,600) not knowing whether their dwelling had it or not (table 2.1).

Insulation and air conditioning

There were 278,100 households in Queensland in October 2009 without insulation, but which had air conditioning. This represented 25% of all households with air conditioning. There were 709,000 households with both insulation installed (or on order) and air conditioning, which was 62% of all households with air conditioning.

There were 226,300 households in Queensland in October 2009 that had insulation installed, or on order, but did not have air conditioning. This represented 44% of all households without air conditioning (table 2.2).


Insulation and household energy sources

There were 157,600 Queensland households that used solar energy as an energy source for their dwelling and 76% (119,700) of these dwellings had insulation. For the 1,652,600 households that used mains electricity as an energy source, 57% (934,400) of households had insulation at their dwelling.

Of the 316,500 households that used LPG/Bottled gas as an energy source, 68% (216,100) had insulation, compared with 50% (101,700) of the 203,900 households that used mains gas (table 2.3).


Reasons for installing insulation

Reasons for installing insulation were only asked of households where the dwelling was owner occupied.

Of the 805,100 Queensland households in owner occupied dwellings which either had insulation installed or on order, 56% (448,700) reported the main reason for installing insulation was to achieve comfort. The second highest proportion (14% or 108,400) reported their main reason was because of the rebate being offered. Building regulations/standards was reported as the main reason for 6% (50,100) of households in owner occupied dwellings which either had insulation installed or on order. A further 4% (34,000) reported it as being mainly to save on energy bills (table 2.4).

There were 301,300 Queensland households in owner occupied dwellings that did not have insulation. Of these households, those having a secured loan or mortgage (68% or 97,000), were more likely to install insulation if a rebate or grant was offered than those who owned their dwelling outright (42% or 63,000). Of the 148,900 Queensland households that did not have insulation and that owned their dwelling outright, 48% (71,300) reported they would not install insulation if a rebate or grant was offered, compared with 24% (34,500) of those paying off their dwelling (table 2.5).

2.1 WHETHER HOUSEHOLD DWELLING HAS INSULATION, Tenure Type: Qld - Oct. 2009
		Has insulation(a)	Does not have insulation	Don't know(b)	Total
Number ('000)
	Owned outright	373.1	148.9	28.2	550.3
	Being paid off	415.9	142.0	28.6	586.5
	Rented(c)	130.3	163.8	192.2	486.2
	Other	16.1	10.3	*4.6	31.0
	Total	935.3	465.1	253.6	1 654.0
Proportion (%)
	Owned outright	67.8	27.1	5.1	100.0
	Being paid off	70.9	24.2	4.9	100.0
	Rented(c)	26.8	33.7	39.5	100.0
	Other	51.9	33.3	*14.8	100.0
	Total	56.5	28.1	15.3	100.0
* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution
(a) Includes households that have insulation on order but not yet installed.
(b) Households where it was not known if insulation was installed or not.
(c) Includes rent free.

2.2 WHETHER HOUSEHOLD DWELLING HAS INSULATION, Whether household has air conditioner: Qld - Oct. 2009
		Has insulation(a)	Does not have insulation	Don't know(b)	Total
Number ('000)
	Has air conditioner	709.0	278.1	150.2	1 137.4
	Does not have air conditioner	226.3	186.9	103.4	516.7
	Total	935.3	465.1	253.6	1 654.0
Proportion (%)
	Has air conditioner	62.3	24.5	13.2	100.0
	Does not have air conditioner	43.8	36.2	20.0	100.0
	Total	56.5	28.1	15.3	100.0
(a) Includes households that have insulation on order but not yet installed.
(b) Households where it was not known if insulation was installed or not.

2.3 WHETHER HOUSEHOLD DWELLING HAS INSULATION, All sources of energy used in dwelling: Qld - Oct. 2009
		Has insulation(a)	Does not have insulation	Don't know(b)	Total
Number ('000)
	Mains electricity	934.4	464.6	253.6	1 652.6
	Mains gas	101.7	60.4	41.7	203.9
	LPG/Bottled gas	216.1	69.6	30.8	316.5
	Solar	119.7	29.2	8.8	157.6
	Other(c)	77.4	29.6	*3.8	110.8
	Total households(d)	935.3	465.1	253.6	1 654.0
Proportion (%)
	Mains electricity	56.5	28.1	15.3	100.0
	Mains gas	49.9	29.6	20.5	100.0
	LPG/Bottled gas	68.3	22.0	9.7	100.0
	Solar	75.9	18.5	5.6	100.0
	Other(c)	69.8	26.7	3.4	100.0
	Total households(d)	56.5	28.1	15.3	100.0
* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Includes households that have insulation on order but not yet installed.
(b) Households where it was not known if insulation was installed or not.
(c) Includes wood, oil, photo voltaic electricity and other energy sources.
(d) Components may sum to more than total as households may have more than one energy source.

2.4 HOUSEHOLDS IN OWNER OCCUPIED DWELLINGS WITH INSULATION, Main reason insulation was installed: Qld - Oct. 2009
	Achieve comfort	Cost/save on energy bills	Use less energy	Rebate offered	Building regulations/ standards	Insulation already installed	Total(a)
Number ('000)	448.7	34.0	17.4	108.4	50.1	40.3	805.1
Proportion (%)	55.7	4.2	2.2	13.5	6.2	5.0	100.0
(a) Includes other main reasons and main reason not known.

2.5 HOUSEHOLDS IN OWNER OCCUPIED DWELLINGS WITHOUT INSULATION, Whether insulation would be installed if grant or rebate existed, Tenure type: Qld - Oct. 2009
		Insulation would be installed	Insulation would not be installed	Don't know whether insulation would be installed	Total
Number ('000)
	Owned outright	63.0	71.3	14.6	148.9
	Being paid off	97.0	34.5	10.5	142.0
	Other	*2.9	*5.6	*1.8	10.3
	Total	162.9	111.4	27.0	301.3
Proportion (%)
	Owned outright	42.3	47.9	9.8	100.0
	Being paid off	68.3	24.3	7.4	100.0
	Other	*28.0	54.3	*17.7	100.0
	Total	54.1	37.0	9.0	100.0
* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution

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