The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) thanks DEECA for the opportunity to provide feedback on the consultation on space heating and cooling consumer fact sheet.

AIRAH is Australia’s peak membership body for professionals and practitioners working in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) industry.

It is our mission to create and Australian HVAC&R industry that is highly skilled and professional, safe, sustainable and environmentally effective. AIRAH encourages world’s best practice within the industry through continuing professional development, accreditation programs and technical publications – and by providing input on initiatives related to HVAC&R, such as this one.

For this consultation, we have called on the expertise of members who have been involved in activities such as:

• Developing our FairAir website for sizing heating and cooling systems in Australian homes
• Working with the Building Codes Committee to provide input on requirements in the National Construction Code for residential dwellings
• Developing best practice guides for the installation of air conditioners in residential settings
• Expert witness work on jobs such as those covered by the VEU program.

The replacement of gas heating and the installation of high-efficiency electric heating and cooling in Victorian homes is a vital part of our journey towards net zero, and we applaud the Victorian government’s leadership in this space. It is vital that it is done rapidly. But it is just as vital that it is done properly.

Our review of the fact sheet has highlighted a number of issues that we believe represent significant risks for the success of the program. These are noted below, along with some direct feedback on the content and presentation of the fact sheet.