Energetic Communities Inc. Community Energy

01/05/2026

Many Queenslanders are struggling to understand how their energy bills work and how to keep on top of them while prices keep going up.

It's also an area targeted by scams and misinformation.

Find out how you can help provide your service users with the knowledge they need to determine energy bill scams and misinformation in QCOSS' webinar presented alongside Energetic Communities Inc. Community Energy.

You'll learn:
💡how to spot misleading and false energy-related information
💡how to recognise and protect service users from energy-related scams and predatory sales practices
💡the psychological tactics of scammers
💡how to discern advertising claims

Link to the webinar in the comments 👇

15/12/2025

Renters expectations are finally being heard.

New research shows that millions of Australians are struggling with rentals that are too hot in summer, too cold in winter, and shockingly expensive to run.

70% of renters are avoiding heating or cooling their home just to save money — that’s not choice, that’s survival.

Nearly half of people think landlords should help pay for essential energy upgrades so rental homes are liveable and fair.

Support for minimum energy-efficiency standards in rentals is strong, but it needs to go national, not just piecemeal across states.

If we’re serious about affordable, healthy housing, we can’t let landlords off the hook when properties are in worse shape than owner-occupied homes. It’s time for enforceable standards so renters aren’t left paying the price, literally and figuratively.

What do you think landlords should be responsible for?
Let us know your thoughts below - this conversation needs to be louder.

As new minimum standards start to gain traction, so too are expectations that landlords — at least in part — cover the cost of meeting them.

18/11/2025

Great article from Energy Consumers Australia. We're watching other states improve rental standards with respect to energy performance, providing healther, cheaper to run and cleaner homes for renters, particularly important coming into our hotter and humid months.

"Renters also face unique barriers. They can’t retrofit their homes, rarely have the tenure security to justify investment and often find themselves locked out of programs designed for homeowners. The result is a systemic disadvantage, widening the energy divide."

https://thefifthestate.com.au/columns/spinifex/australias-rental-homes-are-among-our-worst-glorified-tents-and-renters-are-paying-the-price/

We're also still waiting on Queensland Treasury to announce its Supercharged Solar for Renters program that some states have been enjoying some form of for years!

State and territory governments need to consider implementing minimum energy performance standards for rental properties using NatHERS ratings as the benchmark write Energy Consumers Australia Carol Valente.

18/11/2025

We post a lot and aim to represent renters in this space, but we also talk to a lot of home owners who also struggle with bills and keeping cool in summer and warm in winter.

We've been supporting QCOSS and 20 neighbourhhod centres across Queensland through Neighbourhood Centres Queensland assisting all sorts of households struggling.

Community Education Resources View and download the household resources, social tiles and promotional materials available below to share with your community members and support them to make informed energy-related decisions. Household Resources Are you missing out on energy bill support? Print out a...

18/11/2025

We're coming into a hot an humid period, and that means mould!

Wheter you rent or own your home, here are a few things you can do.

Where is mould coming from Mould is everywhere in outdoor air. Indoor levels are generally lower than outdoor levels, unless mould growth occurs in your home. Where does mould live? Mould spores generally attach to dust and rough surfaces. How does mould spread? When conditions are right, mould spor...

16/11/2025

Are you a renter and wish your home was more efficient, comfortable in hot and cold weather, and understood bills, tariffs and rebates better to not get screwed!?

We've a simple guide - even though the best time is when you're looking for a home, there's plenty to do once you've moved in (download available):
https://www.empoweringrenters.org.au/home-energy/energy-considerations-for-a-new-rental/

Why dont you sign up for our free home energy service for renters (in partnership with Tenants Queensland), including a free energy rating and a one-on-one table conversation about your bills, tariffs and available supports:

https://www.empoweringrenters.org.au/contact/

More detail in our earlier post:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ckYuwAwJ1/

11/11/2025

Here's a live example of helping renters!

Coming into a hot and humid summer, renters are missing out. Come along to one of Tenants Queensland's sessions, or better still, book into a free home energy service for renters:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AmXjdGk7w/

Last month EmPowering Renters had the pleasure of running an energy workshop with tenants and community workers for the sowing circle at Eagleby Neighbourhood Centre. Together, we explored practical strategies to reduce energy consumption and improve energy efficiency in our homes and discussed how our free Home Energy Assessments can help.

The workshop opened discussions around housing constraints and allowed us to work with everyone to understand their energy bills, smart meters, tariffs, concessions, energy made easy, energy consumption and solar feed in tariffs.

If you would like a free home energy assessment before Christmas or want to find out what this involves and how this could potentially save you money, call the EmPowering Renters team on 07 3473 5010 or through the website https://www.empoweringrenters.org.au/contact

More details:
Tenants Queensland (TQ) is delivering a new energy program in conjunction with Energetic Communities Inc. Community Energy (ECAI) to help Queensland renters reduce their cost of living. The EmPowering Renters project received grant funding from the Queensland Government as part of the Enable Grants Program.

The Enable Grants Program supports non-government
organisations (NGOs) to provide energy efficiency advice and activities that will help reduce energy bills for Queenslanders experiencing vulnerability

Photo description: Six people standing in front of a screen 'Let's Talk Power Bills' smiling at camera.

07/11/2025

Renters often miss out on home energy programs, but now we have Empowering Renters a free program aimed at renters to help renters understand their energy - affordability, sustainability, transition and healthy homes, all in one!

Read on about our free home energy service for renters!

Are you a renter in South-east Queensland or Cairns? Wish there was more you could do about energy? Don't know where to start and could do with a bit of personalised one-on-one assistance?

Contact us now and ask about our home energy service and energy efficiency rating for renters.

https://www.empoweringrenters.org.au/contact/

Empowering Renters is run by Energetic Communities Inc. Community Energy and Tenants Queensland for renters (developed by renters for renters).

As part of Empowering Renters, we’re offering free home energy service for rentals unit the end of December. Energetic Communities Inc. Community Energy will complete a Residential Efficiency Scorecard giving you an energy performance rating of your home.

While we’re doing that, Tenants Queensland will sit down with you, the tenant, and give you personalised assistance to understand your home, energy use, bills, what you can do as a renter (with or without landlord permission) and help identify any further assistance you may be eligible for.

Topics covered in the One-on-one assistance:

Tariffs: understand what tariffs you’re on. How they impact you and what would be good/more affordable for you.

What’s on the Bill: the different elements on the bills discussed, and assistance with ‘Energy Made Easy’ to find the best deal for the tenants.

Payment support: what rebates and concessions you may be eligible for.

What uses the most energy at your home: understanding your appliances, heating, cooling and hot water, efficiency and comfort feature you may not realise exist etc., and what you can in reality do about it as a renter in your home (Yes, it is in fact your home)!

Behaviours: What you can do to get the best outcomes for you - e.g. turning on the fan with aircon, curtains and drapes, (and we’re still expecting the QLD gov to launch their Solar for Renters program, any time now...).

Referrals out: Referrals to other social, financial and housing supports you may be eligible for: e.g. Financial Counselling, QSTARS, retailers, Energy Made Easy, other organisations!

It’s funded and therefore free, and is covered in approximately 2 hours at your home at a time that suits you. You don’t need landlord permission to participate (but it helps if you have a supportive landlord to share this opportunity with!

https://www.empoweringrenters.org.au/contact/

We’re located in SEQ and are coming to Cairns, but we can also come elsewhere in Queensland if we can find 5 or more homes.

03/11/2025

As floods, fires and heatwaves hit harder, communities are stretched to our limits. Today we’re launching the Climate Safety Plan — a call for our Government to step up and invest in what we need to stay safe:
🏫 Climate proofing homes, schools and workplaces
🏥 Build a resilient healthcare system
🆘 Boost our emergency workforce
☂️ Make insurance affordable
🤝 Fund community services and local governments
👩‍🌾 Secure farming and our food supply
💛 Deliver climate-ready social support
🗣️ Centre community voices and experience and leadership
And pay for it by cutting the billions of dollars paid every year to giant coal and gas corporations.
Find out more at renewaustraliaforall.org/climate-safety-plan

30/10/2025

This summer is gonna be hot. Dam hot! (Except for when the summer storms and hail hits!)

But renters, what can you do to keep your home cool and reduce your energy bills before the summer months kick in I hear you ask (as you struggle to find a tap that pours out cold water)?

Let the EmPowering Renters help with FREE in Home Assessment where we will:
• Assess your rental home giving it a score out of 10 on how energy efficient it is and most importantly how it is impacting your bill!
• We’ll help you understand your home and habits and how it affects your comfort, health and energy affordability.
• Help you understand your bill and find you extra savings you might not have been aware of.
• Assist with practical tips to lower energy consumption without minimising your comfort.

Since running this program, EmPowering Renters team has helped tenants make large savings in power bills.

Call the team to book in your free home assessment on:
07 3473 5010 or visit empoweringrenters.org.au

More details:
Energetic Communities Inc. Community Energy (ECAI) and Tenants Queensland (TQ) are delivering the EmPowering Renters project to help Queensland renters reduce their cost of living. The EmPowering Renters project received grant funding from the Queensland Government as part of the Enable Grants Program.

The Enable Grants Program supports non-government organisations (NGOs) to provide energy efficiency advice and activities that will help reduce energy bills for Queenslanders experiencing vulnerability


Book a free home assessment! To find out how call (07) 3473 5010 or visit https://www.empoweringrenters.org.au