About IREE

IREE: A HISTORY

2017 launched the inaugural Improving Residential Energy Efficiency Conference in Wollongong. Marked as the first in its kind in Australia, the primary focus was on improving energy efficiency in households and homes. The conference reported on the findings of research and practice from a wide range of academics and practitioners and built on important work conducted as part of the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science’s national LIEEP program which piloted 20 projects to assist Low Income Australian Households in becoming more energy efficient.

Low-income households are particularly vulnerable to rising energy costs as they typically reside in low-energy rating homes and use energy hungry appliances. Energy bills represent a high proportion of household income. Reductions in energy consumption will not only save money and improve home living comfort, but also serve to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions. In addition, the challenges of changing the practices and household technologies of more affluent households to reduce environmental and other impacts is also a major point of interest for this conference.

THE FUTURE OF IREE

The inaugural conference benefited numerous audiences including energy sector providers, state and national government agencies involved in energy regulation and policy, and researchers in energy efficiency in general.

Moving forward into 2019, the IREE Conference will continue to build on important research in the energy efficiency space for households. However, energy efficiency is more than just a household problem. Energy intersects with all elements of human life and interactions – health, social wellbeing and economics. 

AN INITIATIVE OF GEER AUSTRALIA

This conference is brought to you by GEER Australia (Group of Energy Efficiency Researchers) Australia and the Queensland University of Technology.