Heat on to ease alerts
ELDERLY Australians and other vulnerable households too scared to switch on airconditioners or fans in heatwaves because of electricity costs are endangering their lives.
Other families are sacrificing buying groceries or school books so they can afford to keep cool, particularly those with babies, research reveals.
Three-quarters of health and community service workers surveyed for an RMIT University study said financial stress because of airconditioning use was common.
The crisis caused by rising power bills has prompted calls for dedicated free “heat refuges” in public spaces and extended library hours in sweltering conditions.
Authorities are also being urged to clearly excuse the elderly and unwell from public alerts that try to conserve electricity use in extreme heat to avoid shortages and blackouts.
Lead researcher Larissa Nicholls, from RMIT’s Centre for Urban Research, said the frail, elderly, and those suffering chronic health conditions made worse by extreme heat were at greatest danger from rationing airconditioning.
“Public messaging asking households to be careful with electricity use in times of peak demand should focus on the healthy and younger households,” Dr Nicholls said.
Dozens of social service workers and 36 at-risk households with older occupants and infants in Melbourne, Dubbo and Cairns were quizzed.
The health fears coincide with “demand management” trials in Victoria, South Australia and NSW to financially reward volunteers who reduce energy use for short periods on scorching days this summer.
“I have advised people in the energy sector to screen volunteers for age and health status so the right people end up responding,” she said.
A push to extend the availability of “cost-reflective” tariffs that charge more for using power in peak periods and less at other times could also have potentially harmful impacts.
“Peak pricing is likely to exacerbate unhealthy selfrationing of airconditioning and fans in some households,” the Heatwaves, Homes & Health research project warns.
Half the surveyed staff were aware of clients who did not use fans in heatwaves.
“Many vulnerable households are renters in poor-quality housing that heats up fast and stays hot for long periods,” Dr Nicholls said.
“We recommend public and private rental improvements such as insulation and shading.”