Knauf Insulation has welcomed the decision by the Abbot Government to repeal the Carbon Tax, a move that is expected to reduce household energy bills.

While repealing the Carbon Tax is just the start to lowering energy bills, there are many more ways for Australians to reduce energy costs. Figures from Knauf Insulation indicate uninsulated properties in Australia are costing the country around $500 million per year, with energy generated to keep these properties cool in summer and warm in winter disappearing out of underfloors, ceilings and walls.

The rental housing segment is the worst affected as 20 per cent who rent have no clue whether the property is insulated. This figure is almost twice the number of homeowners who are unaware about the insulation in their own homes.

Knauf Insulation calculates that on average, a family living in an uninsulated building will spend around $450 per year more than they need to on energy. There has also been a significant increase in energy usage across Australia with electricity used for heating and cooling properties having increased by 89% since 2000.

Knauf Insulation estimates there are over one million homes still without insulation in Australia. According to Ravi Chandra, General Manager for Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy at Knauf Insulation Australia and New Zealand, while axing the Carbon Tax will give consumers some relief against increasing household bills, what the action won’t fix is that almost nine out every ten Australian homes were built before minimum energy efficiency standards; millions of households are therefore wasting money on energy without even realising it.

Knauf Insulation initiated a project in 2013 to help spread awareness among Australians about the benefits of insulation. The company worked with local residents and the Birdsville council to insulate every viable property in the remote outback town known for its extreme temperatures.

For the project, Knauf Insulation trucked in enough Earthwool to cover a football field 1500km from Brisbane to Birdsville and DIY installed into houses and famous businesses such as the Birdsville Hotel and the Birdsville Bakery. New figures show the average residential home in Birdsville has saved over 20% on its energy bills since the Earthwool insulation was installed.

The elaborate product demonstration highlighted the huge difference insulation can make on the quality of living. The town most recently won the Tidy Towns Award for Energy Conservation.