As Australians struggle with a cold, humid winter, many struggle to heat their homes properly, a problem that experts say could be contributing to a number of poor health outcomes.
With the colder temperatures hitting hard, along with rising gas and electricity prices, many homes find it impossible to warm up.
In fact, according to the “safe temperature” recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for a home, many do not live in adequate conditions.
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The health body recommends that households do not go below 18ºC.
However, with regard to new research by Better Renting, it was found that many homes are below 18ºC, for a staggering 70% of the time.
An Australian, who knows this fight too well, is Adelaide tenant Shay, who lives with his partner in a loft-style apartment that was once a warehouse, with no heating and exposed brick walls.
He said that the temperature inside the rental house is currently, on average, 13 ºC, much lower than the recommended safe temperature.
And she is not alone.
The national survey asked Australians about their living conditions this winter. Credit: Healthy Homes
Across the country, residents have expressed their displeasure in a national survey, which found that two out of three tenants have had difficulty maintaining a comfortable temperature in their home.
These Australians not only live uncomfortably, but are also at increased risk for cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, as well as a number of mental health issues.
“It’s just depressing”: Australians share their struggle
Shay told 7NEWS.com.au that her health has declined, both physically and mentally, this winter due to her living conditions.
“We asked to install some kind of air conditioning, but they said that as it is a historic building it cannot be done,” Shay said.
Shay, who also suffers from a chronic illness that is aggravated by the common cold, says he finds it hard to “function,” especially when he works from home.
But aside from the obvious physical impacts, Shay says the ice conditions have also affected his mental health and that of his partner.
“I think it also really affects mental health because we really can’t have much sun while we try to keep the windows covered as much as possible to keep warm,” he said.
“So it’s extremely depressing and it also makes it very difficult to perform any kind of essential self-care task.”
Shay said he would like owners and industry bodies to do more to help struggling Australians during these cold winter months.
What are the risks?
When it comes to this, the WHO recommends that indoor house temperatures “should be high enough to protect residents from the harmful health effects of the cold.”
“For countries with temperate or colder climates, 18 ° C has been proposed as a safe and balanced indoor temperature to protect the health of the general population during the cold seasons,” their guidelines state.
“In climatic zones with a cold season, efficient and safe thermal insulation should be installed in new homes and adapted to existing homes.”
Cold air can not only cause general discomfort and poor mental health outcomes, but it can also inflame the lungs and inhibit circulation, according to the National Library of Medicine.
“This increases the risk of suffering from respiratory conditions such as asthma attacks or symptoms, worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and infection,” they said.
They also attributed that cold temperatures in a home are associated with an increase in blood pressure and poor mental health.
What to do?
With predictions by climate scientists of lower temperatures coupled with ongoing extreme weather events like La Niña, many are calling for more to be done to help protect tenants and ensure they have adequate shelter.
A cohort of 75 organizations urges governments to accelerate policy changes to introduce minimum energy efficiency standards to better protect the health of Australian tenants.
In 2019, the COAG Energy Council agreed that existing buildings will be more energy efficient by 2030, including minimum energy efficiency standards for all rental properties.
However, many jurisdictions have not yet committed to implementing these standards, and only Victoria and the ACT are taking public action on this front.
Many tenants also say their landlords will not pay for insulation or air conditioning.
However, there is a large discrepancy in the number of rental homes that are detached compared to owner-occupied homes.
Robert Crawford, an associate professor of construction and environmental assessment at the University of Melbourne, says the discrepancy occurs because homeowners who do not live on their properties do not have the financial incentives to make them energy efficient.
“It’s something that is hidden from tenants until they get in there and start using heating and cooling,” he says.
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