Green Loans For The Rest Of Us

 

While the Australian Government's Green Loans program has effectively ended; for those people who have already commenced the process, the Federal Government has clarified that it will honour all complying interest free green loans that have had their loan contracts signed on or before 22 March 2010.
  
For everyone else - all is not lost.
  
Australian financial institutions are recognising there is an increasing demand for solar power systems and creating loan products to suit.
  
National solar solutions provider Energy Matters have begun listing banks and credit unions offering low interest green loans on their web site at www.energymatters.com.au  
  
According to Energy Matters co-founder Max Sylvester, "Progressive institutions understand that unlike many other items bought with personal loans, a residential solar power system can be a real asset, adding substantial value to a home. With a real estate market increasingly leaning to green; a home solar power system may edge out other similar properties on the market at the time."
   
Mr. Sylvester says this aspect of solar power is often not considered. 
   
"People tend to focus on the government rebates, emissions reduction, electricity savings and income that can be generated from owning a system through feed in tariff arrangements - and these are all very powerful motivators. Solar panels adding value is an aspect that is often overlooked and unlike a home improvement such as a pool, there's very little maintenance involved."
  
Energy Matters is inviting banks, credit unions and financial institutions to send details of their low interest green loans for purposes including solar power systems to media@energymatters.com.au  in order to be listed on the Energy Matters web site.
  
"Since the announcement of the end of the Green Loans program, traffic to our green loans page has really taken off. The listings are free - we just want to be able to provide this information to consumers as it benefits everyone." says Mr Sylvester.
  

Solar Powered Marines? Ooh-rah!*

 

The Ground Renewable Expeditionary Energy System (GREENS) uses stackable 1600-watt solar panel arrays and deep cycle batteries to supply an average continuous output of 300 watts and up to 1,000 watts of power. The systems will provide enough electricity for essential communications and targeting electronics needed by the Marines when operating in remote locations. 
 
GREENS will reduce the fuel use needed for generators and in lessening the need for fuel resupply, will reduce the associated threats to vehicle convoys in Afghanistan and Iraq..
 
According to a related article on Defense Systems, transporting fuel in high risk locations can raise fuel costs from a regular price of USD$1 per gallon to about USD$400 and if an airlift is necessary, the price can reach USD$1,000 a gallon.
 
The GREENS project was conceived in late 2008. Approval for the project was expedited and technical execution took less than six months with the
first unit tested in July 2009. The GREENS system underwent continuous power testing at Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, California where temperatures exceeded 46 degrees Celsius. 
 
Even under such hot conditions, the system provided 85 percent of the rated energy. As a result of the better than expected performance, the project is now being fast-tracked to deploy the equipment in the field.
 
The US Navy has set a goal of  at least 40 percent of its total energy consumption to be sourced from alternative sources such as biofuels and renewable energy by 2020.
 
*Ooh-rah  is a spirited cry common to United States Marines since the mid-20th century states Wikipedia.
 

News for Friday 26 February, 2010

 

• Government Announces Revamped Renewable Energy Target
  


• Solar Powered Rickshaws For 2010 Commonwealth Games
  

View all news for Friday 26 February, 2010 on one page

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