It’s a great time for Australian households to make their homes more energy efficient and reduce their carbon footprint, thanks to generous government rebates.
However, according to Max Sylvester, co-founder of Energy Matters, some home owners are bitterly disappointed when they access one rebate only to find they are then disqualified from others.
“Many people have been taking advantage of subsidised roof insulation, not knowing they are then not able to apply for the Australian Federal Government $1600 solar hot water heater rebate.”
The $1,600 solar hot water rebate can in some instances make a new system comparable in price to a standard electric hot water service. Some states also offer additional subsidies, slashing the price even further.
Solar hot water systems can help people save up to 75% on their water heating related power bills. As water heating is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions from the average Australian home, the installation of a solar hot water system also substantially reduces a household’s carbon impact.
To be eligible for the $1600 rebate, a hot water system must replace an electric storage hot water system and be eligible for at least 20 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) at the time and place of installation. Systems also need to be installed by a suitably qualified person such as an electrician or plumber.
An owner-occupier, landlord or tenant can apply for the rebate as long as the dwelling where the hot water system is installed is a principal place of residence.
“When tossing up between insulation and the solar hot water rebate, people should consider where they’ll achieve the biggest economical and environmental bang for their rebates bucks.” says Mr. Sylvester.
Even in the situation where insulation is chosen, some states offer their own solar hot water rebates on top of the $1600 Federal grants – however, in some cases, exclusion of eligibility from the Federal rebate can also mean disqualification at the state level.
