The Courier-Mail
By: Graham Readfearn
With the double-whammy of climate change and harsh economic times, everyone is looking for ways to save money and help the environment.
Rebates are available for everything from major solar-electricity systems to simple energy-saving bulbs.
But with state and federal rebates going through changes and modifications it can be difficult to know what is available.
Here's our comprehensive guide to the eco-rebates available for Queenslanders and why they can help your pocket and your planet.
You don't get something for nothing, except when it comes to doing your bit for the environment.
There's been a common misconception that going green means digging deeper into our pockets, but there's now a plethora of rebates available to help.
Current cash handouts can slice thousands of dollars off the cost of eco-friendly home improvements such as roof insulation and solar power and, in some cases, can pay for the entire job. What's more, home owners can save on their energy bills for years to come.
But the problem is that while all the rebates help to reduce your impact on the environment, there is no single place to go to find out what's out there and whether or not you qualify.
Add this to a raft of recent changes to rebates at local, state and national level, and what's left is a labyrinth of grants, rebates and other schemes.
The challengers in The Courier-Mail's One Degree campaign have been getting in among the rebate systems as they push ahead with their pledge to cut their carbon footprints.
Challenger Frances Wright, 29, of Bowen Hills, decided to have roof insulation installed into her Queenslander home after the latest rebate announcement. Hers was one of more than two million homes which the Government said should be insulated. "I just didn't realise that having roof insulation would make as much difference as it has,'' she says.
"There has been a massive change in the temperature inside the house. We've not had to use the airconditioning at all since we had it installed.''
Ms Wright qualifies for up to $1600 to cover the cost of the installation through the Federal Government's Energy Efficient Homes package, but says she decided to take a more expensive option which has seen her out of pocket by about $1600.
Fellow One Degree challenger Heather McCarthy, 34, of Chapel Hill, has claimed several rebates since her young family of five joined The Courier-Mail campaign three months ago.
She claimed $8000 towards a 1kWh solar electricity system on her roof and says it's difficult to get used to seeing her electricity meter spin backwards.
"If the meter goes backwards, that means we are generating enough electricity to cover our needs -- and that has been happening during the day. Sometimes I've gone out and seen the meter creeping forwards and have gone back into the house and realised I've left something switched on.''
She says it was important to find a solar power company that was willing to take time to talk through the different rebates and costs involved.
"There was such a lot of stuff to read through and understand, but the retailer filled in all the paper work and talked us through it. If we had not had that I think my head would have been spinning.''
The McCarthy family of five is one of four families taking part in the One Degree Challenge to cut their carbon footprint.
The average Queensland home uses almost one-third of its electricity to heat water, so the installation of a new solar hot water system will have a big impact on the power the family needs. The Government estimates families could save as much as $700 a year in power bills by replacing their old water heaters.
Check out Graham Readfearn's environment blog today for a host of energy-saving tips for your home. You can follow the One Degree Challenge campaign online at couriermail.com.au/onedegree
What you should know
SOLAR HOT WATER
THE $1600 Federal Government rebate is available for home owners and also tenants who want to replace an electric storage hot water tank. Installing a solar hot water system enables householders to generate Renewable Energy Certificates to further offset the upfront costs. Systems will create between 35 and 48 RECs depending on the efficiency and size of the system. Most retailers will make REC applications on a customer's behalf and buy them back at a cost of about $40 each. It is also worth checking with your local council as some areas offer additional rebates.
SOLAR ELECTRICITY
THE Federal Government is offering an $8000 rebate on solar electricity systems to households earning less than $100,000 per year but this system will change in July. In its place, households and businesses will be allocated five times the usual number of Renewable Energy Certificates for the size of their installation. These are worth between $40 and $50 depending on how they are sold and will not be means-tested. A typical 1kWh system will attract abut 20 RECs. These systems are connected to the electricity grid, which means they are able to feed power back into the system which retailers can purchase. The Queensland Government last year introduced a tariff which pays 44c/kWh for any electricity returned to the grid.
WATER TANKS
REBATES are still available for water tank installations and also for grey water systems. What has changed is that now systems must be plumbed internally to a cold water outlet, such as a toilet or washing machine. The Brisbane City Council has also introduced a rebate for existing tank owners to have their rainwater plumbed into their home.
CEILING INSULATION
HOUSEHOLDS which claim the insulation rebate available from the Federal Government cannot then claim the Government's solar hot water rebate. Big savings can be made on heating and cooling bills from installing ceiling insulation.