NSW Electricity Bills to Soar by 22 Per Cent
May 22, 2009
The NSW Government has brought forward a $272 million assistance package originally announced to soften the impact of its $6 billion energy privatization on consumers after a substantial price rise was confirmed yesterday.
DECC - Hot Water System rebate up take report
March 5, 2009
The most important consideration when choosing a hot water system is the size. To maximise emission and running cost savings, the system should be large enough to provide hot water to meet the household’s needs. A system that is too big costs more to buy and run and will generate more greenhouse gas emissions. Hot water professionals can advise on the appropriate size of a system for the household. Installing water efficient fixtures, such as showerheads and taps and insulating hot water pipes to prevent heat loss will maximize the efficiency of all hot water systems. Householders switching to electric-boosted solar hot water systems can also save more in running costs by switching to an off-peak tariff, which has the added benefit of reducing peak demand.
Solar hot water systems provide the greatest emission savings and account for 60 per cent of the hot water systems installed in NSW in 2007–2008 with the help of the rebate. Switching from an electric hot water system to a solar hot water system saves an average of 3.0 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year. Switching from electric to a heat pump system saves 2.4 tonnes and switching to gas saves 2.9 tonnes a year. Figure 1 shows the breakdown of hot water system rebate uptake by system type.
AS adapted from Department of Environment and Climate Change Annual Report 2007 - 2008
The Best Solar Deal In Town
February 5, 2009
The new Federal Government’s increase to the solar hot water rebate to $1600 with no means test, gives all homes with an electric hot water system a real incentive to save and dramatically drop their energy costs. For as little as $1400 a home owner can have the popular 302L Thermosiphon installed and operating in less than a day.
The rebate, combined with Treasury forecasts of electricity price rises of between 17-24%, means there’s real incentive for householders to become more energy efficient. There hasn’t been a better time to invest in a solar water heater!
“This is heartening news not only for consumers, but also for local industry whose Head Office manufactures close by in Rydalmere, and of course, the environment” says Alistair Duncan the Director of Solahart Lower North Shore, based at the Eco Living Centre, 236 Victoria Road, Gladesville.
As the largest single power user in a home, water heating is also the home’s biggest contributor of household greenhouse gas emissions. Now the householder can increase the value of their home, reduce their power bills and help lower CO2 emissions.
The Federal Government rebates adds to the existing Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) and the NSW State Government rebate. “Overall, it’s a win-win for all. We are happy to give expert advice with a free site inspection to discuss the best option and to answer any queries. There has never been a better time to up-grade to a solar system” says Alistair.
Federal Government Solar Hot Water Rebate increased
February 4, 2009
As apart of the federal government’s $42 billion stimulus package the Solar Hot Water rebate has been increased to $1600 and removed the means testing.
Effective 3 February 2009 if installing a solar hot water system that replaces an electric storage system you are eligible to recieve this rebate no matter how much your household earns.
There hasn’t been a better time to buy solar hot water. With average rebates around $3700 available per household it makes installing a solar hot water system a very smart investment. A typical system will cost $1500 supplied and installed!
A Solahart system can save 55% -85% of your water heating consumption.* So with this great boost from the federal government and the known rise in energy costs in the near future, installing a solar hot water system is future proofing your home for what is forecast in our future.
Some frequently asked questions as stated on http://www.environment.gov.au/ are as follows
What is the Solar Hot Water Rebate?
The Solar Hot Water Rebate component of the Australian Government’s Energy Efficiency Homes Program provides rebates of $1,600 to eligible applicants to install solar and heat pump hot water systems in existing homes. The new hot water system must replace an electric storage hot water system which are the most greenhouse intensive of household hot water systems and generate the largest amount of greenhouse gas emissions.
The rebate encourages switching to alternative hot water technologies by addressing the up-front cost barriers to climate friendly systems, which also deliver low operating costs for the household.
The rebate is to help households replace existing electric storage hot water systems. Rebates are not available for replacing older solar or gas hot water systems.
There are two more rebates, a Renewable Energy Certificate (worth around $1300, but subject to fluctuations) and a NSW Government rebate of $800, for a typical system.
When can I apply for a rebate?
The Federal Government rebate is offered from 3 February 2009 until 31 March 2012, subject to the availability of funds for solar hot water systems installed from the 3 February 2009. No applications will be accepted after 31 March 2012. Applicants must apply for the rebate within six months of their new solar or heat pump hot water system being installed.
What is the deadline for applications?
Applicants must apply for the rebate within six months (184 days) of installing an eligible system.
Who can apply for the rebate?
Applicants for the rebate must be the owner or tenant of the dwelling where the system was installed. The application process is simple and straightforward and is completed at the time the new hot water system is being installed. Suppliers and installers of solar hot water systems cannot apply for the Australian Government Solar Hot Water Rebate Component on behalf of their customers.
Government Agencies or occupants of public housing are not eligible for this rebate.
How do I claim the solar hot water rebate?
Rebates of $1,600 will be available to home owners that have not already accessed the Insulating Australian Households rebate.
Can I apply for the rebate if I am renting?
Yes. The system for which a rebate is being claimed must be installed at a principal place of residence. An applicant can be the owner or the tenant of the dwelling.
A tenant should not install a system without approval from the owner of the dwelling. The sharing of any costs is a matter for the landlord and the tenant to negotiate.
Regardless of whether you are an owner or a tenant, all other eligibility requirements must be met.
If my system was installed before the 3 February 2009, can I get the new rebate?
No, unfortunately if your system was installed prior to 3 February 2009, you are only entitled to the rebate that was available at the time (i.e. means tested $1000 rebate).
I installed my system before the 3 February 2009 can I still apply under the $1000 rebate.
Yes, provided you meet the eligibility requirements (i.e. $100,000 means test). Applications for the previous $1,000 rebate will be accepted until 2 August 2009.
Are rebates available for new homes or those which are rebuilt?
In order to maximise the environmental outcomes of the program, solar hot water systems installed on new houses are not eligible for the rebate. In comparison to existing housing stock, new homes are generally more energy efficient. Some state governments also regulate the energy efficiency of hot water systems installed in new homes. Furthermore, it is more expensive to install energy efficient hot water systems onto existing homes than onto new homes.
Houses that are rebuilt are classed as new houses and therefore are not eligible for the rebate.
The Australian Government provides an incentive to all households to install climate friendly hot water systems in the form of renewable energy certificates (RECs). RECs are assigned by the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator as part of the Renewable Energy Target scheme and reflect the deemed value of equivalent renewable energy generation over a ten year period. These certificates are tradable and commonly provide a discount of over $1,000 from the up front cost of the average solar hot water system.
Can I still apply for other State or Territory rebates?
Yes. An application for the Australian Government Solar Hot Water Rebate Component will not be affected by any rebates that other governments may offer. For details on other rebates, you will need to follow up with your relevant state or territory authority.
Can I get the rebate for a system I install on my investment property?
Yes. The system for which a rebate is being claimed must be installed at a principal place of residence. There is no requirement that this is the applicant’s principal place of residence. An owner may apply for a rebate on more than one property.
The sharing of any costs is a matter for the landlord and the tenant to negotiate.
Regardless of whether you are an owner or a tenant, all other eligibility requirements must be met.
Are rebates available for holiday homes?
Rebates are not available for holiday homes. To ensure the largest environmental benefit will be achieved, the rebate program has been designed to replace electric storage hot water systems in principal places of residence.
Is the rebate means tested?
No
How will the payment be made?
Payment is made by electronic funds transfer into the bank account of successful applicants. Applicants must be the owner or tenant of the dwelling where the solar or heat pump hot water system was installed. The applicant provides a bsb and bank account number and the funds are directly deposited. Bank details will only be used to make the payment. Storage and disposal of bank account and other personal details will be managed in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988.
What is my BSB and bank account number?
A BSB number is a unique 6-digit code that identifies the bank/financial institution and branch where your bank account is held. It can generally be found on your bank statement.
Your bank account number can also be found on your bank statement. Bank account numbers are always nine digits or less. They are not the 16 digit number that appear on your credit/debit card.
It is important that you enter the correct BSB and account numbers, otherwise payment cannot be processed.
If you are still unsure, your bank or financial institution will be able provide you with your bank account and BSB number.
When will my payment be credited to my account?
For successful applicants payment will be credited directly to their Australian bank account within 8 weeks of receiving a completed and eligible application form.
What is a solar retrofit and why isn’t it eligible for the rebate?
Solar water heater retrofit kits are used to add solar panels to existing electric off-peak boosted tanks. Conventional tanks are not designed to be connected to solar collectors so retrofit kits are not as effective as a water heater designed specifically for solar, however, significant savings can still be made.
The Solar Hot Water Rebate Program provides rebates for solar and heat pump hot water systems that replace an existing electric storage hot water system. In order to be eligible for the rebate the solar or heat pump system must be a new and complete hot water system that is eligible for at least 20 renewable energy certificates (RECs).
RECs are assigned by the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator as part of the Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme and reflect the deemed value of equivalent renewable energy generation over a ten year period.
The RET scheme does not allow individual parts of hot water systems to be tested separately because the efficiency of the total system can vary greatly with the effects of different ancillary parts and their installed arrangement (as a result solar water heaters currently eligible for RECs are complete systems). For this reason, a ‘retrofit’ system that is based around a previously installed component is not eligible for RECs and therefore not eligible for the Solar Hot Water Rebate Program.
Why does a licensed installer need to sign my application form?
As part of the application process we require proof that you are replacing an existing electric storage hot water system and have installed a hot water system that is eligible for 20 renewable energy certificates or more. The installer can certify this and can also provide the tank serial number which is not always easy for the applicant to obtain.
* Savings of 55-85% shown are based on Australian Government approved TRNSYS simulation modeling.
Gore warns of damage from Climate Change
January 29, 2009
Versatile Garden Lighting With LEDs
January 22, 2009
To a prospective Client LED garden lighting conjures up images of cheap solar powered lights that when installed do not work or fail after a short period of time. This poor reputation has hampered the use of LED in landscape design by professionals as Clients initially reject the idea or the designer simply opts for traditional diachronic globes.
Taking these points in turn. Colour can enhance a garden design at night by adding drama and intensity to key areas of a garden. These colours can also be controlled in intensity (by dimming) and by infra-red and wireless controls, both manual and automatic.
Ease of installation is a key benefit. Running 24V over 80-100meters is simple, no electrician required. The transformer, weather-proof of course, simply plugs into a power point. Branching off to specific areas of the garden is simple. The intensity of the lights can also vary, from less than one watt to 51W+ for whole area lighting. By choosing the right colour and angle of throw you can set up a wide range of displays in one garden area; leading the observer from one section to another.
Using 12 or 24V wiring ensures safety around the garden and water is high. Even when the LED is used it generates very little heat, so it is safe for children, pets and plants! The added benefit is LED lighting does not attract insects due to the lack of UV light.
Colour and its changing nature throughout the day, from morning light to dusk and night-time also needs deliberation as not all light is suitable at night. Evolution has equipped the eye to respond to changing light levels and colours.
Overall LED lighting provides unrivalled opportunities to expand the landscape designer ability to add real value and pleasure in a garden, commercial or domestic. The economic argument in favour of LED lighting in commercial gardens is overwhelming and will continue to grow offering the significant advantages of saving in maintenance, safety, energy bills and low carbon footprint. For the most adventurous you can even used multi-spectrum LED to aid growing plants.
To add that special dramatic finish to a night-time garden LED lighting offers the real flexibility to light it as the client wishes, altering its tone, strength and colour at the touch of a switch. LED lighting with a few simple guidelines can offer a versatile lighting experience.
Security made clearer with LED lighting
January 20, 2009
The on-going problem with many security lighting is lack of clarity and poor CCT images, or un-serviceable globes. These two problems are related to the technologies used. It’s true that lighting has become brighter and longer lasting, but and there is a big but. The new technologies come at a cost and it’s not just the initial investment or complaints from the neighbours and Local Councils because of the glare, or light pollution. Operating costs of 200W+ lamps are mounting up. Clients are taking power operating costs more seriously and in these difficult times want to ensure they are achieving savings on power and can claim to be more ‘carbon neutral’. This is difficult when relying on old technologies.
Let’s take the ‘seeing’ problem, it’s all to do with how the ‘eye’ sees, or more accurately responds to light waves how our brain then processes them into images. We are all aware that daylight changes colour throughout the day, from the brightness of morning and noon light to the softer warmer colours of late afternoon and sunset. In technical terms the light spectrum has shifted from the ‘blue’ end of the spectrum (400-500nm) at noon to ‘red’ (600-700nm) in the afternoon. The cones and rods in the eyes respond differently to these wave lengths.
Why should this be a problem? To see clearly we need daylight, called cool white in LED terms with a Kelvin (K) score of 5000+, in contrast warm white is often between 2300K and 3500K. The ‘blue shifted’ light is better seen and ideal for security.
The ‘blue shift’ can be specified with LED lighting, i.e. cool white with nominated K readings.
As we age we also lose our ability to process warm white effectively. We literally need brighter lights to read/see. This has implications for lighting of pathways, walkways and car parks.
An example of a car park, one with LED and the other high pressure sodium (on right).
LED Lighting in tunnels and street lighting produces daylight style light for ease of sight, improving safety and giving much longer maintenance life-cycles >50,000 hours.
Other practical benefits of LED lighting, apart from the 80%+ power saving are much less heat, you can touch an LED without burning your hand, shock and dust resistance, drop them and they still work, weather proof ( up to IP68) and no UV light is produced, i.e. no attraction to insects, is recyclable. Plus high power factor (>0.9) performance, a further incentive for power saving.
LED’s produce high lumens per watt. In general this exceeds 100 lumens per watt and 150 lumens per watt products are already on the market. Light output is now more than adequate for security situations; with the added benefit of removing ‘light pollution’ and minimising glare issues.
Renewable Energy Target next step to White Paper
December 17, 2008
Following a more detailed review of the federal government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) white paper, the Clean Energy Council has prepared the following summary on key aspects relating to the urgent development and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.
The industry is encouraged by the government’s move to maintain momentum by starting the scheme in 2010 and highlighting the importance of stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations at around 450ppm CO2-e.
However, the shallow initial targets and the anticipated low carbon prices will not drive the significant transformations needed in the Australian energy sector. This approach can only be justified if the government moves immediately to deploy a suite of complementary measures to drive multi-billion dollar investment in clean energy technologies and drive energy efficiency in homes and businesses.
Carbon Price
Australia’s emissions trading scheme will get going in 2010 with the white paper assuming a starting price of around $25 per tonne. The price of emissions is set to be capped at $40 per tonne escalating at 5% real per annum. This rate is too low on its own to trigger investment in large scale renewables. Allowing importing of emissions credits means the eventual carbon price is likely to be driven by international rather than Australian activity.
Renewable Energy Target (RET)
The white paper signalled progress for the design and implementation of the expanded renewable energy target, reiterating the introduction of a 20 per cent by 2020 goal. Draft RET legislation is due for release later today.
This will release more than $20 billion of new investment, help drive immediate cuts in emissions and may help cushion the cost of transition to a low-carbon economy.
The white paper states that legislative and regulatory amendments to implement the design of the Renewable Energy Target are expected to be in place by July 2009, with revised targets commencing from 2010.
The Clean Energy Council is concerned that the proposed RET will be phased out between 2020 and 2030. Modelling undertaken for the Council indicates that to ensure the success of the RET in achieving 45,000GWh of new renewable generation in 2020, the target and the penalty price need to be maintained until 2030.
Climate Change Action Fund (CCAF)
The white paper announced a new measure, the CCAF, to assist smaller businesses and community groups invest in cleaner technologies and energy efficiency measures. These companies and groups will otherwise not benefit from compensation measures highlighted in the paper.
The Clean Energy Council welcomes measures like these to encourage the deployment of low emissions technologies like bioenergy, geothermal, wind, oceanic, solar as well as energy efficiency. The CCAF is scheduled to commence in the second half of 2009, ahead of the start of emissions trading. The early deployment of this fund will help smaller businesses and community groups to prepare for the start of the CPRS in 2010.
Principles to guide the implementation of complementary measures
Importantly the white paper has, for the first time, outlined a set of principles by which all complementary measures will be developed. This will serve as a useful guide for future discussion relating to emission reductions. The principles focus on delivering against specific market failures, and must ensure efficiency, effectiveness, equity and administrative simplicity.
Renewable Energy Fund
As revealed by Prime Minister Rudd on Sunday, the Renewable Energy Fund announced in the May budget will be brought forward to be spent over the next 18 months rather than the original five year timeframe. This fund includes $15m for second generation biofuels and $50m specifically for geothermal drilling.
The remainder of the fund will go towards large scale demonstration projects that will deliver technology from the laboratory straight to homes and businesses, helping to prove a project’s viability on a technical and economic basis.
Under the fund, the private sector must contribute at least $2 for every $1 provided by the government. The fund will be launched in the New Year with the release of guidelines for applicants and a call for a first round of applications.
This investment is expected to provide great impetus for the early development of geothermal, solar thermal, bioenergy and ocean generation projects.
What Next?
The government has outlined a comprehensive work program on the development and deployment of complementary measures to deploy clean energy technologies and drive energy efficiency. These include:
• draft Renewable Energy Target (RET) legislation due out today
• RET legislative and regulatory amendments in place by mid 2009 and starting in 2010
• development of a national energy efficiency strategy in early 2009
• deployment of the Renewable Energy Fund in early 2009, and
• release of the draft Climate Change Action Fund (CCAF) in February 2009 ahead of the program launch in mid to late 2009.
It’s imperative that the implementation of these complementary measures are simple, efficient and effective so as not to compromise the accelerated development or deployment of any technology or measure. The only way this planned soft start to Australia’s emissions trading scheme will work is by enabling rapid, large scale investment towards renewable energy and energy efficiency measures that reduce emissions immediately.
The Clean Energy Council will continue to work closely with all levels of government to ensure these initiatives are realised and Australia’s energy future remains secure.
Written and published by The Clean Energy Council, the peak body for the clean energy sector, is working with all Australian governments to ensure a secure and diversified energy sector; reducing energy waste including the take up of solar water heating and insulation; and more clean energy sources in our stationary energy mix from solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, bioenergy and gas.
Solar Power and Hot Water Together Make Energy Sense
December 11, 2008
Did you know that if you team up solar power with your largest user of electricity, your hot water, you can significantly reduce your future power costs with the added benefits of reducing CO2 emissions and making your home more sustainable? Eco Living Centre’s founder, Alistair Duncan, explains how.
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| Solahart Thermosiphon System |
Combined with a 1kW Photovoltaic System |
Eco Living Centre joins Ausbuy
November 28, 2008
ECO LIVING CENTRE is the latest AUSBUY member. Lynne Wilkinson, CEO of AUSBUY says “ECO LIVING CENTRE encapsulates all that is special about Australian owned businesses. It has been a leader in advising, supplying and installing some of the most innovative products in water and energy saving products, especially those initiated in Australia, and represents all that AUSBUY supports in Australia; a clever, innovative and productive country. AUSBUY welcomes their membership and encourages consumers, businesses and governments to support Australian owned businesses like ECO LIVING CENTRE”.
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Latest Headlines
- NSW Electricity Bills to Soar by 22 Per Cent
- DECC - Hot Water System rebate up take report
- The Best Solar Deal In Town
- Federal Government Solar Hot Water Rebate increased
- 402
- Gore warns of damage from Climate Change
- Versatile Garden Lighting With LEDs
- Security made clearer with LED lighting
- Renewable Energy Target next step to White Paper
- Solar Power and Hot Water Together Make Energy Sense
