On 8 July 2010, the Minister for the Climate Change and Energy Efficiency announced changes to the Green Start Program which was due to commence in January 2011. The Green Start Program will now commence earlier, with Round One to replace the existing Green Loans Program and providing home energy assessments for Australian households. Round Two will provide energy advice and assistance to low income and disadvantaged households. Further information will be provided following consultation with key stakeholders.

Funding under Green Start will be provided through a grant process. Further details of this process will be made available on their website.

A $115 million solar package was part of the recent budget and includes $29.5 million toward Queenslands Solar Rebate Scheme – providing residents with rebates of $600 for the installation of solar heat pump hot water systems, in addition to the rebate under the Federal Governments Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme. 

Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade Stephen Robertson said this year’s budget delivers on the Bligh Government’s commitments to support job creation, growth in the resources industry, and a clean energy future for Queenslanders.

“This is the largest single funding commitment for solar deployment in Queensland’s history, demonstrating our Government’s determination to move towards a renewable energy future.

For more information on the Queensland Governments Solar Hot Water Rebate, visit the Rebates section on our website.

The Queensland Government has announced a new rebate for householders that who replace an electric hot water system with a solar hot water system or heat pump effective from April 13, 2010.

How much is the Queensland Government Solar Hot Water Rebate?

For eligible applicants:

• A $600 rebate for the installation of a solar hot water system or heat pump.
• A $1000 rebate for pensioners and low-income earners who install a solar hot water system or heat pump.

Am I eligible to get the rebate?

• To apply for the $600 or $1000 Queensland Government Solar Hot Water Rebate, applicants must meet a number of eligibility criteria.
• As part of any decision to purchase a solar hot water heater or apply for this rebate, householders should read the full eligibility criteria in the application pack.

For more information please see the Queensland Government website.

The Climate Change Minister Penny Wong announced last week that from 1 January 2011 the Renewable Energy Target program (RET), which guarantees 20 per cent of Australia’s energy in 2020, will come from renewable sources. The RET program will be split in two; the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) and the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target. She says this will provide more certainty for the two sectors and deliver more renewable energy than the original 20 per cent target.

The good news is the SRES will apply to technologies such as solar heat pump hot water systems and will provide a fixed price of $40 per Renewable Energy Certificate (REC). Read Minister Wong’s press release here.

The Australian and state and territory governments are working together to phase-out greenhouse intensive hot water systems, commencing during 2010. This phase-out will result in the reduction of greenhouse gases by about 30 million tonnes over ten years from 2010-2020 and assist householders to save money on their electricity bills.

Water heating is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions from most Australian homes. On average, each electric hot water system produces around four tonnes of greenhouse gases every year. That’s at least two-and-a-half times the greenhouse gases produced by other more efficient technologies and equivalent to running an average sized car for a year.

Almost half of Australian households have electric hot water systems. The Commonwealth and state and territory governments are working together to phase-out these greenhouse intensive hot water systems, commencing during 2010. This phase-out will result in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of almost 30 million tonnes over the next ten years.

The Department of the Environment , Water, Heritage and the Arts suggests Heat Pumps as a low emission choice. For more information please visit their website.

For more information on the phase-out stages please visit the site.

For individual State regulations visit the relevant link below -

Queensland – New and existing homes

South Australia – New and existing homes

New South Wales – New homes only

Victoria – New homes only

Western Australia – New homes only