14th April 2010
Queensland homeowners are set to save money when they install a solar hot water heater, after the State Government announced a brand new rebate for homeowners.
Premier Anna Bligh announced that pensioners and low income earners will be able to apply for a $1,000 rebate, while all others can apply for a $600 rebate for a solar hot water system or heat pump system as of 13 April 2010.
Mr Romano Bolzon, National Business Manager for EcoSmart Hot Water said that the rebate will provide a major stimulus to homeowners by further breaking down the cost barrier for switching to solar and is timely given the potential electricity rates rises ahead.
He said, “This is great news for Queensland homeowners as it means they can now reap the benefits of energy efficient solar hot water systems, which will reduce the cost of their energy bills and help the environment.
“Solar hot water is the single best thing people can do to help reduce energy consumption in the home and reduce electricity costs. With the current rebates on offer for homeowners, solar hot water is even more affordable, and the system will continue to offer households further on-going savings for the life of the system on their energy bills. It means the homeowner can free up more money and future-proof themselves against rising electricity rates,” he added.
An even bigger incentive for making the switch, Queensland solar hot water customers are also still entitled to Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and the existing Federal Government rebate of $1,000, in addition to the State Rebate.
Typically, eligible non-pensioners can receive the State rebate of $600, the Federal Rebate of $1,000 and RECs of up to $1,880 – bringing the total rebate incentives value to $3,880 off the cost of a solar hot water system.
He added,” When combined, these three rebates offer excellent savings to the homeowner. With the unpredictable nature of Government rebates, homeowners should use this window of opportunity and take advantage of the rebates on offer now. If they wait until their water heater breaks, they may risk reduced or zero rebates, and will be forced by law to install an environmental hot water heater when their electric storage system breaks from 2012 onwards.”
Electric storage hot water systems are known to be the highest household emitter of greenhouse gas emissions and heavy users of electricity, consuming up to 35 per cent of domestic household energy use.
EcoSmart’s solar hot water system may reduce household hot water bills by up to 80 per cent or $4,000 over a ten year period, based on a family of four living in Sydney or Brisbane.
Solar water heaters have an edge over conventional water heating systems in their ability to save environmental degradation by reducing the need for fossil fuels and utilising energy from the sun – particularly in Australia, where there is an abundance of sunshine.
“The new State Rebate and other Government rebates help ease the upfront costs of investing in energy-efficient hot water systems, which are more environmentally friendly, and offer the homeowner genuine savings on their on-going hot water running costs. Taking advantage of these rebates is an easy and inexpensive solution to our energy and environmental problems,” Mr Bolzon concluded.
For further information on EcoSmart’s range of energy-efficient hot water systems please visit www.ecosmart.com.au or call 1300 EcoSmart.
For media information please contact:
Diana Bauer
City Public Relations
(02) 9267 4511
