Environmental Rebates

What are environmental rebates?

Environmental rebates are Government schemes that provide financial assistance to help householders invest in energy or water saving products and services. These rebates only apply to selected products and services and each rebate has a variety of eligibility requirements, so research is important.
Rebates can come as a point of sale discount, reimbursement or loan.
This fact sheet outlines household rebates currently available from both the State and Federal Governments. For rebates available to commercial or business operations, to confirm current rebates and eligibility please visit the websites listed below.

FEDERAL REBATES

Solar hot water

This Federal rebate is available to homeowners, renters/landlords. You are only eligible if you are replacing an existing electric storage hot water system. The rebate provides: $1,000 to install a new solar hot water system or, $600 to install a new heat pump hot water system.
The above rebate is available for systems purchased and installed on or after
February 20, 2010.

> http://www.environment.gov.au/energyefficiency/solarhotwater

>http://www.livinggreener.gov.au/rebates-assistance

>www.environment.gov.au/solarhotwater/www.environment.gov.au/solarhotwater/ (information for installations prior to 20 February 2010)

National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative

Rebates up to $500 are available for households to install rainwater tanks or grey water systems.
To be eligible:

The rainwater tank or grey water system must be installed at an existing, occupied home.
Applicants must apply for the rebate within six months of purchasing an eligible rainwater tank or grey water system.
Rebates apply to a tank which is connected for internal reuse of water for toilet and/ or laundry use or
The purchase and installation of a permanent greywater treatment system.

Applications close 31 March 2014.
> www.environment.gov.au/water/programs/nrgi
>http://www.environment.gov.au/water/programs/nrgi/index.html
National and State Rebates
>http://www.savewater.com.au/products/rebates-incentives
http://www.livinggreener.gov.au/rebates-assistance

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)

The RET (Renewable Energy Target) scheme is different to rebates, and can be more complex. However, if you are not eligible for other rebates, this system can reduce your costs when purchasing and installing renewable energy generating and saving systems. Each REC represents 1 MWh of electricity generation from an eligible renewable energy source. These certificates can be traded to reduce your costs.
You could be eligible to receive RECs if you install one of the following at home (depending on location):

a solar (photovoltaic) power system
a wind power (turbine) system
a hydro (water) power system
a solar hot water system
a heat pump hot water system

More information at:
>http://www.environment.gov.au/energyefficiency/solarhotwater/guidelines.html#4
>www.environment.gov.au/solarhotwater/www.environment.gov.au/solarhotwater/ (information for installations prior to 20 February 2010)
>www.livinggreener.gov.au/be-informed/saving-energy/renewable-energycertificates
http://www.livinggreener.gov.au/rebates-assistance

To understand more about the implications of RECs and solar PV, have a look at the
MEFL website:
>www.mefl.com.au/documents/RECs.pdf

VICTORIA

Solar Hot Water
This rebate separates metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victorian households.
Metropolitan Melbourne

This rebate is offered as a point of sale discount of $300-$1500.
You are eligible for a rebate if you are:
Replacing an existing solar, natural gas or LPG water heater with a gas-boosted solar system.
Adding solar to an existing natural gas or LPG water heater by installing a solar system as a pre-heater.
Adding solar to an existing conventional off-peak electric water heater by installing a retrofit kit.

The rebate is available for your principal place of residence if it has a current water heater that has been operating at that address for at least 12 months (or 5 years if replacing solar).
There is currently no closing date.
>www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/for_households/rebates_3041.html
Participating Suppliers:
>http://www.sv.sustainability.vic.gov.au/energy_efficiency/shw_rebate_public/retailerlist.asp

Regional Victoria
A point of sale discount of $400-$1600 is available in regional Victoria. This rebate uses the same criteria as “solar hot water – Metropolitan Melbourne” (see above).
> http://www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/for_households/rebates_3096.html
Participating suppliers:
> www.sv.sustainability.vic.gov.au/energy_efficiency/shw_rebate_public/retailerlist.asp

Gas Hot Water
This rebate is a point of sale discount. $400 for a 5-star instantaneous or storage hot water heater (4+ star for internal systems), $700 for concession card holders, as above, and $300 installation rebate if you live in a flat or apartment where there’s a separate occupancy directly above or below you.

You are eligible if:

Your household currently uses a peak (day rate) electric water heater (a water heater that is ineligible for an off-peak electricity tariff), or a water heater fuelled by wood.
Your household does not have a second, off-peak hot water system.

There is currently no closing date.

> http://www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/for_households/rebates_1927.html

Rainwater Tank and Water Savers

This rebate provides financial assistance for water efficient showerheads, upgrading to eligible dual flush toilets, garden products, rainwater tanks and systems for reusing household waste water. The rebate can be claimed by applying after installation of the product, and can be received as a credit on your water bill or through electronic funds transfer (for larger items). You are able to claim one rebate for each product over the life of the scheme for each eligible property that you receive a water bill for (except for showerheads where two rebates can be claimed).

> http://ourwater.vic.gov.au/saving/home/rebates

Closing date for applications is 30 September 2011.

> http://ourwater.vic.gov.au/saving/home/rebates

>http://www.waterrating.gov.au/

Additional information regarding rebates, initiatives and assistance can be found at:
http://www.livinggreener.gov.au/rebates-assistance

http://www.ata.org.au/rebates/vic-rebates/

New South Wales

Home Saver Rebates
To be eligible for the rebate you must:

replace an existing electric hot water system
install the system in a residential property in NSW only
purchase the hot water system between 15 January 2010 and 30 June 2011
have the system installed by a licensed plumber.

How much is the rebate?

$300 for a gas hot water system with a 5 star or higher energy rating
$300 for a solar or heat pump hot water system eligible for at least 20 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) under the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET).

RECs are an electronic form of currency established to promote renewable energy generation. Your hot water system supplier will be able to provide more information about RECs.

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/rebates/index.htm

http://www.solarsavers.com.au/nsw-hotwater-rebates.asp

Water Saving Initiatives e.g.

In the laundry NSW Washing Machine Rebate
To be eligible for the rebate you must:
purchase a new washing machine with at least a 5 star water efficiency rating between 15 January 2010 and 30 June 2010 inclusive
purchase the machine for personal use
install the machine in a residential property in NSW.

www.sydneywater.com.au

http://www.ata.org.au/rebates/nsw-rebates/

Queensland

QLD Government Solar Hot Water Rebate
In order to assist with the cost of installing an environmental hot water system, the QLD Government is now offering a rebate of $600 (or $1000 for qualifying low income earners) when replacing an electric storage water heater with a heat pump or solar water heater. The main eligibility criteria are as follows;
Key Eligibility Criteria - $600 rebate

The new system must have been purchased on or after 13th April 2010 (please note that payments will not commence until 1st July 2010)
Be a solar or heat pump hot water system eligible for at least 20 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECS)
Replace an existing electric storage hot water system in a principle place of residence
Be installed by licensed parties (current BSA and occupational licenses)

Key Eligibility Criteria – Low Income earner $1000 rebate

To qualify for the $1000, the applicant must meet all of the $600 rebate eligibility conditions, as well as hold one of the pension cards listed below (must be a current and valid card);

Centrelink Pension Concession card
Centrelink Low-Income Heath Care card
Commonwealth Seniors Health card or Department of Veterans' Affairs Pension Concession card (Blue only. Orange, white and gold cardholders are not eligible.)

This low income earner/pensioner rebate can only be applied for once. Please also note that the $600 rebate and $1000 rebate cannot both be claimed for the same installation.

http://www.cleanenergy.qld.gov.au/solar_hot_water_rebate.cfm

http://www.ata.org.au/rebates/qld-rebates/

Western Australian State Rebate

The WA Solar Water Heater Subsidy Scheme provides rebates for gas-boosted water heaters used for residential purposes.

Rebates are available to householders that install new and complete gas boosted solar hot water heaters. Electric boosted solar hot water systems and heat pumps are ineligible.
Applicants may only receive one rebate per household.

The current rebate levels are:

$500 for gas boosted solar water heaters connected to a reticulated gas network
$700 for LPG gas boosted solar water heaters where reticulated natural gas is unavailable. The scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Development Office (SEDO) and funded from June 2005 to June 2009, or until all funds are fully committed.

Eligibility

The applicant must be the householder of the residence where the gas boosted solar water heater is installed. The gas boosted solar water heater must be installed in WA.
Builders may apply for a rebate on eligible solar water heaters installed in display homes
Private residential developers may apply for rebates on eligible solar water heaters installed on residential dwellings subject to pre-approval in writing from SEDO for 20 or more solar water heaters in one development.
All rebate applications pertaining to new homes must be formally pre-approved by SEDO prior to claiming the rebate.
All rebate applications pertaining to replacement solar water heaters for existing homes must be accompanied with a sales receipt.

http://www.hotwaterrebate.com.au/index.php/wa-gov-state-rebates

South Australian Rebate

The SA Government Solar Hot Water Rebate Scheme has been introduced to promote sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with water heating. The South Australian Government's Solar Hot Water Rebate Scheme will now target low income households to help them comply with new water heater performance standards effective from 1 July 2008.

The new standards aim to increase the uptake of high-efficiency gas, heat pump and solar water heaters.

New eligibility criteria for the Rebate Scheme will apply for water heaters installed from 1 July 2008 (postponed from 17 May), in line with the introduction of new water heater performance standards.

A $500 rebate will be available to applicants who meet the eligibility criteria. The following table summarises hot water systems eligible for the rebate.
http://www.dtei.sa.gov.au/energy/rebates_and_grants/solar_hot_water

http://www.hotwaterrebate.com.au/index.php/rebate-forms

http://www.ata.org.au/rebates/sa-rebates/

Northern Territory Rebate

http://www.ata.org.au/rebates/nt-rebates/

No additional rebates are currently available in NT.
Australian Capital Territory Rebate
http://www.ata.org.au/rebates/act-rebates/

No additional rebates are currently available in ACT.

Tasmanian State Rebate

http://www.ata.org.au/rebates/tas-rebates/
No additional state rebates are available from the Tasmanian Government.

Note: If your home is powered by Hydro-electricity from Hydro Tasmania, a standard electric hot water system running on off peak will have no greenhouse gas emissions and will be cheap to run.

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