The Federal Government announced a $3.9 billion plan to install up to $1600 worth of insulation in 2.7 million homes, thus creating more energy efficient homes.  A fast track process should help to start applying for free ceiling insulation immediately.

It was exciting news! In early February the Federal Government announced a $3.9 billion plan under its stimulus package to install up to $1600 worth of insulation in 2.7 million homes, thus creating more energy efficient homes. Alternatively, for homes which already have ceiling insulation, the $1000 Solar hot water rebate has been increased to $1600 to assist with the changeover from old electric water heaters to energy efficient solar or heat pump hot water units.

Free ceiling insulation available immediately

Then the news just got better! At the end of February Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Environment Minister Peter Garrett announced a fast track process so that homeowners could start applying for free ceiling insulation (capped at $1600) immediately.

“It’s terrific news for home owners and our industry,” Sean Cochrane from AllSafe Energy Efficient Products , said this week. “Not only does this create energy efficient homes. This major investment by the Government will support the jobs of trades people and workers employed in the manufacturing, distribution and installation of ceiling insulation and heat pumps or solar hot units.”

But Mr Cochrane added a note of caution. “There’s going to be a tremendous demand from homeowners and undoubtedly that will create a backlog of orders and deliveries. It is literally going to be a case of first in, best dressed.”

The new Energy Efficient investment for homes will allow for:

1. Ceiling insulation to 2.7 million Australian homes which will cut about $200 per year off the energy bills for households benefiting from these ceiling insulation programs;

2. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 49.4 million tonnes by 2020, the equivalent of taking more than one million cars off the road;

3. Support up to 90,000 Australian jobs over the next two years, and

4. The Energy Efficient Homes investment also increases the Government’s Solar Hot Water Rebate from $1,000 to $1,600. This rebate will now not be means-tested.

The fast track guidelines make it even easier for Australian households to apply for this program.

The way to apply for the energy-efficiency program

By visiting the website people can check immediately whether they are eligible, arrange for a skilled tradesperson to do the work and send in their receipts for the rebate. For more information on the fast track application process, visit http://www.environment.gov.au/energyefficiency/ or call the hotline on 1800 808 571.

Mr Cochrane said that since insulation was typically the most cost effective way to improve a home’s energy efficiency, and all newly-built homes (last 3 years) were already insulated, many older homes remained un-insulated, which resulted in many householders paying much more than they needed to in energy bills and being less comfortable than they should be. “This Energy Efficient Homes package will modernise Australia’s homes and will enable almost all Australian homes to be operating at between 2 Star and 5 Star energy rating by 2011,” he said.

For a limited time of up to two and a half years, owner-occupiers without ceiling insulation will be eligible for free insulation and installation (capped at $1,600) simply by making a phone call. (People are encouraged to register their interest ASAP with credible approved and licensed insulation contractors as there is certainly going to be a backlog and many people could miss out.)

A boost for house renters too

Many of Australia’s most vulnerable households are renters (recent estimates suggest there are 500,000 rented homes) and to help these households lower their emissions and save money on energy bills, the Government has doubled the rebate available under the Low Emissions Plan for Renters for landlords to install insulation in their rental properties - from $500 to up to $1,000.

These investments will ensure that the maximum number of Australians - both homeowners and renters - will have access to practical measures that help them to reduce their energy use and save on energy bills prior to the introduction of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

There has never been a better time to make your home more energy efficient, save money on energy bills and save the planet with reduced green house gas emissions, with free insulation or with massive subsidies on solar hot water or heat pump water heaters.

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More information about this topic in our home & garden section.

Sean Cochrane is a Director at All Safe

Written by Sean Cochrane

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