Guide to rebates for going green

01.Federal rebates

With climate change in mind, more Australians are installing power- and water-saving equipment. As this can mean significant upfront costs, governments are offering a range of rebates. Use our guide to ensure that 'going green' doesn’t cost the earth.

Federal Government rebates

• Home owners are eligible for a rebate of up to $1,600 to install ceiling insulation in their properties under the Low Emissions Assistance Plan for Homeowners. See www.environment.gov.au.
• Landlords and tenants (with landlord permission) are eligible for a rebate of up to $1,000 to install ceiling insulation in their rental properties under the Low Emissions Assistance Plan for Renters. See www.environment.gov.au.
• For owner/occupiers, landlords or tenants, the Federal Government recently announced a $1600 rebate for households switching from electric to solar hot water (SHW) or heat-pump systems after 3 February 2009. Your household income must be below $100,000 pa. SHW or heat pump systems must be eligible for 20 Renewable Energy Cerificates (REC) and be installed by a suitably qualified person (electrician or plumber). See www.environment.gov.au.
• For owner/occupiers the Federal Government has a $1000 rebate for households switching from electric to SHW or heat-pump systems after 17 July 2007. Your household income must be below $100,000 pa. SHW or heat pump systems must be eligible for 20 RECs and be installed by a suitably qualified person (electrician or plumber). See www.environment.gov.au.
• When buying a new solar hot-water system, you can also sell the RECs created to a SHW retailer or REC trader, netting you a rebate of between $100 and $2000 (the amount varies with the REC market price). See www.orer.gov.au/swh.
• After installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, recoup your costs via the Photovoltaic Rebate Programme (PVRP) and by selling RECs. The RECs depends on location and the panels’ kilowatt (kW) power output annually. See www.orer.gov.au for details.
• The PVRP refunds up to $8000 for installing PV panels, with government approval pre-installation. See www.environment.gov.au. The household taxable income must be less than $100,000 and the system must be installed at your principal place of residence. Only those who have not previously received the rebate are eligible.
• The PVRP refunds up to $5000 for an extension to the old system of PV panels, with government approval pre-installation. See www.environment.gov.au. The household taxable income must be less than $100,000 and the system must be installed at your principal place of residence. If you have previously received a rebate for systems less than 1kW you may be eligible for an extension rebate to bring the system up to a 1kW capacity.
• The Federal Government is providing rebates of up to $500 for households to install rainwater tanks or greywater systems. This rebate will be funded over six years from 2008/09 to 2013/14. See www.environment.gov.au.
• For owner/occupiers in remote areas, rebates of up to 50 per cent of the capital cost of renewable generation and essential enabling equipment are being offered. The upper limit of the rebate is $200,000, the applicant must be the owner of the land on which the residence is located and the system must primarily supply the primary residence. See www.environment.gov.au.