by Jemma Pearson We bring you up to date on the rebates on offer from the State and Federal governments.

The Queensland and Australian governments offer rebates to help our homes become greener and to save householders money on electricity and water bills. But the schemes always seem to be changing with old schemes ending and new ones taking their place. So here is a rundown on the rebates and grants that you may be entitled to as a home owner or occupant.

Solar hot water

 The federal Department of Climate Change & Energy Efficiency runs a solar hot water rebate scheme. The Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme – Solar Hot Water Rebate is offered to eligible home owners, landlords and tenants to help them replace electric storage hot water systems with solar or heat pump hot water systems. To be eligible, the person claiming must not have previously received assistance through the Home Insulation Program and the new system must be installed by a qualified contractor. For more information and to find out if you are eligible, visit www.climatechange.gov.au and click on ‘Solar Hot Water Rebate’ in the side panel. The Queensland Government also offers rebates of up to $1000 for eligible home owners to replace their electric hot water system with a solar system. Find out more at www.cleanenergy.qld.gov.au.

Electricity

Concession card holders may get a rebate on the cost of their electricity thanks to the Queensland Government. To be eligible you have to be the account holder with the electricity retailer and live alone or share the home with a spouse, a dependant or other person who gets help from Centrelink. Contact your electricity supplier to find out if you are eligible for assistance.

The National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative offers rebates of up to $500 per household for rainwater tanks or greywater systems bought after January 30, 2009

Rain and grey

The National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative offers rebates of up to $500 per household for rainwater tanks or greywater systems bought after January 30, 2009. There are a few criteria you must fulfil to be eligible for the rebate, which is administered by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Find out more at www.environment.gov.au/water and click on ‘Grants and funding’.

Green loans

The Green Loans program offers free home sustainability assessments. A qualified assessor can visit your home and advise you on the best way to reduce your energy and water use, to increase the comfort of your home and help you save money on your bills. Your assessor will take a room-by-room tour of your home, inspecting the appliances and assessing its thermal performance and power consumption. The assessor will offer tips on things you can do to run the home more energy efficiently and as a result reduce your power costs. The Green Loans program, which was planned to end in late 2010, has been extended to the end of the month. Go to www.climatechange.gov.au, click on ‘What the government is doing’, then ‘Programs and rebates’ and ‘Green Loans’.

Insulation

Home owners who had insulation installed under the troubled Home insulation Program (HIP) and are concerned about the safety of the products in their home may now be covered by the Home Insulation Safety Program and Foil Insulation Safety Program. The programs cover foil and non-foil insulation. For more information and details about whether you are entitled to an inspection or not, you can call 131 792.