Government offers rebate on insulation down under
Some 2.9 million households in Australia will benefit from a new government insulation scheme that offers a rebate on loft insulation.
The Federal Government in Australia is now helping its citizens to reduce their carbon footprint while saving money on their energy bills. The new Energy Efficient Homes Package worth the equivalent of 2.4 billion euro offers a loft insulation rebate of up to 950 euro to home owners and eligible landlords and tenants. It is estimated that 2.9 million households qualify for the insulation rebate which will allow them to save up to 120 euro a year on their energy bills.
This is the way to go
According to the organisation Cool NRG, which has been involved in the policy discussions with the Australian government, this is a huge step for energy efficiency in buildings down under. Head of Policy Dougal McInnes says:
“The scheme is a big scale up from the current activity in the industry. In the first 48 days of the scheme, the number of insulation jobs surpassed the total number for all of 2008. Governments need to spend money on household energy efficiency as a way of reducing carbon emissions at the lowest cost. That is a given but it’s not being done to scale in any developed countries. Governments should draw up a clear strategy for household energy efficiency that allows the industry and markets to have certainty beyond the short term stimulus package measures.”
Around 35% heat loss through uninsulated lofts
The Australian Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage & the Arts estimates that uninsulated lofts account for heat losses of up to 35% in a typical home. Many houses in Australia have no, or very little, insulation compared to the standards in many European countries. This makes the new insulation package very welcome.
In a press release, Environment Minister Peter Garrett said: "Loft insulation is one of the most cost effective ways to reduce energy use within the home and this new rebate makes it as easy as possible for people to take up this generous offer.”
Apart from reducing an estimated 5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the next 12 months, the Federal Government reports that the initiative will also create hundreds of green jobs mainly in the insulation and construction industry.
Requirements: little or no insulation
For a typical Australian house the 950 euro will cover the full cost of the insulation and its installation. This means that many Australians do not have to spend any of their own money on the insulation scheme. Even those house owners who installed insulation before the package was announced, will get the rebate.
The only requirement for the rebate is that you must be an owneroccupier, landlord or tenant, and that your house has little or no insulation before the improvement.
