Going green can put residents in black

Adelaide Advertiser
Wednesday 7/10/2009 Page: 9

THE cost of going green at home can be enough to put off most people, but there are some incentives. renewable energy certificates provide a financial incentive that is usually cashed in as a discount on the purchase price of small scale energy systems and solar hot-water systems. The REC price fluctuates, so the Federal Government advises consumers to shop around for the best deal. Solar Shop Australia is currently offering customers a REC price of $37, which is higher than the market price.

This equates to a discount of $5550 on a 1.5kW solar system. After the panels are installed, surplus electricity fed back into the grid earns 44c/kWh under the State Government's solar feed-in scheme. Solar hot water in place of an electric hot water system is worth $1600 from the Federal Government, or $1000 for a heat pump hot-water system.

Households, including tenants and landlords, can apply for a rebate of up to $1600 for insulation. It costs about $1200 to insulate a 13square home, so the rebate could pay for the lot. Rebates of up to $500 are available under the National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative to help with the cost of installing rainwater tanks or a greywater treatment system. The State Government offers a range of rebates for water-saving devices.