BREAZE

We've been witnessing some pretty slapdash announcements from Canberra this last week or so. It's been difficult not to follow the debacle of insulation, sudden reductions in solar hot water rebates (for electric systems) and the shenanigans around Green Loans.

If you're after the lowdown of all of the above, then here it is.

1. Insulation debacle
2. Reduction in the Solar Hot Water Rebate for Electric Hot Water systems
3. The Green Loans shenanigans

1. Insulation debacle

The Head of the Department of Environment has had his share of ‘Head Injuries’ over past few weeks. People now seem to collapse into the foetal position at the mere mention of the word ‘Insulation’, or run to don their non-electrical conducting rubber booties before they go up into the attic space to put their collection of 80’s enviro-themed rock into permanent milk crate storage. Judging by callers to talkback radio, people view insulation as one nano-step above asbestos which is such a shame, given how critical this otherwise cuddly stuff can be in stopping unwanted heat transfer through your cavities. We can’t allow mainstream perceptions to toss out the baby, swaddled in white and fluffy R.4.3 insulation, along with the ‘bathwater’ of rogue installation practices. As winter approaches, BREAZE will shortly write some articles for publication that seek reclaim the value of insulation, in light of its current ‘on-the-nosedness’.

2. Reduction in the Solar Hot Water Rebate for Electric Hot Water systems

All focus on Friday 19^th of Feb was on the suspending of the Insulation rebate, however the Federal Govt also chose to use the occasion to also reduce the Federal rebate for solar hot water from $1600 to $1000. This was ‘buried’ to some degree in the Government Media release and most media outlets followed suit, with it barely rating a mention. Unfortunately some BREAZE members were instantly affected, with white-knuckled calls to the Department needing to be made, in order to make sure that some imminent Solar hot water orders for BREAZE members would be okeedokee. Luckily these orders will be honoured by the Department. However, other members that have electric hot water based systems and were looking to upgrade to the wonders of solar and were days from pushing the green button were gazumpted. Crazy, given emissions intensive electric-based hot water systems are and how people with such systems need as much incentive as possible to make the shift. And the sensation of having the carpet pulled out from under the old legwork without warning was yet again a déjà vu experience for dear old BREAZE (Solar PV rebate, Solar In Schools Program, anyone?)

So where do things stand for people that have an electric hot water service and who are wanting to make the change to solar hot water?

A)     Current electric and NO availing of the insulation rebate = $1000 solar hot water rebate

B)      Current electric and availing oneself of the insulation rebate = Vic State rebate (for amounts and conditions, see BREAZE website - http://www.breaze.org.au/projects/shw/134-solar-hot-water) or call the BREAZE office (5329 1730)

Is there any likelihood that the State Govt will also reduce the rebates available for solar hot water? Dunno, but while it’s there, folks….don’t die wonderin’

Notwithstanding the above hi-jinks, BREAZE’s new foray into the realm of being a solar hot water supplier has been most successful, with many members getting in contact with BREAZE to do something about their hot water-based emissions. The last month or so has seen 20+ systems installed, and with this rate of installations our decision to become active in this area seems a good one. The solar hot water ball is rolling once more. Thanks to all the BREAZE members that have now got an array of comely solar tubes adorning their roof work.

3. The Green Loans shenanigans

BREAZE members that also happen to be accredited Home Sustainability Assessors will know only too well what a botched affair this has been. Free house energy audits? Good! $10,000 interest free for sustainability items. Double-plus good! However, the implementation of this program should only be recounted if one has the family gastro vomit bucket very nearby. If you have your bucket at the ready, you may want to read the following link:

http://www.theage.com.au/business/green-scheme-sunk-by-rorts-and-bungling-20100205-nisg.html

The loan has now been scrapped, however, there are now an additional 600,000 free home assessments made available, which is very good (but pretty much the only good) news to emerge from the Green Loans darkness. The problem is that after getting ordinary people all juiced up about sustainability actions (the aim of the scheme) the utterly hopeless implementation of this scheme means that there is a real risk that people throw their hands in the air and say, “Sustainability? Too ‘ard, Guvnor!”

There are some very good, knowledgeable assessors out there and having an assessor come to your house, spend about 90 minutes casting their eye over it while wearing their emissions reduction goggles, suggest practical things to do and do all of this for FREE is a truly good thing. And as with the insulation scheme, we hope that the Green Loans Program Baby is not ditched in the minds of the general population with the bathwater of Department of Environment implementation incompetence. Again, BREAZE hopes to reclaim the value of the scheme from the clutches of opprobrium by running a workshop in a month or so to explain all the worthwhile aspects of the Green Loans Program. BREAZE members who are accredited Green Loans assessors and who would be willing to be part of a panel for this workshop to share your knowledge are asked to get in contact with the BREAZE office.