Whether you are building a new house or renovating your current home, now is a great time to modernise efficiency. Our government realises that the expense to expand the power grid is far greater than $1 billion, and that is how much they have put into the Household Energy Upgrades Fund. Continue reading to see if you will qualify and how to register.
First, let’s talk about building products that fall under this fund’s approved list.
- Multi-pane, double glazed windows and some custom sliding doors do not require complete replacement. On-site glazing can be accomplished depending on the glass size. When building new, this is much easier, but renovators can benefit as well. In fact, this fund targets those households which are upgrading an existing structure because it reduces current draw on the grid rather than reducing new draw.
- Solar panels, inverters and batteries are the main components of an entire solar system. An important note is that to qualify for the fund, approved installers and parts must be used. Be sure your chosen company can demonstrate their approval with Solar Accreditation, and the products are approved by the Clean Energy Council.
- Solar hot water heaters are the most efficient and effective heaters I have ever used. I can make a cup of tea directly from the faucet. Thank you, Sun.
- Hot water heat pumps use the air in a refrigeration cycle to heat the water. How does refrigeration heat something? You can read up on this tech, but it costs about ⅓ of normal operating costs. Similar efficiency-based heating systems are increasingly used across the home, which is why homeowners upgrading energy performance often evaluate the cost of heating a pool as part of their overall effort to reduce long-term power consumption.
- Advancements in blown-in and expanding foam insulation materials will significantly reduce the effect Mother Nature has on the interior of your home and save energy by not combating her.
- Air conditioners with split systems do not require ducting. That ducting is where most of your cooling system efforts are lost. A centralised heat pump distributes cycled refrigerant fluids to diffusers placed in each room you choose and can be isolated for control and optimisation.
- Ceiling Fans provide air flow that can provide a -3c temperature change in summer or +3c in winter by reversing the direction of rotation. A little bonus information is that when you use water and airflow, outside of course, there is a -10c effect from evaporative cooling. Have you seen them in a sports stadium?
- Whole-home energy monitoring systems do what my dad’s brain did for so many years. I swear he could hear the thermostat being changed. These monitors can indicate issues that would otherwise go unnoticed and allow for setting changes.
There are other products on the list like pool pumps, induction cooktops and more. You can read about all of them in detail in the fund information. Follow this link to the fund information. Be sure to use approved products and approved installation technicians.
The government doesn’t give money easily or often. Do it correctly and register now. When all finances are used, the fund will close until a new one is passed. They will use the data collected from the last one and make changes for effectiveness. Imagine spending $1 billion to save money. This must be serious.
