Incentives In Short – August, 2020
Save money on the installation of energy-efficient products, reduce your energy bill and help the environment by getting involved in Victorian Energy Upgrades.
Lighting
Save up to 80 per cent on your lighting costs by installing energy-saving lighting technology such as LEDs. That’s up to $16 per globe, per year.
Lighting technology has developed quickly in just a few years. LEDs are not only more efficient than older technologies such as incandescent, halogens and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs), but they also have good light quality and instant start up-times. They typically have long lifetimes, which means you won’t have to replace them as much, saving you money in the long-run.
Shower Heads
Showers use the most hot water in a typical Victorian home. By changing your conventional shower head for a water-saving one, you can make a real difference to your water use and reduce your energy costs.
All Victorian households and businesses that have an inefficient shower head (flow rate above 9 litres per minute or below 3 stars) are eligible to participate. Up to two shower heads can be installed in residential premises.
If you don’t know the flow rate of your current shower head, firstly you could check whether the shower head has a water mark indicating that the shower head is below 3 stars. If it does not have a water mark, you can check either by:
- Working out how old your shower head is. Shower heads that are over 10 years old are likely to be more inefficient; or
- Measuring how many litres your shower head uses by undertaking a bucket test. Do this by putting a bucket under the shower head, turning on the tap at your normal temperature and flow for 15 seconds, multiplying the amount by 4 and working out how many litres is used per minute. If it is over 9 litres, then you are eligible.
Heating and cooling
The cost of heating and cooling your home or business can be a significant part of your energy bills. On average, Victorian households can spend up to $800 a year, or a third of their energy bill, on heating.
Hot water systems
Water heating can account for 16 per cent of the average Victorian energy bill. It’s possible to reduce these costs by upgrading to a more efficient hot water system.
Inefficient electric or gas water heaters can be replaced with many energy efficient options including gas storage water heaters to electric boosted solar water heaters. Indicative rebates can equate to $799 depending on your situation.
Weather sealing
Many Victorian homes have windows, doors and vents that do not seal tightly, allowing hot or cool air to escape. This air escaping makes the temperature of your home difficult to control and requires extra energy use to keep you comfortable.
