Page 1715 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 9 May 2018
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renewable and sustainable energy. Importantly, these programs include initiatives to help save costs for individuals and households.
I will touch just briefly on a few of the programs. I know Ms Orr mentioned a few of them. The ACT government’s Actsmart programs support households, schools and businesses to become more environmentally sustainable. The services offered through Actsmart household programs provide households with practical advice and incentives to save money through lower utility bills while maintaining the comfort levels in their home.
In addition, there is further support provided to the more vulnerable householders through the Actsmart low income programs. These low income programs completed their first installation of a rooftop solar PV system in December 2017, with a hundred systems installed since then. The savings to householders are expected to be up to $900 per year. Incorporating solar energy into households provides several benefits, the most notable being decreased utility expenditure and associated greenhouse gas emission reduction, and increased penetration of renewable energy into the electricity grid.
While there has been a large uptake of residential solar within the ACT, low income households do need support with the purchase and installation of equipment to take advantage of this technology because of that issue of up-front cost. The program provides a subsidy of up to 60 per cent to install rooftop solar, removing the barriers for low income households to benefit from solar energy, enhancing social equity and the capacity to respond to increasing energy prices.
The program supports a limited number of householders, with a full subsidy for an installation, focusing on those in greatest need. This can include those on life support using essential medical equipment or those in greatest financial distress. The government is working with ACAT to identify those in greatest need and those identified through the hardship programs of energy retailers in the territory.
The solar for low income program will install over 450 rooftop systems over the four years of the program. The services and support available through the Actsmart low income home energy efficiency program include individual in-house energy assessment, education, draught proofing and referral to a range of programs. For example, householders can be referred to receive thermally efficient curtains through the curtain program. Curtain materials and rods provided through government funding are customised and installed by St Vincent de Paul volunteers to reduce heat loss through windows and improve privacy, security and comfort.
Due to their low income, some householders are having to use inefficient fridges or freezers. This adds to their ever-increasing utility bills. During their energy assessment households may be referred to receive a more energy-efficient fridge or freezer. Better refrigeration means householders can reduce their energy bills, save money and also potentially reduce food spoilage, which is obviously a benefit as well.
Households are further supported by a referral to the no interest loan scheme, which can provide a subsidy funded by the ACT government for split systems, fridges,
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