Benchmark Study on Green Buildings - Royal Architectural Institute ...

home more energy efficient. It can be found at
http://www.futureenergy.org/infohouse.html. The GBCA website also has some
information on rebate and incentive programs available to home owners who take steps to
reduce their home’s energy usage. State governments provide rebates of $1,200-1,500 to
residents, non-profit groups and farms who set up a solar water heater. Solar hot water
units also come with a booster for times when there is not enough sun. This can be gas or
electric. Gas-boosted systems cost between $4,000 and $4,500 installed (including the
rebate), while electric-boosted units cost between $3,000 and $3,500. To put things into
perspective, the equivalent figure for a conventional water heater is around $1,400.
Certain state governments also offer rebates for the purchase and installation of
residential rainwater collection tanks. Currently, the government of the Australian Capital
Territory (ACT) is giving $400 rebates for these home improvements. The State of
Victoria offers $600-1,000 rebates for people who buy a 5 Star gas space heater or ducted
system, and a rebate of $500-900 for those who buy a 4 Star gas space heater. Victoria
also offers $400-700 rebates for people who buy 5-Star gas water heaters.
Government funding for HVAC system improvements:
Funding is also available from various sources to increase R&D for green technologies.
For instance, the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR)
is offering up to $1 million to fund innovative HVAC Technologies which demonstrate
energy use reductions in high rise commercial buildings. Improvements in HVAC
systems are being funded by the government as it realizes interior air quality
enhancements can increase occupant comfort, productivity and morale in business
settings.
WELS Scheme & water efficiency label:
The federal government has also launched a mandatory water efficiency scheme. Rebates
of varying amounts were available to people who purchased new water-conserving
showerheads, washing machines, dishwashers, toilets, some types of taps, and urinals
before July 2006. These rebates were cancelled when the new Water Efficiency Labeling
and Standards (WELS) Scheme became mandatory across Australia. It was introduced to
assist consumers in purchasing more water-efficient household products. It also provides
incentives for manufacturers to improve the water efficiency of these products to
maintain sales. On July 1 2006, it became mandatory across Australia for showers;
clothes washing machines; dishwashers; toilet equipment; urinal equipment; and tap
equipment intended for use over kitchen sinks, bathroom basins, laundry tubs or ablution
troughs, to carry a WELS Water Rating label when they are being sold. The WELS Water
Rating label has two main features: a 6-star rating that gives a quick comparative
assessment of the model’s water efficiency, and a water consumption figure that provides
an estimate of the water consumption of the product based on its tested water
consumption.
By simply choosing more efficient products, by 2021 Australia stands to save more than
$600 million through reduced water and energy bills. It is also estimated that by 2021,
water efficiency labeling will cut domestic water use by five per cent or
87,200 megaliters per year. A total of 610,000 megaliters - more water than in Sydney
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