Brisbane City Gets Greener; EzyGreen Project

The Brisbane City Council has formulated the EzyGreen project to provide its residents energy saving options to reduce their carbon footprint and energy bills. The project is partnered with the Queensland government and together they have designed and effective and an easy-to-use-program.

The aim of the project is to make Brisbane one of the most livable cities in the world, and is considered as one of Brisbane’s trump cards to make the city “greener” and more desirable compared to other Australian cities. The city council expects it to help generate more support for residents to install solar power in Brisbane and to reduce living costs while giving a higher quality of live.

The city council said the EziGreen plan is designed to allow each individual to choose what is most suitable for them. The plan is open to all greater Brisbane residence and tenants and they can apply online for the following:

• A choice of two GreenPower offers, including a 5% discount on energy usage charges with 10% GreenPower
• From $275 in vouchers for energy-efficient appliances and alternative transport options from The Good Guys and NOPE Electric Bikes & Scooters
• A high quality solar hot water system at a competitive price
• An exclusive $1,000 EzyGreen discount on all 3.15kW solar power systems if purchased prior to 30 June 2011
• A minimum $300 discount available on 1.575kW solar power systems and above if purchased prior to 30 June 2011

The project is part of the Living in Brisbane 2026 vision which aims to reduce the city’s energy consumption and become the lowest carbon emitting city in the country. Visit www.ezigreen.com.au for further information.

Solar power systems have become popular worldwide because of their potential to save a lot of money off rising power bills for homes and businesses, as well as shift our current dirty and expensive energy generation to a clean and affordable way. In Australia solar PV and solar hot water systems are widely used in almost all aspects of the community; from powering homes, offices, buildings to government offices and public places.

The benefits and economic viability of a solar panels and solar hot water systems outclass any other renewable energy technologies so far. As well as the dramatic drops in manufacturing costs and increases in efficiency in the last couple of years, its flexibility also makes it very favourable. Solar panels have the ability to be scaled from massive solar farms to small systems for home use and everything in between.

Because of the guaranteed income returns, long life and low risk solar power provides. Large scale solar projects are considered to be one of the wisest investments that large corporations can make.

Saves You Money

A typical 1.5 KW solar panel system for home use can save you over $450 on energy bills annually even without the federal government’s schemes.Savings depend on the system size and where you are located but it is possible to fit a 3-4KW system onto many homes which can completely eliminate the bill of an average household.

Current payback times are 5-7 years, which means that with a 25 year lifespan your solar investment now will be something that saves you a lot of money for a long time.

Reduces Carbon Emissions

The bulk of Australia’scarbon emissions are produced from coal fired power stations. By using renewable energy sources like solar panels you can save up to 3 tons of carbon annually (using a 1.5 KW system) similar to the emission of driving your car over 45,000 kilometres.

Adds Value to Your Property

 Home buyers today are becoming more concerned about energy efficiency and environmental impacts as well as having a buffer from rising costs of living. Installing solar panels to your home is the one home improvement that will start to pay for itself immediately, and will also add at least its purchase price to the value of your property. More importantly it will give you a degree of certainty that you are secured from future energy price hikes.

Convenience

Solar panel systems are the most convenient among the lineup of renewables. The system has no moving parts so maintenance is a breeze, and it generates no noise or any unpleasant emissions while generating electricity.

The system can last for more than two decades and is very reliable with minimal degeneration. The panels are also durable enough to withstand extreme weather conditions, even a hailstorm.

Lastly, the system normally comes with a smart meter that allows you to monitor the panels’ energy output and allows you to import or export of electricity as needed if you are connected to the grid.

4 Compelling Reasons Why You Should Make the Switch to Solar

With world-wide global warming issues getting too serious to doubt anymore researchers and climate change specialist are looking at solar power as one of the most viable solutions to our problem. Harnessing solar energy and converting it to electricity produces no carbon emissions or pollution and will allow our planet to regenerate.

Here are some important reasons why you should make the switch to solar;

Will save you money

Solar panels produce electricity throughout daylight hours, even when it’s cloudy. A small home system is expected to cut your electricity bills into half and a bigger system is able to eliminate the energy bill of an average household entirely.

Is a wise investment

Solar PV systems are now considered to be one of the best long term home or business investments as they are proving to provide a significant return on investment in the long term. A system is expected to last 20 years at the least and will pay for itself in 5-8 years’ time at current prices. So the rest of the 15 + years are all profit for you as there should be no ongoing maintenance costs.

Also if you live in a State in Australia where the premium feed in tariff schemes are still available then you can also generate a source of extra income by selling any excess electricity you produce back to the grid at a profit.

As an added bonus investing in solar increases your home’s resale value& desirability as well; after all what price would you put on buying a property where you never need to worry about paying for your electricity? So with cost of living a high concern amongst families, the more a home saves on electricity the higher its market value becomes.

The same applies in your commercial spaces, since electricity prices are shooting up uncontrollably business owners are looking for commercial spaces that will allow them maximise production while minimising their outgoing bills. This makes your solar panel topped building more in demand then another one down the road and you can charge more in rent to compensate.

Has minimal maintenance

Solar panel systems are designed to last for more than two decades and they generally require minimal maintenance depending on your location. Just a light cleaning every few months to remove dirt and dust buildup is sufficient to keep the panels running in perfect condition and producing the maximum amount of clean free energy from the sun for you every day.

As the systems are fully automated and is completely independent monitoring it is not strictly necessary, however if you wish to have it systems now are available with smart meters that compute and tabulates energy production continually, and some inverters come with LED displays to monitor the system’s efficiency.

Is very environmental friendly   

                                      

Solar power is clean and renewable and does not release harmful green house gases in the environment, unlike fossil fuels which emit enormous amounts of carbon and other gases like methane.It is these which are responsible for the global warming that is disrupting the natural climate patterns of our planet today.

Solar panels are considered to be the best option to solve the problem since they can be built to any scale large or small depending on the need, and it also does away with the very great expense of maintaining electricity grid networks which get passed onto consumers with their electricity bills. Also solar power is holistically green from its raw materials down to the production; the components of the system not only produce clean energy, but the materials themselves are not harmful to the environment.

Recap of Melbourne’s Clean Energy Week 2011

Just recently the Clean Energy Week summit was held in the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. The summit was a valuable and exciting week full of renewable energy updates and future plans,not only to increase the number of solar panels in Melbourne, but to propel Australia and the world towards a cleaner energy production in the near future.

The summit tackled all the issues related to this in depth;the first day of the summit was devoted in discussing the solar industry business and policies that they need to be guided with. Along with that discussion were talks about future solar plans and financing of renewable energy programs together with a demonstration how renewable can reshape the country’s energy sector and benefit from it.

And the discussion didn’t end there; a timely and controversial issue was also tackled. Carbon pricing settings around the world became the most debated issue on that day as speculations were raised on how it will be a strong point in Australia’s Clean Energy Future Plan.

During the second day of the summit renewable energy breakthroughs including wind and bio fuels were discussed. The summit introduced future technologies and what is needed for them to succeed and their current status. The day was packed with updates on where we stand on our fight against carbon emissions.

The third day was centered on the feed in tariff; debates were held on how the current schemes can be improved and what other provisions need to be legislated to further develop the government’s participation. Alongside the feed in tariff our home solar issues were discussed including new breakthroughs in technology for households who want to be independent from the grid. The current renewable energy target was the final subject for the rest of the day.

Professional development was held during the fourth day of the summit; seminars and training were conducted regarding safety issues, quality installation procedures and products. A rundown of the state government’s policies were also laid out to ensure compliance of solar distributors and for the safety of all.

The last two days of the summit was devoted for the ATRAA (Appropriate Technology Retailers Association of Australia) convention where other renewable energy concerns were tackled and answered with the help of numerous experts in the field.

As always it was very useful and educational week which will have a big influence on what takes place in regard to renewable energy and solar power in Australia in the year ahead.

Melbourne’s 1200 Buildings Program Retrofit Funding

The city of Melbourne is now offering a retrofit fund to help building owners reduce their energy usage, conserve water and reduce their carbon emission. This is thanks to a recent amendment made to the Victorian legislation, which has enabled financial institutions to advance funds to building owners for environmental improvements.

The local government of Melbourne has devised a financial plan with affiliated banks to grant incentives to buildings owners wishing to make environmental improvements. This financial assistance is designed to aid them to overcome difficulties in the process of doing so, and especially assist building owners who currently do not have the funds for the retrofit works.

Various assistance programs

Although the 7^th batch green building fund closed in March 29, 2011 the program has aided numerous building owners under the $240 million Clean Business Australia initiative.

Buildings owners who have improved their energy efficiency and water consumption will be able to receive tax cuts. Green star rated buildings can apply for one-off bonus tax reduction equal to 50% of the green assets amount.

The Victorian government has also provided a $60 million sustainability fund to encourage businesses and households to use renewable energy together with proper waste disposal practices.

Water efficiency is also an ongoing concern in Melbourne; the smart water fund will grant the city’s residents to undertake water saving projects.

Projected Outcome

Through the 1200 buildings program, along with all the sub programs and assistive funds, the city can reduce 50% of its carbon emission by 2030 or 383,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions and be a step closer to carbon neutrality.

The program will also have a positive impact on the total number of home and commercial solar panels in Melbourne, as more residents from all sectors will be encouragedto embracing solar as the financial and environmental benefits these green buildings offer become more publicised.

Queensland Solar Increases 84% Since 2010

Energy and Water Minister Stephen Robertson told Parliament that the state is entering a huge milestone in its attempt to double the use of solar power in Queensland. Currently the state has increased more than 80% in just a span of 1 year.

The state’s additional solar bonuses and schemes were implemented last July 2010 to aid households who want to make the switch to solar power. The bonuses and schemes have been a huge success; the 84% increase means an extra 227,000 households with solar hot water systems, and about 125,000new solar panel installations. The tremendous growth in figures continues to rise daily as more Queenslanders take advantage of the bonuses and solar benefits.

A big incentive of the extra subsidy was directed towards retired and pensioned residents, who have received a $1000 rebate (for the upfront payment alone) and the rest receives $600. This is on top of the existing federal government rebates. In general a solar hot water system in the state will only cost $2000-$3000 after subsidies, depending on the size and the brand of the system.

Minister Robinson said that hot water accounts for about 30% of the total electricity bill of a typical in Queensland and that soalr hot water can slash that figure down to 5%. With only a small outlay which is affordable for many households it’s not surprising how many have taken up the offer; as of this month more than $12 million was spent by the government to subsidise solar hot water alone.

Another big reason why solar hot water has been such a big success in the state in the last 12 months was timing; as natural disaster hit many areas over summer a lot of water heating systems were damaged.  Instead of replacing them with expensive auxiliary powered systems many people turned to solar as a much better alternative.

“This is practical help to assist the many families throughout Queensland who lost everything during the devastating floods and Cyclone Yasi,” he said.

The minister also said that he is very happy that Queenslanders are embracing solar as a better way to heat water and produce electricity. He added that the state will see more system installation in the coming months as another $32.9 million solar package was recently tabled.

Queensland Continues to Become a Leader in Carbon Reduction

According to the Council of Climate Change report, the state of Queensland leads the annual carbon emission decrease rankings in Australia. An impressive total of 15 million tons of carbon dioxide has been saved since 2007 because of the state’s actions towards sustainability.

This phenomenal decrease of Queensland is primarily because of the use of renewable energy in the state as well as the $47.7 million Energy Conservation Demand Management Program, which aimed to reduce energy demands during peak hours.

The use of solarpower in Queensland has also doubled in just 15 months, 3 years earlier than expected, thanks to the generous government incentives and schemes, including the most generous premium feed in tariff in the country.

While Qld has had the biggest reductions in recent times there is still a long way to go; Tasmania generates a remarkable 86 per cent of its energy from renewable sources, Queensland only 8 per cent.This seems a poor result, until you consider that NSW’s figures are only 6%, Western Australia 5% and Victoria 3.9%, so Queensland is in fact the 2nd highest user of renewable energy in the country.

Although Qld lags far behind Tasmania currently, its climate conditions and geography are very favourable for the use of solar power, and several large scale projects are under development. So in a few years we will likely have seen a huge surge in the renewable energy industry in the state.

There are additional challenges to be overcome in Queensland due its relatively huge land mass and diverse population. Of some concern is how far the planned large scale solar power plants are from highly populated areas, which then requires infrastructure to transport it and the resulting energy loss along the way. For this reason it is more logical to encourage smaller scale projects close to urban areas, as well as the widespread installation of home rooftop solar panels for decentralised energy production.

The government of Queensland knows that there are still a lot of things that need to be accomplished and can be done to make the state more sustainable and their efforts are directly wholeheartedly in that direction. They have pledged to continue the existing government programs and incentives in a continuing attempt to bridge the cost of renewables, and make clean energy more financially viable for residents and businesses then traditional coal produced power.

Overall Australia produces 5% of its energy from renewable sources currently, and aims to increase to 20% by the year 2020. The rivalry between the state governments to compete for who will become the country’s greenest and most sustainable region will help to make this ambitious target a reality.