Recent changes to Federal Government rebates make now a great time to revisit whether insulation is the right way to provide year-round comfort to your home.
If you are still deciding whether to take advantage of the Government rebate on insulation, then consider this – in winter, uninsulated homes lose 42 per cent of their heating through the ceiling, while insulated homes are at least seven degrees cooler in summer.
With the Government dropping its $1,600 rebate on home insulation to $1,200 from 2 November, the start of the hotter months is the perfect time to consider whether you should replace or supplement the current system of temperature control in your home with the help of the insulation rebate, before it’s gone for good.
The Federal Government unveiled its $3.9 billion Home Insulation Program as part of the Energy Efficient Homes Package in July. An estimated 40 per cent of Australian houses are without insulation, missing out on the opportunity to lower energy bills by a 30 to 40 per cent margin every year – and a spokesperson for the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts says the expected benefits from the program will see a reduction in Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions of up to 30 million tonnes by 2020.
Since the introduction of the program, more than half a million homes across the country have been fitted with ceiling or roof insulation and at this stage the Government indicates the program will operate until 31 December 2011, or until allocated funds run out.
The rebate covers the first $1,200 of any insulation quote - but there are a number of criteria you must match before being able to take advantage of the offer, such as confirming the home you wish to insulate was built before 2003. As always, it is important to carefully research whether you are eligible to benefit from any rebate, but points to consider include:
There is also a number of rebates and assistance packages that may hinder your application for the Home Insulation Program if you have previously claimed for them, including the Solar Hot Water rebate.
While insulation in walls and floors are also effective ways of keeping a comfortable temperature in your home, the Government has limited the rebate to cover insulation in the ceiling only. If you already have insulation installed in part of your ceiling, you are not eligible for the rebate.
However, if your existing insulation has what is termed ‘negligible effectiveness’ – insulation which carries an R-Value under 0.5 – you are able to get new insulation under the scheme. Much as star ratings work on electrical products, insulation is given an R-Value – the higher the R-Value, the more efficient the product.
The effectiveness of an R-Value depends on the climate in which your home is located, and a lower R-Value may not necessarily be inadequate. The northern beaches area is in Zone 5 on the Government climate map, which requires a minimum R3.5 to be eligible for the program. And despite not covering the removal of insulation deemed to have negligible effectiveness, the rebate is then available to you to replace it or simply upgrade your existing insulation to the recommended R-Value.
Part of the new guidelines introduced on 2 November included safety measures to protect homeowners and installers. While the program has provided a massive boost to the industry and genuine insulation companies, it has also given unscrupulous installers an opportunity to enter the market and take advantage of the rebate without providing sufficient training to themselves and their staff.
Up to 42 roof fires have occurred in New South Wales since the beginning of 2009, and the Government recently confirmed that a number of these may be related to inadequate work done by companies who are on the Installer Provider Register. Many of the problems come from minimal or no space being left between ceiling insulation and downlights and fans, which have consequently overheated and ignited. However, a NSW Fire Brigade spokesperson says just one of these has been linked to insulation in the northern beaches area, with a fire in Forestville.
To alleviate concerns, changes to safety guidelines introduced on 2 November include:
From 1 December 2009, the Government also introduced a ‘name and shame’ registry listing companies that have been removed from the Installer Provider Register for questionable behaviour, as well as the reason for their de-registration. As always, it’s important to thoroughly research that you’re getting the right person to do any type of work around your home, for everyone’s peace of mind.
Further information, guidelines for applying for the rebate, as well as a copy of the Installer Provider Register, are available from www.environment.gov.au/energyefficiency or by calling 1800 808 571.
The rebate covers the first $1,200 of any insulation quote - but there is a number of criteria you must match before being able to take advantage of the offer.
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