13 November 2007

Federal Labor will contribute $4.9 million to help make Coburg a Solar Village – in Melbourne’s northern suburbs – bringing solar innovations and efficiencies to local families. This will be a new solar village as part of an expanded Solar Cities program.

Coburg joins Adelaide, Townsville, Blacktown, Alice Springs, Perth and Central Victoria as a solar community. It is part of Federal Labor’s comprehensive Solar Schools–Solar Homes Plan, released today which will help homes and communities harness the sun and improve their energy and water efficiency.

Coburg Solar Village will model and fast track solar innovations and efficiencies directly assisting low and fixed income residents.

Federal Labor’s commitment will be matched by $5.33 million support from Moreland City Council, the Victorian Government, industry partners, Moreland Energy Foundation and the Brotherhood of St. Laurence.

The Coburg Solar Village project will involve the establishment of:

• Energy renovations on existing public housing properties for residents on low incomes.
• Installation of 200 smart meters, 100 solar installations and energy efficiency product incentives will also be offered to 720 households.
• Education services, programs and grants to install energy and water saving measures targeting community residential units, renters and families from non English speaking backgrounds.
• A Community Energy Hub to demonstrate energy efficiency measures, products and training modules that extends on Sustainability Victoria’s Energy Task Force auditor and installation training.

Australian homes are using more energy and creating more greenhouse gases every year. Since 1990, Australia’s household energy greenhouse indicator has increased by almost 20 per cent – from 2.75 to 3.25 tonnes for every Australian.

If we are to meet the challenge of climate change, we will all need to make changes in our lives – at home, work and school, and in the communities in which we live.

Federal Labor will help all Australian families take practical action at home to tackle climate change, use water efficiently and save money on household bills. A Rudd Labor Government will:

• Offer new rebates of up to $500 for up to 500,000 homes under Federal Labor’s National Rainwater/Greywater Plan to help install new piping for grey water use or rainwater tanks.
• Provide up to $10,000 in new low interest Green Loans for 200,000 Australian families to undertake practical water and energy savings measures in their homes.
• Encourage landlords to insulate 300,000 rental properties under a new $150 million Energy Efficient Rental Homes plan – keeping families warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
• Offer rebates of up to $8,000 for around 3,000 families to install solar power each year as part of an existing $150 million program.
• Offer rebates of up to $1000 for solar and heat-pump hot water systems in homes across Australia as part of an existing program.

Federal Labor will also help schools and communities take practical action. A Rudd Labor Government will:

• Make all 9,612 private and public schools solar schools within eight years, with an additional $153 million, bringing total funding available to schools up to $489 million.
• Boost the Solar Cities program with an additional $25 million to make Coburg in Victoria and Perth solar cities, and establish high profile Green Precincts around Australia.
• Establish a user-friendly one-stop Green Shop website linking families, schools and businesses to all Commonwealth, State and local government household efficiency programs.
• Work with the building industry and the States and Territories on Sustainable Housing to make new and existing homes more energy and water efficient and more affordable to live in.
• Establish a new 10-star appliance rating system and Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards to fast-track smart efficient technology.

A Rudd Labor Government will help all Australians play their part in the fight against climate change by making it easier to take practical action in their own homes, their schools and their local communities.