The Federal Government’s announcement of an increase in solar hot water rebates and the removal of the means test have led to a great increase in enquiries for solar hot water systems in city and country areas. As a result, there has been a surge in demand for skilled tradesmen and labourers.
The solar hot water industry estimates that more than 50 per cent of Australia’s eight million homes are eligible for either the Federal Solar Hot Water Rebate or Insulation Rebate.
It also estimates that 2.7 million homes are uninsulated, while a further 1.4 million homes have traditional electric storage systems eligible to be replaced with environmentally friendly solar water heaters.
In NSW, for example, where additional rebates also apply for the replacement of conventional electric systems with environmentally friendly hot water systems, the purchase could very well be free for most homeowners.
Requiring triple the labour time to install relative to conventional electric water heaters, the solar hot water industry is urgently seeking workers to fulfil the demand – including qualified plumbers and electricians, factory jobs in the solar industry and associated component suppliers.
Environmentally friendly hot water systems, like the 2008 Australian Design Mark awarded Airoheat heat pump water heater, easily replaces a standard storage electric system, whilst at the same time saving around 70 per cent of a homeowner’s hot water energy costs. Each system reduces greenhouse gas emissions by several tonnes per year.
If all 4 million eligible homes installed an environmentally friendly hot water system, Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by around 12 million tonnes per year.
Les Patterson, General Manager of Dux Hot Water said that the increase in rebates is a positive step towards securing Australian manufacturing jobs and reducing carbon emissions.