ILLAWARRA GREENS WATER POLICY SUMMARY
Keep water local!
At home:
• double subsidies for rainwater tanks to encourage 6 times as many tanks in the Illawarra
• subsidies to plumb tanks to washing machines and toilets
• subsidies to recycle grey water for garden use
In the neighbourhood (new developments)
• recycle water to washing machines and toilets
• improve stormwater harvest
In the region:
• don’t drain aquifers
• phase out transfer of water across catchments
In the Sydney Water catchment:
• NO desalination plant (save $1.2 billion, plus energy savings)
• introduce Level 4 restrictions
In the state:
• higher BASIX standards for new houses, developments
• use interest from funds of the Rental Bond Board for water saving measures in rental properties (together with regulation)
Jobs note: The Greens will provide jobs by working with local plumbers, TAFEs and community-based employment schemes to provide training, jobs and apprenticeships for local people.
Economic note: Greens policies cost one tenth that of the desalination plant, and deliver more than 90% the amount of water.
See also
State Greens Water (Urban) Policy Summary
State Greens Water (Rural and Agricultural) Policy Summary
Green Roofs: One Million Solar Water Heaters by 2022
The Greens plan to make sustainability affordable for all NSW households
13 March 2007
The Plan
Establish a government-run Green Roofs finance scheme to provide households with interest-free loans to buy and install solar or high efficiency gas hot water systems at no up-front cost. The aim is to install 2.6 million homes with solar or high efficiency gas hot water systems by 2022.
Background
Upfront costs are a major barrier to more energy efficient water heating systems for many households. The Greens want to remove the financial obstacles stopping people from installing low greenhouse water heating.
Under our plan, with a helping hand from the state government every home in NSW can improve its greenhouse performance and reduce its energy bill.
The Greens’ target is 1 million roofs with solar hot water. We can keep monthly repayments at $16.50. We are also aiming for 1.6 million high efficiency instantaneous gas water heaters, with monthly repayments set at $7. These would also be installed at no up-front cost to the consumer.
A government-run finance scheme will allow consumers to pay off the water-heating unit over the course of its life. Existing rebates, which will be maintained and increased, will reduce monthly payments. For solar hot water, the government would back the public’s commitment to lowering their emissions by covering the interest on these loans.
Details Cost Totals per annum
Finance packages to 1 million homes to go solar for their hot water $130 million
$1700 Rebates $115 million
Cost of finance on consumer loans $15 million
Finance packages to 1.6 million homes to move to high efficiency gas hot water $40 million
$300 Rebates $34 million
Cost of finance on consumer loans $6 million
Total Cost of Package $170 million
For more details: John Kaye 0407 195 455, Jill Merrin 0422 655 711