The solar hot water drive finished in December 2007 with the installation of 100 systems in the local community - a fantastic result.

If there is any interest next year we would like to run this project again, as replacing an electric hot water system with a solar/electric hot water system is the first step households should take to seriously reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

The Project has initiated a solar hot water drive where we are encouraging residents from Maleny and the surrounding areas to consider installing a solar hot water system . By doing this as a group we hope to negotiate a reasonable discount from one of the local suppliers.

Replacing an existing electric system with a solar one will save you money on your power bill and, depending on your situation, the overall financial payback period could be less than 5 years, especially if the cost of energy rises. If you are concerned about lowering your carbon emissions, installing a solar HWS can be more effective than driving a hybrid car (as opposed to a regular petrol vehicle).

Our plan is to negotiate a "sliding scale" of discounts, with a greater discount available as the number of participants rises. This would give the participants an incentive to bring friends onto the scheme to bring the price down further for everyone. However, as we have a substantial number of people already, and as we do not yet know how quickly everyone wants their systems, it may be desirable to finish the drive early. This of course also depends on the discount scheme we are able to agree upon.

We are negotiating with representatives from most well known brands but have not yet selected a supplier. The criteria that we will be using to select the supplier are (in no particular order):

• Price
• Proven lifespan of installed product
• Availability of a percentage discount across all models
• Australian owned/manufactured
• Warranty
• Availability of payment plans

All the suppliers offer a broad range of models, including "split" systems (where the tank is kept on the ground), frost-resistant, boosters, etc. Retrofitting an existing electric or gas hot water tank may be possible but has not been recommended. Heat pump systems may also be available for those who live in shaded areas.

There are no Qld. State Government rebates available for solar HWS installation but there is a Federal Government scheme where you are given RECS to sell back to an energy supplier. RECS are allocated depending on where you live and how efficient your installed system is. For this area most systems provide $300-$400 worth of RECS. More information on rebates can be found here http://www.ata.org.au/green-living/renewable-energy-rebates/qld-rebates/.

If you would like more information on this scheme or would like to register your interest, please contact us.