Heating opportunity

‘We’ve been using it since we bought the place all those years ago.’

‘It doesn’t do a great job, can be hot to touch or smelly, makes a few odd noises when cranking up and it costs a pretty penny to run.’

‘But it’s all we have and it gets pretty cold in winter and it’s all we have.’ Sound familiar? It could well be the type of conversation many of us have when we click on that ancient 1970s gas heater, old suspicious mobile radiator or fire up that inconvenient, outdated and inefficient wood burner.

Or perhaps you have never had a good heater and spend wintry nights frozen in front of the television covered in so many layers you can hardly move.

Sure, being constantly cold and even exposed to old heating technology has a variety of health concerns.

But the wallet, pocket and bank account can always seem a bit lean to take the plunge and update our heating systems.

It is an issue of which authorities are well aware and now owner-occupier households with an approved concession card, or with a combined household income of less than $90,000 can apply for relief.

There are a few boxes to tick, but eligible homeowners can apply for a $1000 State Government rebate to help with the cost of installing energy-efficient reverse-cycle air-conditioners.

There are 250,000 rebates available to people keen to replace their old gas, electric or wood-fire heaters or to install a system in a home where heating has

never existed.

The Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades Program is a scheme Wimmera heating, cooling and energy-saving specialist Wade’s is keen for the region to know about and understand.

Managing director Adrian Wade stressed that Wimmera people had as much right as anyone in the state to apply for the financial incentive and encouraged them to consider the opportunity.

“Government schemes like this are there to support policy in promoting community ideals. Sometimes it’s based on reducing carbon emissions and energy use.

“Other times it’s about promoting socio-economic or community health and providing everyone with an opportunity to access developing technology,” he said.

“This rebate scheme ticks many of the boxes and with limited rebates available it is important Wimmera residents realise what they can apply for.

“I’m not revealing any secrets in saying it can get very cold or very hot in the Wimmera.

“We have a very clear understanding of how this scheme works and the right sort of reverse-cycle air-conditioning systems for many different circumstances.”

The Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades Program is designed to help low-income and vulnerable households increase their ‘thermal comfort’.

Increasing thermal comfort is about keeping homes warm in winter and cool in summer and the value of this from a health perspective needs little explanation.

Under the program, eligible households can receive $1000 towards the cost of an energy-efficient reverse-cycle air conditioner; $200 towards the cost of decommissioning an outdated gas heater as part of a replacement project; and $500 towards the cost of upgrading a switchboard if needed for the installation of a rebated reverse-cycle air conditioner.

Eligibility for the rebate is at the core of an application. To be eligible households must be replacing gas, fixed-electric or wood heaters or installing a heating system for the first time.

Replacement must be with an energy-efficient reverse-cycle air conditioner.

As well as fitting in the owner-occupier and household income criteria, they must also install an air-conditioners from a Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades Program approved products list and suppliers,

Again, Wades can help with all the paperwork but for independent piece of mind people can visit government website www.heatingupgrades.vic.gov.au for more detailed information about the program and how to apply. They can also call 1300 376 393.

As energy technology rapidly advances, the depth of knowledge the team at Wade’s is accumulating is staggering.

The business is not leading a charge towards adaptation and innovation, but also ensuring the Wimmera is at the front of the pack.