Politics Green Loans - It's a start

[Mundy]

If people are that concerned about their carbon footprint they should save up, and then bargain for their new fridge or hot water service. Why pay full retail with a loan when you can easily get up to 50% off in some cases if you pay cash.

After the phonecall with the department responsible for this scheme I am under the impression that the Government will provide 10k, which will provided by the institutions willing to particpate, in the first 4 year period the governement will cover all interest payments and strongly recommending paying off the loan within that 4 year bracket.

And realistically, if you cant pay off 10k over 4 years well, wtf.

Using the maximum allowable limit of 10k it's $48 a week.

Some families cannot simply whip out the 5 k for a new hot water system.

There is also the benefits of future proofing your home from increased electricity costs, especially here in the West.

And any time you see a "free assessment/free report/free consultation valued at $xx" it's one of the oldest marketing tricks in the book. The assessor will be there to 'pitch' you on going green and signing up for loans. These will be the door-to-door crowd who would sell their own mother to make a buck

What a cynical view, if you read the details of the program each assessor with perform an INDEPENDENT ASSESMENT which will basically be a series of questions ( Data collection ). No sales pitch will be allowable whatsoever and after a period of 10 days, the family will receive a 5 page report outlining where they sit, state wise, and how they can improve their home.

 

[medusala]

http://wl.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26216449-13881,00.html

THE Rudd government's $480 million "national solar schools" program was quietly suspended yesterday afternoon via a notice posted on the popular scheme's website.

"The National Solar Schools Program has been suspended to any new claims in 2009-10. This suspension takes effect as of 3:00pm 15 October 2009," the notice said.
..
The suspension is the latest in a series of changes and cuts to government solar programs, including the introduction of a means test on the household solar panel rebate and the ending of the remote solar program.

 

[EasternTiger]

After the phonecall with the department responsible for this scheme I am under the impression that the Government will provide 10k, which will provided by the institutions willing to particpate, in the first 4 year period the governement will cover all interest payments and strongly recommending paying off the loan within that 4 year bracket.

Cool. Let us know how it works out. It's one of those schemes I'd never personally participate in. I understand hot water systems/fridges break down and need replacing, and if you haven't got the money to replace them then an interest free loan is probably a good option. But getting into debt to get a solar hot water system FFS! That's madness.

 

[bit_pattern]

A solar hot water system won't cost 10K, genius! And it will save money, haven't done the sums yet but there will be significant saving on gas bills.