Energy Saver Loan Scheme

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are:

• Tasmanians for their principal place of residence
• landlords with residential tenants
• small businesses and community organisations (with an electricity consumption lower than 150MWh per year).

This means that Energy Saver Loans must be used to purchase and install eligible energy efficient products in Tasmanian properties. These properties are:

• principal places of residence
• tenanted residential properties (for example, a property in which you have residential tenants)
• small business, commercial, or community organisation properties (for example, a property that is used for the predominant purpose of a small business*).
  *These properties may include properties used for holiday accommodation if the use is part of a small business.

Loans are capped at $10,000 per property.

No single applicant may be loaned more than $10,000 in total (but accessing the scheme for your primary residence won't prevent your small business from getting a loan for its own premises).

Loans will only be made available to applicants that have the financial capacity to repay them over the term of the loan. There are no income, house value or asset tests. It's open to all Tasmanians that want to invest in energy efficiency, so long as they can service the loan.

If you're not eligible to receive an Energy Saver Loan, then you may be eligible to access other forms of Government assistance. These include our No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS), which we have designed for Tasmanians with low incomes.

You may also wish to look at the resources you can take home - which could also help you to make savings.

Products available to be financed under the Energy Saver Loan Scheme:

• solar panel systems
• household battery storage systems
• reverse cycle electric heating and cooling systems (heat pumps)
• electric heat pump hot water systems and solar hot water systems
• induction and ceramic electric stovetops
• double glazing upgrades to existing buildings (not new builds)
• insulation for existing buildings (not new builds)
• energy efficient appliances (fridges/freezers, clothes dryers, clothes washers, dishwashers)

Some product types may not be available initially. Introduction of some products will be phased, as it takes time to build a network of accredited vendors.

Before you proceed with an application for a loan, you should do research to decide what product or products will provide the best savings for your circumstances. Some tips include:

• Examine your power bills to understand your energy consumption.
• Look at your electricity retailer's website for energy saving advice.
• Make a list of products to research based on your needs.
• Talk to different suppliers about your needs and options.
• Get multiple quotes to compare products and suppliers.
• Check the warranty for both product and installation. All products and installations should be backed by a minimum three-year warranty.
• Check that installation costs are included in any quotes.

We strongly recommend that you shop around, obtain at least three quotes from different suppliers, compare what products are available, and negotiate on price to make sure that you are getting good value for money.

If you're still not sure what is best for you, then consider a professional energy audit and the resources you can take home to guide your choices.

If you have any concerns with a vendor's sales practices, or concerns that a quote is excessive, you should raise your concerns directly with Brighte.

Door-knocking sales-practises are not allowed under the Scheme and they should be reported.

Solar energy systems

If you are interested in solar panel systems, then we encourage you to get multiple quotes to ensure that you're getting good value for money.

Solar panels (also known as photovoltaics or PVs) can help reduce your household energy costs.

It's important to choose the right-sized system to suit your needs, and to make sure your panels face north or north-west and are free from shading.

To make the most savings, you should also match the capability of your solar panels with your average daily electricity consumption - which is measured in kWh (kilowatt-hours). Information about how much electricity you're consuming can be found on your electricity bill – and you can call your retailer to confirm it. Because your electricity consumption could differ seasonally, you may wish to consult your bills from different periods throughout the year.

Visit the Clean Energy Council website for more information about the right solar energy choices for you – including advice about cost.

Loans may not be approved for solar energy systems that are too expensive.

To participate in the Scheme, your solar retailer must have committed to the Clean Energy Council (CEC) Code of Conduct and have CEC approved seller status. Installers of solar equipment must hold the CEC's installer accreditation.

The CEC approved seller program is authorised and overseen by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. It's designed to give you confidence that your vendor supplies quality products, complies with consumer protection laws, and backs the operation of the systems they sell well into the future.

Your solar power provider must:

• Ensure that their products and services meet the ACCC's consumer guarantees.
• Not provide you with false or misleading information in advertising, promotions or during their sales pitch.
• Not approach you in person or by phone or email using forceful or high-pressured sales tactics to get you to buy something that you don't want or you can't afford.

If you have any concerns with a vendor's sales practices, or if you're concerned that a vendor's quote is excessive, then you should raise your concerns directly with Brighte.

Battery storage systems

Installing a battery storage system in conjunction with solar panels can also provide savings.

Each battery storage system has its own benefits, so it's a good idea to discuss your needs when you're getting a quote.

Battery storage systems use a chemical process to store electricity for later use. They are designed to reduce your reliance on electricity from the grid – so the right system for you will depend on your patterns of electricity consumption. For example, a battery storage system may help you to avoid the higher cost of electricity during peak times (such as during the evening) by providing you the electricity that you stored during the day. Depending on your system, it may also be able to provide electricity to your home during power outages.

When you're comparing battery storage systems, you should compare them based on their usable energy - not on their total capacity. Typically, a battery's total capacity is expressed in kWh (similar to the way that electricity is charged on your bill) - but remember to pay attention to what is called their 'depth of discharge' (DoD). The majority of batteries cannot have 100 per cent of their total storage capacity extracted from them in energy - instead, they can only use their DoD. This means, for example, that a 10 kWh battery that has a DoD of 80 per cent will only provide 8 kWh of usable energy. It's always a good idea to compare DoDs.

Visit the Clean Energy Council website for more information about the right battery storage choices for you – and for information about cost.

Other benefits

You may wish to talk to your solar or battery installer about federal government policies, including the eligibility of different systems for federal government rebates and how to access them.

Products approved for loans must also approved for use in Australia by the Clean Energy Council.

Talk about which products are eligible with your supplier.

Heating and cooling make up around half of the average Tasmanian household's energy use. Choosing an efficient heating system to suit your family's needs can help you make savings on your energy bills.

The most efficient heating and cooling systems available today are reverse cycle systems, which are also known as heat pumps.

Heat pumps work by extracting energy from ambient outside air, converting it to heat, and using a fan to swap it for inside cool air. Even air at 0°C has energy to extract for heating - air at that temperature has almost 90 per cent of the energy of air at 40°C.

When the process is reversed for cooling, the unit will absorb the heat of the inside air and pump it outside.

Reverse cycle systems can be ducted or split system. Ducted systems are the most expensive, as they use ducting and vents into every room that you want to heat or cool. Split system units are less expensive. They comprise an indoor and outdoor unit.

Products approved for the ESLS can be found on the Australian Government's Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) register.

Talk with your supplier about which products are eligible.

Most households use standard electric element hot water systems - and heating water is typically the second-biggest energy consumer in Tasmanian households.

Solar and heat pump hot water systems are more energy-efficient choices.

Heat pumps work by extracting energy from ambient outside air, converting it to heat, and using the warm air to heat water.

Heat pump hot water systems may use between 25 to 33 per cent less energy than a standard electric element hot water system, which may lead to a significant saving in your energy costs. While they may have a higher upfront cost than standard systems, their lower running costs offset the up-front over time, typically leading to savings after 4-6 years.

Solar hot water systems are quieter than hot water heat pumps and they may be more cost-effective to run during sunnier times of year. Unlike heat pumps, these systems are typically installed on roofs rather than against walls, from where they transfer heat from a solar 'collector' to a water storage tank. Solar hot water systems can provide most of your hot water needs, with electricity (or less commonly gas) used to boost the water's temperature when required.

If you wish, talk to your supplier about federal government policies, including the eligibility of your solar hot water system for Australian Government rebates.

Electric hot water systems approved for the ESLS can be found on the Australian Government's Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) register.

Talk with your supplier about which hot water systems are eligible under the ESLS.

Many Tasmanian homes have insufficient insulation. Insulation helps keep your house warm in winter and cool in summer, helping you to save on your energy bills. Insulating your home is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy consumption, while increasing comfort levels, so it really is a win-win investment.

You might consider installing or topping-up the ceiling insulation in your home. Up to 35 per cent of a home's heat can be lost through a home's ceiling, so high performance insulation will usually be appropriate for Tasmanian ceilings.

You might also consider underfloor insulation, especially if you have timber floorboards, as up to 20 per cent of a home's heat can be lost through uninsulated timber flooring.

Similarly, up to 25 per cent of a home's heat can be lost through walls that are uninsulated or under-insulated.

Insulation Products

The National Construction Code sets out the recommended 'R-values' for insulation - as a rule, the higher the R-value of your insulation, the better it will perform and the more energy efficient your home will be. Talk with your supplier about which products your Energy Saver Loan may be used to purchase.

Minimum insulation total R-values will be required as follows:

• Ceiling – R5.0
• Underfloor – R2.0
• Wall – R2.5

These minimums have been set with the objective of ensuring that retrofitted homes should achieve overall insulation R values that are consistent with the National Construction Code minimums for the predominant Tasmanian Climate zone (cool temperate - 7).

Subject to advice from the insulation installer, it may be possible for customers to have existing insulation topped up to achieve these minimum R-values.

Because insulation should be installed safely, insulation purchased with an Energy Saver Loan must be installed by a builder or an insulation contractor that is accredited with the Scheme.

Your insulation installation will be supervised by a fully trained installer who will have completed a nationally recognised insulation installation training course and will hold a professional Certified Insulation Installer qualification issued by the Energy Efficiency Council.

Insulation is only available under the scheme in respect of retrofitting for existing buildings. It cannot be used for new homes under construction,

Sales of insulation must include both supply of the product and professional installation by an accredited vendor.

Purchase and do-it-yourself-installation (DIY) is not funded under the scheme.

Vendors offering insulation products under the Energy Saver Loan Scheme must be accredited to participate in the scheme and must comply with certain requirements.

The scheme administrator, Brighte, operates the accreditation process for vendors wishing to take part in the scheme.

Electrical Safety Inspections

It is a requirement that, before any insulation installation takes place, an electrical safety inspection must be undertaken by a licensed electrician. The inspection will be carried out to ensure that the electrical system is assessed as being safe and in good condition, and compatible with installation of insulation in the areas to be accessed during the installation, such as the roof space or under floor areas.

Your insulation installer will discuss this safety inspection requirement with you at the quoting stage before you agree to proceed.

A great deal of heat can be lost through windows even when they are closed - in fact, heat lost through a window can be ten times greater than the heat that is lost through an insulated wall and, in winter, you can lose up to 40 per cent of your home’s heat through your windows.

Double glazing helps by trapping heat between two layers of glass, helping to prevent heat loss while allowing the sun to warm the inside of the house.

In summer, double glazing will also insulate your home from the heat outside.

Loans for glazing will only be available to upgrade existing buildings - loans will not be available to cover elements of a new build.

Talk with your supplier about which products are eligible.

Household appliances can account for up to 25 per cent of a typical household's energy use - creating an opportunity for saving energy costs.

You may wish to consider replacing your gas stovetop with a more energy efficient induction or ceramic electric stovetop.

Electric stovetops are typically cheaper to run, better for the environment, and provide greater thermal control than gas stovetops. If your gas stovetop is the last gas appliance in your home, then replacing it may also give you the opportunity to save money on gas supply charges.

You may also wish to consider other energy efficient appliances.

Induction stovetops

Induction stovetops use electromagnetic coils below a top made of tempered ceramic glass. They transfer energy direct to the cookware, rather than to the stovetop, increasing safety as well as the efficiency of your energy use. Induction stovetops transfer approximately 90 per cent of energy to cookware, making cooking quicker, whereas for gas the figure is about 50 per cent.

Induction stovetops require certain types of cookware to work with the electromagnetic cookware. To find out if your existing cookware is compatible you can test it with a magnet - if the magnet sticks, then it should work on an induction stovetop.

Ceramic stovetops

Ceramic stovetops use coiled metal elements below a top made of tempered ceramic glass. The coils heat the glass, which heats what is on it. Ceramic stovetops have a smooth, flat surface, often have pause and lock buttons (making them safer around children), while some models have inbuilt safety mechanisms to switch off automatically if there is a spill or an empty pot sitting on the stove.

Electric stovetops are placed into an appropriately sized hole on your bench top, and their installation will usually require an electrician, who should ensure that the installation is in accordance with Australian Standards. You should also talk to your electrician about the electrical work that may be required to perform an installation - because electricity connection upgrades may be needed if your home is connected to a 'single phase' supply. The costs of installing a stovetop can be included as part of the Energy Saver Loan Scheme, if installation is part of the transaction to purchase the stovetop.

Other appliances

Replacing older appliances may also help you to make savings. Appliances that can be financed with an Energy Saver Loan include fridges, freezers, clothes washing machines, clothes dryers, and dishwashers.

Talk with your supplier about which of these products are eligible.

They must appear on the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) Register to be financed with an Energy Save Loan.

They must also have minimum energy star ratings:

• fridges/freezers - 5.0
• clothes washing machines - 4.5
• clothes dryers - 6.0
• dishwashers - 4.5

Energy star ratings describe the energy efficiency of your appliance compared to other appliances of the same size. First choose what size appliance you want, and then use the energy star rating to compare models. The higher the number of stars on the energy rating label, the less energy the appliance will use, saving you money over the life of the appliance.

For more information about energy star ratings, visit energyrating.gov.au

For more information about how to read energy star rating labels, and about how to calculate the running costs of an appliance, visit energyrating.gov.au/label

At home charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) is now available through the Energy Saver Loan Scheme. Dedicated at-home charging is quicker than charging an EV through a standard 10 or 15 amp power point.

• Homeowners, small businesses, community organisations and landlords can apply for a loan to install an EV charger at their premises.
• The scheme will cover AC chargers only. DC fast chargers will not be covered.
• Installation of an EV charger must be carried out by a licensed electrician.
• If there is a need to upgrade the electrical connection to 3-phase power, the cost of this upgrade can be incorporated into your loan.
• EV chargers may be installed at an eligible property which is either an existing standalone residence or a strata titled property.
• Apartment owners would need to provide evidence of approval from their body corporate to install an EV charger.

You can seek quotes from a marketplace of approved product suppliers on Brighte's website.

Your preferred supplier will then give you a quote and refer you to Brighte, who can assess your application and creditworthiness.

If your application is successful, you can be given your loan.

(If you are a supplier and wish to participate in the Scheme, you can visit Brighte's accreditation page or write to sales@brighte.com.au)

Note that you will not be able to access a loan from Brighte directly. Funds provided by the Energy Saver Loan Scheme will be paid to your chosen accredited supplier by Brighte on your behalf - and you will make your repayments to Brighte (as the Energy Saver Loan Scheme administrator).

We strongly recommend that you shop around, obtain at least three quotes from different suppliers, compare what products are available, and negotiate on price to make sure that you are getting good value for money.

You can apply to Brighte for an interest-free loan of up to $10,000.

Participants may purchase energy efficiency products valued at more than $10,000 - with the amount over $10,000 to be financed separately by the customer.

Brighte will offer its standard commercial green loan in these circumstances, and participants can elect to take up that product or to finance the balance through other means.

Once you have been approved for a loan, your supplier will arrange for the installation of your product, and your energy savings can begin.

• Your supplier will let Brighte know when the installation of your product is complete.
• Brighte will send you an email or SMS asking you for confirmation.
• 28 days later, the repayment of your loan can start.

Visit Brighte to learn more.

For residential customers and landlords

Credit Approval

An applicant must satisfy the following criteria:

• be a permanent resident of Australia
• be 18 years of age or over
• have a credit score acceptable to the Contractor and clear credit file
• have a bank account or credit card in applicant’s name
• have a demonstrated capacity to repay
• have a demonstrated income verification
• provide suitable identification.

Eligible property requirements

Approved goods must be installed in a property which:

• is geographically located within Tasmania
• is either a standalone residence or a strata titled property and in the case of a strata titled property, the applicant must have all necessary approvals to install the approved goods, including from the relevant body corporate
• (in the case of a residential customer) is the applicant’s principal place of residence (and regardless of whether it is subject to a mortgage)
• (in the case of a landlord) is currently leased for commercial or residential purposes by the landlord.

Supply agreement

To be given a loan, an applicant must have evidence of an agreement with an accredited vendor for the supply and installation (where relevant) of the approved product at the eligible property.

For businesses and community organisations

Credit Approval

An applicant must satisfy the following criteria:

• have an Australian Business Number
• have a demonstrated capacity to repay
• if the applicant is a community organisation and the contractor requests it, the community organisation must provide to the contractor financial statements including a profit and loss statement and balance sheet which support its capacity to repay
• if the applicant is a small-to-medium enterprise, then a director’s personal guarantee may be required to secure the repayment of the loan (however, this is not required for an applicant that is a community organisation).

Eligible property requirements

• Approved goods must be installed in premises that are geographically located within Tasmania and which are owned or leased by the business or community organisation.
• An authorised officer of the organisation must confirm that:
  • all building and development approvals required by law have been obtained in respect of the property in which the approved goods are to be installed
  • if the property in which the approved goods are to be installed is:
    1. a strata titled property, all necessary approvals to install the Approved Goods have been obtained including from the relevant body corporate (as that term is defined in the Strata Titles Act 1998 (Tas); or
    2. leased by the Organisation, all necessary approvals to install the Approved Goods have been obtained from the owner of the premises.

Supply agreement

To be given a loan, an applicant must have evidence of an agreement with an accredited vendor for the supply and installation (where relevant) of the approved product at the eligible property.

Whether or not you are eligible for a loan, these resources may help you to use energy more efficiently, and the resultant energy savings are likely to bring benefits.

Home Energy Audit Toolkit

You may wish to talk to your local council about borrowing a Home Energy Audit Toolkit (HEAT). Many Tasmanian councils offer these on loan, free of charge. The Toolkit can help you assess your household energy use patterns and make changes to reduce energy use and save money. The kit contains tools to assess your energy use, including:

• An energy meter, which plugs into an ordinary three-pin plug and measures an appliance's energy consumption, when it's being used and when it's on standby.
• A stopwatch to measure flow rates in showers and sinks.
• A thermometer to measure temperatures in each room, in fridges and freezers, and of the hot water supply.
• Instructions on how to use the tools, and tips on how to take action once you have all the information.

To find your local council, visit this local government directory.

Tips and resources for reducing your energy use

• The ReCFIT website provides tips to make your home more energy efficient.
• The Australian Government website Energy Information and Services provides a broad range of information about saving energy, saving money and opportunities to access government rebates and other assistance.

Some questions to ask

Heating

• What sources of heating do you use already? What is your primary heater type?
• How much does it cost to heat your property annually?
• What insulation is already installed in your property?
• Do you have double glazed windows?

Hot water

• What type of hot water system do you currently have?
• How old is it?
• How much is it costing you to heat water annually?

Household appliances

• How old are your fridge, freezer, washing machine, clothes dryer, and dishwasher?
• What are the energy star ratings of your current appliances?
• Can you estimate how much it costs to run them?

Information on becoming accredited to participate in the Scheme can be found on Brighte's website for vendors or by writing to sales@brighte.com.au

Vendors may also wish to refer to the Vendor Participation Policy

Retailers of solar products will need to be an approved seller with the Clean Energy Council (CEC) to participate in the Scheme.

CEC approved seller status is linked to the CEC's Code of Conduct, which is authorised and overseen by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission – it gives potential customers the confidence that you supply quality products, comply with consumer protection laws, and will back the operation of the systems you sell well into the future.

Visit the Clean Energy Council website for more information

We strongly recommend that you shop around, obtain at least three quotes from different suppliers, compare what products are available, and negotiate on price to make sure that you are getting good value for money.

If you have any concerns with a vendor's sales practices, or concerns that a quote is excessive, you should raise your concerns directly with Brighte.

Door-knocking sales-practises are not allowed under the Scheme. They should always be reported.

Please note that ReCFIT will not at any time contact you and request your bank and account details, and that contact from any person claiming to represent the Energy Saver Loan Scheme should be treated as suspicious. Should you have any reason to think that the person you are speaking to is not a legitimate representative of ReCFIT or Brighte, then contact Brighte and report them.

You may also wish to refer to the Vendor Participation Policy.