NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam and Shadow Environment Minister Michael Richardson today announced a NSW Liberal/Nationals Government will provide families a rebate of up to $1,000 to install a solar hot water system in their homes.

“We need to think globally and act locally when it comes to tackling climate change in NSW,” Mr Debnam said.

“If elected Premier, I will immediately take action to begin addressing climate change in NSW, starting with the family home,” he said.

“Electric water heating is the single largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions in the average home. I want to help families to make the switch to solar hot water so they can save energy, save money and reduce their impact on the planet.

“I will encourage families to install solar hot water systems in their new and existing homes by providing financial incentives, specifically:

• Provide a $500 rebate for families installing a solar hot water system in a new home; and,

• Provide a $1,000 rebate for families replacing a peak electric hot water system with a solar hot water system in their existing home.

“I will reward residents, families and communities for doing their bit to tackle the state’s problems and challenges,” Mr Debnam said.

“We need to better manage our state’s water and energy resources, ensuring the NSW Government provides the strong leadership and incentives in this area that the community expects.

“The NSW Liberal/Nationals have already committed to increasing the rainwater tank rebate to $1,500 – we now need to turn people’s attention to energy consumption.

“Currently in NSW there are around 448,800 peak electric hot water systems and just 64,000 solar hot water systems – we need to turn those figures around if we’re serious about addressing climate change in this state.

“By installing a solar hot water system each NSW family can reduce energy consumption for heating purposes by up to 75%, prevent up to 4 tonnes of greenhouse gases entering our atmosphere and slash their household energy bill by as much as $400.

“I want to empower NSW households to make a positive environmental change to their lifestyle which will help save our planet as well as helping families save money.

“If we replace 50,000 peak electric systems and install 17,000 solar systems in new homes, NSW can stop 250,000 tonnes of C0₂ emissions from entering our atmosphere every year – the equivalent of taking up to 50,000 cars off the road.

“When it comes to climate change, the one thing everyone can agree on is that the greatest risk to the planet comes if nothing changes.

“It’s also the greatest risk facing voters in the upcoming NSW state election: if nothing changes, things will simply continue to get worse.”

Mr Richardson said the Iemma Labor Government had failed to help NSW families help the environment.

“Instead of spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’ dollars on expensive television advertisements about wind power, Labor could have been providing financial incentives for families to make the switch to solar hot water,” Mr Richardson said.

“When it comes to the environment, the Iemma Labor Government is all spin and no substance,” he said.

“By achieving our solar hot water targets, a NSW Liberal/Nationals Government will double the number of homes using solar hot water.

“If more families are encouraged to take up the NSW Liberal/Nationals rebate offer it will also ease the pressure on our electricity grid, which is crumbling due to Labor’s shameful lack of investment.

“A Debnam-led NSW Liberal/Nationals Government is committed to tackling climate change house by house,” Mr Richardson said.

Mr Debnam said now was the time for NSW to make the change necessary to ensure a better future.

“After twelve years of Labor, its time NSW stood up and led the way on climate change,” he said.