Mixed message in home rules: save the rain, waste the sun - National: "NSW renovators will be forced to comply with new water and energy efficiency standards from July, which are expected to save more than 200 million litres of water a year.
Extending the building sustainability index system (BASIX) to alterations and additions is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 13,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.
The savings forecasts are in new Department of Planning guidelines, which show how the scheme will apply to the 30,000 renovations done in NSW annually, including the addition of swimming pools and spas.
But as the State Government forces homeowners to save energy and water, the Federal Government has slashed solar power rebates to community organisations and schools and will phase out financial incentives for residential and commercial solar installations by the middle of next year.
The Australian Greenhouse Office, which offers rebates on the installation of photo-voltaic panels, quietly halved the maximum available to community organisations on January 1, from $8000 to $4000.
Rebates for homeowners - capped at $4000 since 2003 - will be gradually reduced until the program is closed next year, as will those for developers.
The small solar industry says the rebate has kept it going and fears stagnation if it ends before the Federal Government's new $75 million Solar Cities program begins. Under that initiative, four locations will be chosen to showcase solar technology and trial renewable energy policies.
The program limits benefits for solar use to the four as yet undecided urban locations, meaning individuals wanting to reduce their use of coal-fired energy elsewhere will face higher costs.
Costs will also rise for NSW homeowners build"