The Bligh Government’s highly popular energy-saving ClimateSmart Home Service has reached its biggest milestone so far with the 100,000th household signing up this week.
Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones today joined ‘No One’ and at State Parliament to present the 100,000th customer - James Twaddel, of Deception Bay - with his prize of an LED 6-star energy efficient television.
Mr Twaddel lives in the electorate of the Member for Murrumba Dean Wells, who was also in attendance.
Ms Jones said ClimateSmart homes were better equipped in the war against power bills and climate change.
“These bill-busting homes will collectively save more than $23 million a year on power and water costs while also saving 1.2 million tonnes of greenhouse gas,” Ms Jones said.
“The greenhouse gas savings alone equate to taking more than 300,000 cars off the road for one year.
“Queenslanders’ take up of the service has been nothing short of remarkable. 100,000 homes signed up in just over eight months, equates to more than 400 homes each day.
“It shows the majority of people want to do the right thing and run their households more sustainably to reduce their carbon footprint.
“The average Queensland household contributes 13.8 million tonnes of greenhouse gas a year.
“This service is the centrepiece of our Government’s efforts to reduce that carbon footprint by one third by 2020.”
Mr Twaddel said he recently received a $720 power bill and thought he needed to get the ClimateSmart Home Service out to help.
“A friend had the service and is obsessed with the energy monitor,” Mr Twaddel said.
“We signed up for green power because we're trying to do the right thing, but there's only two of us so we don't know how we ran up such a bill. I knew I needed help to find out where we were going wrong - and that's why I booked.”
Member for Murrumba Dean Wells said during challenging financial times, the State Government service was a beacon to Queensland homes trying to stay on top of household budgets and power bills.
“The ClimateSmart Home Service is an opportunity for people to use the ground-breaking power monitor which gives households control of their power use and in turn their power bills,” he said.
“We have gauges in our cars to monitor our fuel consumption and we generally know what our phone calls are costing, yet most households had no idea how much their various appliances cost to run—now they do, which is a huge win for the hip pocket.”
Ms Jones said the ClimateSmart Home Service was Australia’s largest program aimed at residential energy efficiency and behavioural change.
“The service hands Queensland households up to $450 worth of power-saving equipment and advice for only $50,” she said.
“A licensed electrician will conduct an energy audit and install energy efficient equipment that can result in savings of up to $325 a year on power and water bills. The electrician will install a wireless power monitor, up to 15 free energy efficient light globes (CFLs) and where suitable, a free water and energy efficient showerhead.
“Customers also receive a personalised Energy and Water Efficiency Plan based on their individual energy usage habits and appliances plus access to My ClimateSmart Home, a website for even more customised energy savings advice.
“We aim to have more than 200,000 ClimateSmart homes in two years and we’re well on track to delivering on this target.”
For more information on the service visit www.climatesmarthome.com or call 13 20 40.
17 September, 2009
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