Renewable incentives thread

I thought it might be useful if we posted up information or links to incentives being offered for either installing renewable energy facilities or improving energy efficiency. If you could provide as much info as possible that would be great, including the country/state of the offer, duration etc.

I've made this a sticky topic so hopefully it will be a very useful resource.

In the UK the Clear Skies program has been succeeded by the Low Carbon Buildings Program

The scheme helps to fund things such as:

Solar photovoltaics
Wind turbines
Small hydro
Solar thermal hot water
Ground/water/air source heat pumps
Bio-energy
Renewable CHP
MicroCHP (Combined heat and power)
Fuel cells

You can find out a bit more about it here - http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org/about/

[GreenLady_UK]

"Ice Energy has forged a partnership with power generating company nPower to offer a £1500 grant on all domestic installations of heat pumps. The grant is not means tested and there is no obligation to use or purchase any npower products. As well has homeowners it is available to builders, developers, landlords and Housing Associations."

More details at http://www.iceenergy.co.uk/grant.asp

Cost with grant is about £4K, plus drilling or trench costs. This compares well with £3K quoted by British Gas to replace boiler, particularly when energy consumption of a GSHP can be as low as 1/4 of that of gas powered underfloor heating (radiators slightly less efficient) - or, when you take into account green 'leccy being twice the cost per KwH, half the annual cost and no annual servicing.

Low Carbon grant for GSHP is only £1,200, so this is a better option for this brand of GSHP.[/url]

[RuralGardener]

United States Alternative Energy Incentives...

http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/progs/in_matrx.cgi

[Andrea]

Ok, it's not so much a renewable incentive but Wobs mentions in this thread about homeowner grants for energy efficiency products.

http://www.jpsinformationservices.co...ner-grants.asp

[LMagic007]

OK this is just a concept rather than an actual scheme but thought it best go in this section, but happy for it to go anywhere.

Renewable Incentive Interest Rate model HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE ONLY

Well they just have to lower interest rates to help compensate for the higher cost of renewable solar power on houses roofs. If the average mortgage is $300,000 then lowering rates by 1% will save $3,000 per year so in 3 years without effecting demand in the new housing market they could simply lower interest rates by 1% for new housing and make it mandatory that every new house has solar panels. ( Either grid connect of battery backup systems. Add in Micro wind as an option.

For lack of a better measure, a 1kw generation capacity = 1% interest rate discount or whatever suitable. You can mix and match to suit, though best to keep it as simple as possible.

In 3 years you have recovered your money for a $9000 system via the discounted 1% interest rate. Plus add on to that the electricity savings over 3 years. If your average power bill is $1500 per year and you system saves 75% of power then you save an additional $1125 per year or $3375 over 3 years.

In year 4 onwards you continue to save because interest rates are kept low by keeping the incentive discount interest rate policy in place. Thus so you save $12,375 per year with combined energy and interest rate savings.

Demand for new housing is balanced as before and existing housing can apply for the rate discount if they install solar. A deal can be done between the Government, Reserve Banks and private banks.

If you paid cash for your home then you can probably afford solar.

This may sound economically controversial, but I think it makes good sense to me. You replace lower new housing demand caused by higher new house prices with mandatory solar systems, with lower rates to on average equal the net cash flow effect based on the average loan size.

You see interest rates mostly benefit the wealthy, because when rates are low the wealthy can borrow more to invest and lock in low rates and when rates are high the wealthy can get the best returns. The more money you have, the greater your discount when investing. You get treated better by the banks. Wealth is relative of course but I'm speaking the real wealthy, but that's another topic.

[genaman]

You See either one of those tecniques will cost you energy or money .
And anyone can do them IMagine?
If enough do them we would need to produce less energy?
Ah but our electric slaves would suffer.
And all thoose little nano bugs science keep making smaller. Why we would need less of them.
Oh Shucks, I just woke up folks . I now know it was all a wonderful dream.

Hey Maybe A Few Of You Might Want To Dream With Me And REUSE
genaman