The Hon Kevin Rudd MP
Prime Minister
The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
Joint media release

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd today announced a new fast track process so that homeowners can start applying for free ceiling insulation immediately.

Through the Government’s $3.9 billion Energy Efficient Homes Package, households can now apply for one of the following upgrades from today:

The Homeowner Insulation Program. This installs free ceiling insulation (capped at $1,600) in the homes of eligible owner-occupiers.
The Low Emission Assistance Plan for Renters. This provides assistance of up to $1,000 for installing insulation in private rental properties.
The Solar Hot Water Rebate. This provides rebates of up to $1,600 for installation of solar hot water systems.
Today’s fast track guidelines make it even easier for Australian households to apply for this program.

By visiting the website people can check immediately whether they are eligible, arrange for a skilled tradesperson to do the work and send in their receipts for the rebate.

This package will eventually install ceiling insulation in around 2.7 million homes across the country.

The Rudd Government announced the $3.9 billion Energy Efficient Homes package on 3 February 2009 as part of the $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan.

Energy Efficient Homes has been welcomed by industry. It will create thousands of jobs in the manufacturing, distribution and installation of ceiling insulation and solar hot water systems during the global financial crisis.

Applicant and Application Requirements
To be eligible to obtain the assistance for early installation, the applicant must:

1.Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident aged 18 years or over; and

2. Be the owner and occupier (primary place of residence) of the dwelling where the ceiling insulation was installed at the time the ceiling insulation was installed; and

3. Not have been granted assistance under the Australian Government’s solar hot water rebate program since the rebate was increased to $1,600 on 3 February 2009; and be applying for re-imbursement of ceiling insulation installation between 3 February 2009 and the commencement of the program on 1 July 2009; and submit a correctly completed reimbursement application form attaching:
1. A copy of tax invoices from the purchase and installation of the ceiling insulation.
2. A copy of two quotes obtained that meet the specified quote requirements on page 3 of this booklet.

Those who self-organised their ceiling insulation between 3 February 2009 and the release of these early installation guidelines on 26 February 2009 are only required to submit a copy of their tax invoice from the purchase and installation of the ceiling insulation.

nominate a BSB number, bank account number and bank account name for the electronic payment of the assistance (these details can be found on your bank statement); and

lodge the reimbursement application form within six months (184 days) of purchase and installation of the ceiling insulation; and

arrange for the insulation to be installed by an authorised installer (see section 3 below) who must correctly complete and sign the Installer Technical Compliance section of the reimbursement application form; and

keep a copy of the completed reimbursement application form and the original quotes and proof of purchase documents (see important notices on Page 6); and

only apply for assistance under the program once (a single home is only able to be insulated once under the program and applicants can only apply for their primary place of residence).

For more information on the fast track application process please call SolarGen on 1300 676 527