4. Financial incentives

4.1 Climate Ready Infrastructure Grants

The Queensland Government will invest $800,000 and partner with local government to ensure that greenhouse gas reduction and climate change adaptation considerations are addressed in applications for state government grants for new infrastructure.

From July 2011, the Department of Infrastructure and Planning will introduce the initiative to its Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program.

The requirement to consider climate change implications in Local Government infrastructure projects is aimed at driving design changes that will deliver more energy and water efficient infrastructure than may have been delivered otherwise. This initiative will also assist Local Governments and small communities adapt to climate change by ensuring infrastructure developments are sited more appropriately to manage climate change impacts.

4.2 ecoBiz

ecoBiz is the Department of Environment and Resource Management's (DERM) signature partnership program with Queensland business and industry. The program assists businesses to identify efficiencies in waste, water and energy for financial and environmental benefits, using a process of identifying and measuring water, energy and material resource saving opportunities.

The ecoBiz program provides rebates of between $1,000 to $150,000 for implementation of innovative technologies by ecoBiz partners, and to support implementation of ecoBiz by groups of businesses.

In December 2008, a Small Business Edition (SBE) of the ecoBiz toolbox was released. SBE targets offices, shops and cafes, although it can also be used by a large range of commercial businesses that do not fit the industrial/manufacturing mould of the standard ecoBiz toolbox.

4.3 Solar Bonus Scheme (Feed-in tariff)

The Queensland Government Solar Bonus Scheme, which commenced in July 2008, pays households and other small customers for the surplus electricity generated from roof-top solar photovoltaic (PV) panel systems, that is exported to the Queensland electricity grid. The scheme is designed to make solar power more affordable for Queenslanders, stimulate the solar power industry and encourage energy efficiency.

The scheme rewards customers whenever they generate more electricity than they are using - not just the balance at the end of the quarter, but whenever generation exceeds consumption during the day.

Customers participating in the scheme are paid 44 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) for surplus electricity fed into the grid -- more than double the current general domestic use tariff of 18.84c/kWh (inc GST as at 1 July 2009).

4.4 Queensland Solar Hot Water Rebate

The Queensland Government has announced a new rebate for eligible householders who replace an electric hot water system with a solar hot water system or heat pump. The rebate is for systems purchased on or after 13 April 2010. The rebate scheme replaces the Queensland Solar Hot Water Program which ceased in February 2010.

Eligible householders mayapply for:

• $1000 for the installation of a solar hot water system or heat pump (for pensioners and low-income earners)
• $600 for the installation of a solar hot water system or heat pump

4.5 Low Carbon Diet Community Funding Program

The Low Carbon Diet is a flexible program that helps households and communities to reduce their carbon footprint by 2,000kgs in 30 days by undertaking simple low cost changes to their everyday lifestyles. Queenslanders can undertake the Low Carbon Diet as individuals, eco-teams (up to 8 persons) or as community groups.

For community groups, not-for-profit organisations and tertiary institutions, grants of between $2,000 and $10,000 are available to undertake the Low Carbon Diet and promote low carbon actions in their communities.