Solar panels and efficient appliances help people to save money as well as help the environment. To help rate payers on the Peninsula, the MPS Council is making it easier to purchase and install these products. This follows the MPS Climate Emergency Plan.

The Program is open to all Mornington Peninsula Shire rate payers until June 2022.

You will have free access to:

• AEF’s comprehensive Energy Advice Service offering, available over-the-phone, email and through the Bulk Buy website. AEF Energy Advisors provide personalised advice on which products are most suitable for your needs and budget.
• Obligation-free quotes from trusted and vetted suppliers, for hot water heat pumps, reverse cycle air-conditioners, and solar panels.
• Assistance with applying for available state and federal rebates, to help you save more!
• Six information sessions to learn about the energy efficiency products on offer and how to create a comfortable and safe home.

Nearly every roof in Australia is suitable for solar panels, but there are certain conditions which can cause the panels to not work as well or can increase the installation cost. Every roof material is suitable for solar except for slate because it is so fragile. Some things to check when considering solar are roof type, space (ideally 25 to 35m2), roof slope, strength, orientation and shade. More information can be found in AEF’s Solar Guide.

Prices will vary depending on the type of house. An installation cost of $277 will be added to a two-storey house and tiled roofs will incur a cost of $160.

Heat pump water heaters extract heat from the air to heat your water. They are highly efficient, using only about 25% of the energy of a conventional electric system; costing only around $120 a year to supply a typical household’s hot water needs. In comparison, electric hot water costs around $440 and gas around $270, or around $550 including the gas daily supply charge. An added bonus is if you have Solar PV, you could further slash hot water running costs by timing your heat pump to operate during daylight hours!

The Bulk Buy products are on the approved products list for an eligible Solar hot water Rebate of up to $1,000 to deduct from the quoted price. 

Traditional solar hot water systems use one or two roof-mounted flat plates or a set of tubes to directly soak up heat from the sun and pass it to a hot water tank. These days, for most Victorian households a hot water heat pump (HWHP) is a better option because among other factors it avoids tricky plumbing on the roof and doesn’t require a supplemental heater to run during cloudy weather. It also saves roof space for solar panels to generate electricity. HWHPs and traditional solar hot water systems save a similar amount of energy, but the HWHP’s remaining energy consumption is more consistent through the year.

Reverse cycle air conditioners (RCAC) are efficient because they use heat pump technology which can extract heat found in ambient air and move it either inside your home to keep it warm in winter, or outside to keep your home cool in summer. An RCAC is now the most economic and cleanest heating option thanks to new, more efficient technology and rising costs for other heating methods. Upgrading to a new energy-efficient model will help you stay warm in winter and cool in summer while paying less on electric bills, and reduce the stress on the electricity grid during heat waves.

From July 2021, eligible households with combined income of less than $90,000pa can apply for a $1,000 rebate on RCAC from Solar Victoria. Find out if an upgraded system is right for you through information on AEF’s website.

A “split system” air conditioner is a common type with an indoor unit and a separate outdoor unit. Typically, the indoor unit is mounted high on a wall and connected to the outdoor unit via pipes through the wall. A “multi split” has more than one indoor unit connected via pipes to a single outdoor unit, making the installation more compact. The other main type of air conditioner is a “ducted system” with a large central unit supplying heated or cooled air to many rooms via air ducts. A ducted system has some advantages but is more expensive to run because it’s less efficient.