No rebate for you!
I finally got around to investigating the Government water saving rebate scheme, since our rain water tank is due to be commissioned tomorrow. Reading the Vic Government website, i was very excited to see we were eligible for $1000, due to the size of our tank, and that it is connected to 2 toilets and the laundry! So printed off the forms in glee....then read the fine print...
"Rainwater tanks connected to new houses that received a building permit after 30 June 2005 are not eligible for Tank Rebate 1 or Large Tank Rebate 2."
Doh! I was initially peeved, feeling cheated out of $1000. Why should it be any less water saving because we installed our tank at a new house, rather than an old one? I mean, it's not like we got a water tank, just so we could get the rebate...but i was feeling slighted and under appreciated for our efforts in water conversation.
I then went off and discovered that our new solar hot water system is ineligible for a rebate for the same reason. Double doh!
Then I thought about it some more. The rebate system is an incentive program...it obviously can't go on forever. Eventually we should all consider the installation of 'environment saving devices' to be second nature - something that you do automatically, because we care about water conservation and reducing carbon emissions.
I like to think of myself as one of those people now...someone who thinks it's natural to care for the environment and make these decisions. So i guess i have to be ok with not getting those rebates.
But there goes our new BlueRay player.
"Rainwater tanks connected to new houses that received a building permit after 30 June 2005 are not eligible for Tank Rebate 1 or Large Tank Rebate 2."
Doh! I was initially peeved, feeling cheated out of $1000. Why should it be any less water saving because we installed our tank at a new house, rather than an old one? I mean, it's not like we got a water tank, just so we could get the rebate...but i was feeling slighted and under appreciated for our efforts in water conversation.
I then went off and discovered that our new solar hot water system is ineligible for a rebate for the same reason. Double doh!
Then I thought about it some more. The rebate system is an incentive program...it obviously can't go on forever. Eventually we should all consider the installation of 'environment saving devices' to be second nature - something that you do automatically, because we care about water conservation and reducing carbon emissions.
I like to think of myself as one of those people now...someone who thinks it's natural to care for the environment and make these decisions. So i guess i have to be ok with not getting those rebates.
But there goes our new BlueRay player.