Townships bask

TOWNS in Cardinia and Casey shires will be transformed into solar neighbourhoods, with panels being offered to residents thousands of dollars below the regular price.
People living in Pakenham, Officer, Beaconsfield, Berwick, Narre Warren and Narre Warren North can reduce their household emissions – and save on their electricity bills – under the green scheme.
Home owners earning under $100,000 can install a 1kv solar panel system for $1895, provided 50 residents take up the offer, courtesy of a Federal Government means-tested rebate.
Those earning over that amount can have the panels installed for $9895 – still thousands below the usual cost.
The two councils are working with private company Rezeko to offer residents the heavily reduced solar photovoltaic installations.
Casey-Cardinia solar neighbourhood co-ordinator Rob Campbell said home owners who installed the solar panels could reduce their household emissions by two tonnes a year and save about $215 off their electricity bills each year.
“With the new feed-in tariff, home owners will be making a profit off their panels within six to seven years,” Mr Campbell said.
“Further, the installation will immediately add approximately $14,000 to the value of their home.”
Cardinia Shire councillor Collin Ross said: “I encourage people, if they are in a good enough financial position, to look at installing solar electricity while the Federal Government rebate is on offer (until June 30).”
The Casey-Cardinia Solar Neighbourhood solar panel offer ends on 23 March. For details call Rob Campbell on 0401 842 738.