By Staff Writer

The Federal Government has opened up the solar hot water rebate to Victorians who lost their homes in the February bushfires.

The rebate is not usually available for people building new homes, but the Environment Minister Peter Garrett said he had made an exception for homes lost in the fires.

“This is another leg up to help these communities as they rebuild and it will have long-term environmental benefits as well,” Garrett said.

He said owners of the 2000 homes destroyed in the February 2009 bushfires, as well as the 1400 uninhabitable homes, would qualify for the solar hot water rebate.

The special arrangements for Victorian bushfire communities require that households: are rebuilding a home they lost in the fires; are installing a solar or heat pump hot water system that is eligible for at least 20 renewable energy certificates; and are also installing a rainwater tank at the property that meets the criteria for the Victorian five star building standards.

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