Ecovise is powered by 100% certified wind energy

Product Reviews

More Green Loan Alternatives….

May 26th, 2010

Several financial institutions now offer green loans to their customers.

Low Interest Green Loans can be used in many cases for:

Double glazing
Environmentally Friendly Vehicle
External Awnings
Greywater Treatment System
Insulation
Solar Hot Water Heaters
Solar Power (Photovoltaic)
Water Storage Tanks
White Goods & Appliances

Here’s a selection that are not tied in with the Government Green Loans program and offer low interest loans for green purchases:

Hunter United Credit Union Green Saver Loan :
Bendigo Bank – Generation Green Personal Loan
Savings and Loans – Green Personal Loan
Community First Credit Union
MECU – goGreen® home improvement loan
Community CPS Australia – Enviro Loans

As always, when selecting a bank or other financial institution for a green loan for solar power, be sure to read all the terms and conditions carefully before signing any contracts.

No comments »

Posted in Blog, Product Reviews, Promotions, Uncategorized

Tags: financial green loans institutions insulation low interest retrofit Solar

A Green Loan still exists!

April 21st, 2010

Community First have stepped up, after the Government cancelled the interest-free Green Loan subsidy. They reward you for going green by offering a low rate personal loan to assist you in making environmentally friendly purchases.

Generally, products with a 5 star environmental rating will qualify for our green loan. To see what products qualify, visit http://www.livinggreener.gov.au/take-action/save-energy/buy-energy-efficient-appliances/

Examples of products covered by our Green Loan product include:

Any vehicle with a 5 star environmental rating (View qualifying cars)
Solar hot water systems
Energy efficient white goods and appliances
Insulation
Rainwater tanks
Double glazing
Photovoltaic (PV) panels and systems
Grey water Treatment system.

A Community First green loan provides you with the following:

- A personal loan at our standard variable mortgage rate
- No monthly loan account keeping fees
- Additional payments allowed
- Redraw on your loan
- Ability to roll your loan in to a home loan at an even cheaper rate
- Loan terms from 1-5 years
- Loan amounts from $1,000 to $50,000

For more information or to apply see here

No comments »

Posted in Blog, Product Reviews, Promotions, Uncategorized

What does Ecovise mean anyway..?!

April 20th, 2010

Transitioning to a career in Sustainability has been a fun & inspiring journey… and a recent Government Initiative gave me the perfect opportunity to take things to the next level, & start my own business.

So here we are…

ecovise : [ee-co-viize] – verb

1. to learn new behaviours and purchasing options that improve the sustainability of your (home) environment

2. to improve efficiency and reduce wastefulness, resulting in monetary and ecological benefits.

The Press is filled with articles on how energy prices are rising dramatically, so this is really coming into peoples radar.

Ecovise can help you save money on your power bills and show you have to reduce your carbon footprint (+ more), and our service costs you NOTHING.

Claim your FREE Home Eco-Assessment, valued at $250… NOW!

WHY..?

It’s Free! (Government subsidised… For a limited time!)

...AND…

$ave on your power bills!
Improve the Thermal Comfort of your home, in summer, & winter!
Reduce your carbon footprint!
Increase the value & desirability of your home!
Receive a detailed Report with tailored recommendations!

Ecovise is an Accredited Provider of these Free Home Eco-Assessments under the Australian Governments Green Loans Program.

We look forward to meeting with you,

Chloe Evans

Director - Ecovise

1 comment »

Posted in Blog, Product Reviews, Promotions, Uncategorized

Tags: assessments ecovise free assessment home sustainability

Who Cares about the Environment in NSW?

April 20th, 2010

The findings of a survey of NSW people’s environmental knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in 2009, wsa published last month.

It found that Environmental issues ranked 5th as a priority at present, but 2nd as a priority for the future, after only the health system, and then ahead of education, public transport & roads.

The most common reason for concern was future generation, and 78% believed climate change is happening, with 69% thinking the NSW Government should take urgent action on the issue.

See here for a look at the Full and Summary Reports.

No comments »

Posted in Blog, Product Reviews, Promotions, Uncategorized

Tags: attitudes behaviours environment NSW survey

Facts & Tips – Standby Power :

April 20th, 2010

FACTS – Standby Power

Did you know…. an inefficient computer and monitor left on for a year will generate the same amount of carbon dioxide as a car travelling from Sydney to Perth?!

And…. it has been estimated that standby power costs Australians more than $950 million a year and accounts for around 10 per cent of household energy consumption.

TIPS – Standby Power

1) For those hard to reach plugs, you can buy handy power-point devises, like Timers or Remote Control Separate Switch 4 Plug Power Boards… I’ve got one, & it works a treat! See Standby Power Savers for more examples.

2) A screen saver does not use less energy.. Go to your Control Panel & adjust the settings so that your PC/Laptop goes into Standby mode when left for 10 minutes. Saving is as simple as making new auto-defaults…

3) Wondered how much it actually costs you in electricity to keep your TV on standby over night? Or your laptop on hibernate? Or your mobile phone charger always plugged in…? It’s much more motivating for many when the ‘real’ cost is understood….

Use this easy to follow Calculator to find out exactly how much your appliances are costing you to run! Ecovise Appliance Energy Cost Calculator

No comments »

Posted in Blog, Product Reviews, Promotions, Uncategorized

No more Green Loan – BUT 600,000 more free assessments

March 1st, 2010

In response to the political pressure mounting regarding the mismanagement of the Green Loans Program & Insulation Program, this Press Release was issued on Friday 19^th February

The interest-free Green Loan, available to facilitate the implementation of any larger scale ‘green’ actions in their home e.g. solar, rainwater tanks, new energy efficient appliances, has been replaced with an additional 600,000 free home assessments being offered Australia-wide.

The 360,000 assessments initially offered, where due to be completed within the next couple of weeks – 1.5yrs earlier than anticipated. This is a combination of:

There being several thousand more Assessors than originally planned (for with the Department of Energy, Water, Heritage & Arts has come under criticism), and
The popularity & value of the service as homes come under pressure from rising electricity costs.

Any householders who have had their assessment done, and were interested in the Green Loan, Ecovise strongly urge them to approach one of the participating lenders asap – before the 22^nd March cut-off! Finance Institutions

Ecovise is looking forward to reaching more households, as a result of the extension of the Free Home Eco-Assessment offering, and educating more homes on how to reduce their footprint (& lower their bills).
We also hope (& think) that Green businesses will respond by offering credit terms to their customers, so their products are still financially accessible.

Book a Free Home Eco-Assessment now.

No comments »

Posted in Blog, Product Reviews, Promotions, Uncategorized

Tags: Green Loan Scheme Interest Free Loan Peter Garrett Rainwater Tanks Solar The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme

Finally – A Clear Explanation of the CPRS

February 16th, 2010

The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme gets a fair amount of media coverage, but to the average householder, how much of it makes sense?! Kevin Rudd is for it – Tony Abbott is against it…. Then of all people Malcolm Turnbull stepped forward with what I’ve found to be the clearest explanation of what the CPRS is and the benefits it beholds.

See here for his a copy of Malcolm Turnbull’s speech on The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

No comments »

Posted in Blog, Product Reviews, Promotions, Uncategorized

Tags: CPRS Kevin Rudd Malcolm Turnbull The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Tony Abbot

Solar in NSW is the hot ticket right now

February 16th, 2010

NSW residents have a great opportunity open to them at the moment – and so now is the time to consider Solar PVs. The sooner you get onto the Scheme, the more benefit there is to reap, so keep reading…!

To answer all the main questions regarding the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme, see the link to the Frequently Asked Questions below.

Though the main key features of NSW Solar Bonus Scheme include:

It will credit customers with a ‘gross’ feed-in tariff rate of 60 cents per kilowatt hour for all the electricity that their eligible solar photovoltaic (PV) system or wind turbine generates, for the life of the Scheme – which commences on 1 January 2010 and operates for 7 years.
Solar PV systems and wind turbines up to 10 kilowatts in size will be eligible.
The Scheme will be reviewed in 2012, or when the installed capacity of renewable energy generators participating in the Scheme reaches 50 megawatts, whichever occurs first.

A gross feed-in tariff means that you can sell ALL electricity produced to by the panels, into the state’s power grid, and receive 60 cents per kilowatt hour – regardless of how much your home uses.. So you are saving & earning at the same time!