Green Start loses its spark in red tape

LIKE so many government initiatives, there's little doubt the people behind the Green Start program had their hearts in the right place.

In November, federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett announced Green Start to ''improve the energy and water efficiency of low-income and disadvantaged Australian households''.

The rationale behind the $130 million scheme was noble. Low-income households can't afford to buy efficient new devices, so Garrett's department promised ''intensive hands-on assistance to overcome barriers and implement affordable energy and water-efficiency measures''.

The minister was effusive when launching Green Start. ''Low-income earners spend a higher proportion of their weekly household budget on energy and water, making these Australians particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change,'' he said. ''This program will arm people and households with greater knowledge and a range of resources to help them reduce energy and water costs.''

Green Start's core promises included ''free supply and installation of energy and water-efficiency products such as tap aerators, pipe insulation, efficient light bulbs, low-flow showerheads, draught proofing, seals for fridges, doors and windows, grey water hoses and compost bins''.

The devil is, of course, in the detail, and it appears the government's definition of ''hands-on assistance'' doesn't extend to someone getting their hands dirty.

The tender deadline for Green Smart expired on January 14. According to several involved in that process, none of the $130 million is slated to reach licensed electricians and plumbers, as the government is gun shy after rorting of its free insulation scheme.

The nation's disadvantaged households will instead have to deal with a ''Green Start program broker'', who will then put them in touch with a ''Green Start household assessor'', who will then ''open the door to a range of practical steps householders can take to reduce their energy and water bills''.

Sadly, they won't be opening the door to a plumber or a sparky. ''It is our understanding that qualified tradespeople will not be used as part of the Green Start program,'' said Stu Norman, Victorian manager of EcoSmart Electricians.

Non-profit EcoSmart is run by the National Electrical and Communications Association.

''We would welcome the use of electricians, especially those trained in energy efficiency, to provide sustainable solutions as part of this or other government programs,'' Norman said.

Another that would have benefited from Green Smart is Collins Street-based Green Invest. Listed Green Invest operates the nationally accredited Green Plumbers program, as well as a company called Green Professionals, but it didn't even respond to the Green Start tender.

''While Green Invest did not directly respond to the tender, it has offered its auditing services to a number of program brokers who answered the Green Start tender,'' said executive director Ron Lunt.

''Green Invest is well positioned to provide home sustainability assessors for the sustainability sector, as well as trained electricians and plumbers where retrofit to environmentally friendly products is required.''

But, in the words of one disgruntled tenderer, Green Start amounts to ''free light bulbs and a showerhead''. Even if all 250,000 low-income households apply to the $130 million scheme, that's $520 per household.

A price check with Bunnings revealed that a WELS three-star-rated showerhead costs $21.90, while energy-efficient light bulbs cost $9 for a pack of three. ''If you get a letter from Yarra Water, and bring along your old showerhead, we will swap it for free,'' a staff member told Collins & Spencer.

The tradies are fuming, but at least we get a new joke for all that taxpayer money: How many Green Smart program brokers does it take to change a light bulb?