Almost a quarter of energy use in NSW homes is used for heating and cooling. By keeping your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter, ceiling insulation means air-conditioners and heaters can be used more efficiently, saving money and greenhouse gas emissions.

What is the Ceiling Insulation Rebate?

The Ceiling Insulation Rebate is part of the NSW Government's $340 million Climate Change Fund established to help households, business schools and government save energy and water. The Ceiling Insulation Rebate is available to help householders cover the cost of installing ceiling insulation in their homes.

How do I apply for a rebate?

To apply for a rebate, you need to have purchased and installed eligible insulation on a residential property between 1 October 2007 and 30 June 2009. You will need to read and agree with the Terms and Conditions of the rebate program, then send a completed application form and supporting documents (such as receipts) to:

NSW Climate Change Fund
Ceiling Insulation Rebate Program
PO Box A290
SYDNEY SOUTH   NSW   1232

How does this program sit with insulation rebates offered by local councils?

Some local Councils offer rebates for householders to install insulation and increase the energy efficiency of their homes. You can apply for these council rebates without your State Government rebate being affected. Contact your local council for more information.

Can I claim both the Federal Government rebate and the ceiling insulation rebate?

Because the Federal Government’s insulation rebate covers the entire cost of installing ceiling insulation, up to $1,600, the NSW Government rebate will end, as scheduled, on 30 June 2009. We will be coordinating with the Commonwealth between now and 30 June 2009 to ensure that no-one receives more than the cost of their insulation through the rebate schemes.

Rebate eligibility

Am I eligible for a NSW Government Ceiling Insulation rebate?

A full list of eligibility criteria can be found in the Terms and Conditions. Some important criteria are:

• The property must be residential and in NSW

• The insulation must be new

• The insulation must be fully purchased and installed after 1 October 2007

• The insulation must cover the entire ceiling area of the property

• The insulation must meet the minimum R-value for your climate zone

What are the terms and conditions of the rebate?

See Terms and conditions
The Terms and Conditions are also attached to the application form (07433CIRform.pdf,  444KB, requires Acrobat Reader)

How much is the rebate?

The rebate is 50% of the total installed cost of ceiling insulation for each eligible property, up to a maximum of $300.

How long will this rebate be available?

The NSW Ceiling Insulation Rebate will be available until 30 June 2009. It is not being extended beyond this time because the Federal Government’s insulation rebate covers the entire cost of installing ceiling insulation.

DECC reserves the right, at its sole and absolute discretion and at any time, to change any or all of the terms and conditions of the rebate program or to cancel the rebate program prior to 30 June 2009.

Is there a limit to the number of rebates I can apply for?

Yes. The NSW Government will only pay one insulation rebate per residential property.

When will I get my rebate?

You should receive your rebate cheque within 60 days of DECC receiving your application, subject to verification of meeting the rebate requirements.

Can I get a rebate if my insulation was purchased before 1 October 2007?

No. The rebate scheme is not retrospective. Only ceiling insulation purchased and installed on or after 1 October 2007 is eligible for a rebate.

Can I get the rebate before I install the insulation?

No. To claim the rebate you must have already purchased and installed the insulation. The dates of both purchase and installation must be after 1 October 2007.

Can I claim a rebate for insulation in a newly built house?

No. Insulation installed to comply with BASIX (the Building Sustainability Index) for new homes is not eligible for a rebate.

Can I claim a rebate for insulation for my newly renovated area of the house?

Insulation installed to comply with BASIX (the Building Sustainability Index) for major renovations is not eligible for a rebate. Partial ceiling insulation is not eligible for the rebate.
If you have undertaken minor renovations which were not subject to BASIX you may apply for the rebate for the renovated section of the house providing the rest of the house is already insulated.

Why is only ceiling insulation eligible?

If a home is not insulated at all, ceiling insulation is the easiest type of insulation to install as a ceiling is more easily accessible than the walls or floor of a home. 
During winter ceiling insulation offers the most benefit for an uninsulated home as it will trap the warm air rising through the home and prevent it escaping through the ceiling and roof.  During summer, if foil insulation is installed in the ceiling or roof, it will reflect heat away from the home or reduce radiant heat being emitted into the home.

Why do I have to install insulation across the whole ceiling?

To achieve the greatest benefit from insulation, it needs to be installed across the whole ceiling area. Insulation works by acting as a barrier to heat flowing in and out of the house. If only part of the ceiling is insulated heat can flow in and out through the un-insulated areas. Likewise, if insulation is not installed correctly, then heat can escape through holes or gaps, reducing the effectiveness of the insulation.

Do I need to have the insulation professionally installed?

No, however it is recommended that your new insulation is installed by a professional to ensure maximum performance. If it is not fitted correctly, you can lose up to 50% of the potential insulation benefits. Using a professional installer will also ensure the most appropriate insulation for your home is selected and health and safety considerations are addressed such as clearance around electrical fixtures and prevention of condensation.

How long must the insulation be in place?

The ceiling insulation must continue to be in place in your ceiling for five years after the receipt of the rebate. This is to ensure continued energy and greenhouse gas savings.

Will my insulation need to be inspected?

DECC reserves the right to inspect the ceiling insulation at any time, with appropriate notice to the homeowner, to ensure the insulation meets the rebate requirements.

Where can I get insulation?

Look in the Yellow Pages under Insulation to find a supplier who can help you. In order to assess the best option for you, we recommend contacting several suppliers for quotes.
A good source of further information about insulation is the Your Home Technical Manual, administered by the Australian Greenhouse Office.

What are the different types of ceiling insulation?

There are two major types of ceiling insulation - bulk insulation and reflective foil.
Bulk insulation can be batts, loosefill, blanket and foamed, and can be made of materials such as glass fibre, rock wool, wool, polyester, cellulose fibre or polystyrene.
Reflective foil insulation can be reflective foil or segmented foil. Insulation materials can also be a combination of bulk insulation with reflective foil on either side.

What is Australian Standard AS/NZS 4859.1:2002?

This is the Australian Standard that ensures the quality of ceiling insulation. It is important that your insulation meets this standard to ensure its effectiveness and safety. The standard should appear on the packaging of the insulation, and you can also check with your insulation supplier.

What do I need to include with my application to show my insulation meets the Australian Standard?

The insulation you purchase and install must meet the Australian Standard for insulation materials (AS/NZS 4859.1:2002). To demonstrate the insulation meets this standard, you can provide the CodeMark certification or ComformanceMark from the product. If the product does not have a CodeMark or Conformance Mark, you will need to provide the part of the packaging of the product that clearly states it meets AS/NZS 4859.1.

What is a CodeMark?

A CodeMark Certificate is evidence that an insulating material has met the compliance requirements of the Building Code of Australia in relation to insulation. This is the highest level of certification and validates that the product also meets AS/NZS 4859.1.

What is a Conformance Mark?

A Conformance Mark is evidence that the product has been independently certified for compliance with AS/NZS 4859.1. If a product has been independently audited and certified it should have a Conformance Mark on the packaging.

What are R-values?

Insulation is characterised by its R-value which is its thermal efficiency or its resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value number, the higher the insulation's thermal efficiency.

If you have installed bulk insulation, you will need to meet a minimum Added R-value. This value should be written on the packaging and you must provide evidence with your application.

If you have installed reflective foil insulation, you will need to meet a minimum Total R-value. Total R-value is the sum of the R-values of the individual materials within the ceiling and roof space. These may include building materials, insulation material, airspace and associated surface resistances. You will need to determine the Total R-value for your home, or ask your supplier and/or installer to help you.

What do I need to include with my application to show my insulation meets the minimum required R-value?

For bulk insulation, the Added R-value should be written on the packaging of the product you purchase. You will need to cut out the label of the packaging that the R-value is written on, and include this with your application.

If you are installing foil insulation you need to determine the Total R-value for the whole ceiling and roof space. This will include the R-values of the other materials within the roof space as well as type of roof design, ventilation and emittance of the reflective surface.

If you use an installer, they will need to provide you with the Total R-value that has been determined for your ceiling, and you will need to provide this with your application. 

Application form

Why do you need to know my council area?

We need your council area to determine the minimum R-value required to be installed in your area.
Information may also be provided to local councils about the number and type of insulation installed in their area under the rebate program. This will help councils with planning future programs addressing energy efficiency.

Why do you need to know the number of people in my home?

The number of people in a household often affects the amount of energy used to heat or cool a house. This information will be used to estimate the energy savings from the installation of insulation under the Ceiling Insulation Rebate scheme.

Why do you need to know if I already have wall or floor insulation installed in my home?

The level of insulation in a household has a large impact on the household's energy use. Knowing what types of insulation are in your household will help us estimate the energy savings resulting from this rebate program.

Why do you need to know about the heating and cooling in my home?

Heating and cooling account for nearly a quarter of household energy use. Knowing how you heat and cool your home will help us estimate the energy savings resulting from this rebate program.