VICTORIAN ENERGY UPGRADES
What is a
VICTORIAN ENERGY UPGRADE
Important considerations before choosing your new system
Before investing in a new system, consider the
efficiency of your home. An efficient home will be
easier and cheaper to heat and cool.
• Are there draughts in your home?
• Do you have standard or high ceilings?
• Are your roof, walls, and floors insulated?
• Does your room have many single glazed
windows?
• How much sun or shade does your room
receive?
• How is your home constructed? E.g., brick or
weatherboard?
All these factors impact the amount of heating
and cooling your house may need.
Things to know about
VICTORIAN ENERGY UPGRADES
Types of reverse cycle air conditioners available
• Single-Split – one outdoor unit connected to
one indoor unit, suitable for a single room or
open plan area.
• Multi-split – one outdoor unit connected to
multiple indoor units, suitable for multiple
rooms or whole-of-home.
• Ducted – one central outdoor unit connected
to multiple indoor rooms through ducts and
vents, suitable for whole-of-home.
There is a range of systems eligible under the VEU
program. Not all products are of the same quality
or suitability for all households.
Remember to do your research on products and
warranties as they vary between manufacturers.
Which rooms need heating and cooling?
When considering a new reverse cycle air
conditioner, discuss the rooms you want heated
and cooled with your installer.
Ask yourself the following questions:
• What rooms do you heat or cool the most?
• What are the hottest and coldest rooms in
your home?
We recommend your new system covers primary
living spaces such as living rooms, lounges and
open plan living areas.
Also consider what rooms
are covered by your existing heating or cooling.
Recommended size for ducted systems
Ducted systems offer an effective way to heat and
cool your entire home, however, they can be more
expensive to install and run.
If you choose a ducted system, the right size
can depend on several factors and should be
discussed with your installer.
We recommend providing 1.1 to 1.4kW of heating
output for every 10m2 of your home covered by
a ducted system, depending on the individual
characteristics of your home.
Zoning – We recommend zones for your ducted
system. Zones allow more control over which areas
of your home to heat and cool.
Ducting – Speak to your installer to ensure your
new ducting is appropriately insulated and
correctly sized for your heating and cooling needs.
Recommended size for your reverse cycle air conditioner
Disclaimer: Sizing any heating and cooling system
should account for several factors and not only the
room size in square meters.
We recommend that
sizing and installation is always conducted by a
fully qualified technician.
The ‘size’ of a reverse cycle air conditioner refers
to its heating and cooling output. Products list size
in kilowatts (kW).
An important factor to consider
when sizing your new system is the size of the
space you want to heat or cool.
The table below provides a guide to the system
size you may need for a particular room size.
Victorian Energy Efficiency Target scheme consumer factsheet
The VEU is a voluntary Victorian government initiative that provides incentives for Victorians to make energy-efficient improvements to their homes and businesses. This helps cut power bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Eligibility
Every Victorian household and business can take part in the program and access discounted energy-efficient products and services. Your participation is voluntary.
Participating in the program is easy
Step 1. Look at the available products.
Step 2. Choose the products you wish to install to
reduce your energy costs.
Step 3. Engage an accredited provider. You need
to work with an accredited provider that is
authorised to install VEU energy-efficient
products. Accredited providers are also
responsible for organising a discount or
rebate for any products you choose to
install.
They will tell you:
• what products you can use
• who can install the products you choose.
Your rights under the VEU program
The VEU program has a Code of Conduct setting out minimum standards of behaviour aimed at protecting consumers. This applies to everyone involved in delivering or marketing upgrades.
Marketing activities
If an accredited provider or third party operating
on their behalf contacts you about the VEU
program they must:
• only market/sell VEU program upgrades
to you if you are over 18 years and able to
understand the information provided
• explain that the program is voluntary and you
do not have to take part
• explain how they got your address and why
they are visiting your house or business
• tell you what business they work for
• always wear an identification card that
includes a photo, their full name, contact
details, ABN, and main contractor details
• not use high-pressure tactics to sell or market
products or services
• provide accurate information about the goods
or services being provided and their quantity
• not say things that are false or deceptive
– this includes that they work for the
Victorian Government or the Essential
Services Commission, or that the Victorian
Government provides private contact
information (such as phone numbers) for the
purposes of marketing.
Contracts
If you are working with an accredited provider or a
third party operating on their behalf, they must:
• only enter into a contract with someone who is
18 years or older
• make sure they tell you about any work to be
done and you understand this before the work
is started
• give you information about your rights and
obligations under VEU program, as well as
the upgrade they are offering and a contract.
The contract should detail the product/
service, a quote and any additional fees,
decommissioning procedures, and cooling-off
periods
• tell you about and make sure you understand
any work to be done before it is started
• tell you who is installing the upgrade if you
choose to go ahead with a product or service
• provide a phone number for you to contact
the person or company installing the
upgrade.
Undertaking work
When starting work with an accredited provider or
a third party operating on their behalf, they must:
• only start work once you have given your
consent
• not start any work if they haven’t notified
you about the details of the job. This might
include the time and date, product/service
to be installed, and information of the person
undertaking the activity, such as their
accredited provider and contact details
• only talk to someone who is over 18 years
• give you, once the job has been completed,
their contact details so you can contact them
if required
• give you dispute resolution information and
any instructions and warranty information
for product/services installed.