Eco-friendly homes should get mortgage subsidies« Thread Started on Sept 9, 2007, 7:06am » --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Australia Democrats :Eco-friendly homes should get mortgage subsidiesPosted 3 hours 30 minutes ago read at source> http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/ ... 970.htmThe Democrats are urging the Federal Government to subsidise home loan repayments for people who increase their mortgage to make their homes eco-friendly.South Australian Senate candidate Ruth Russell says current incentives and rebates do not encourage enough people to install solar power and rainwater tanks.Ms Russell is calling for the Government and major banks to subsidise interest repayments for people who convert to sustainable energy.She says it currently costs about $30,000 to convert a house to solar power."If people have to borrow that and put it on with interest rates, many just could not possibly afford it," she said."But if they could have free interest it could be a benefit letting it go through for them and it could be a huge saving for South Australia."