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Mr Mortlock said the issue is more poignant than ever after Australian voters voiced their support for climate change action at the Federal election this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have reached a point where the public values eco-friendly moves designed to help address climate action. Think global, act local as the saying goes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis extends to housing too with energy-rated design part and parcel of most building approvals.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnergy saving measures in investment properties result is more tenant appeal, so, higher rents, lower running costs, depreciation benefits and a cleaner planet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Mortlock outlined five moves property investors could make to help both the planet and their bank balance.<\/p>\n
Heating and cooling <\/strong><\/p>\n Warming and cooling are usually major carbon emitters, with air-conditioning systems and high-energy heaters all hurting the planet.<\/p>\n But there are moves you can make that will keep the environment happy.<\/p>\n Insulation to roof and wall cavities is an excellent start, for around $2000, you can have your ceiling blanketed and this can be claimed as a capital works deduction.<\/p>\n The installation of a ceiling fan helps too, and if it costs less than $301, the outlay is fully depreciable on your next tax return.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s window film which can keep out the heat in summer, a window tint will set you back between $50 and $100 per square metre in most instances and is a capital works deduction.<\/p>\n Power generation <\/strong><\/p>\n Going off-grid is a move many find appealing, and there are ways to create independent energy sources on a small suburban block.<\/p>\n Solar systems and battery storage are easy retrofits, while not cheap (a decent system installed will cost between $5000 and $15,000), they can be worth it.<\/p>\n Apart from being appealing to tenants, installing solar allows you to depreciate its cost by 10 per cent per year under the diminishing value method.<\/p>\n There\u2019s even the case for a wind turbine if your investment is an acreage.<\/p>\n A wind turbine costing around $2000 can generate formidable power, best of all, depreciation benefits based on an effective life of 20 years gives you another 10 per cent per year via the DV method.<\/p>\n Water collection <\/strong><\/p>\n Water tanks have been a staple in Aussie homes for decades, using tank water for toilets and washing machines makes sense.<\/p>\n Also, they keep the possibility of tenants having to pay excess water charges to a minimum and can mean a rent boost for the right property.<\/p>\n Water tanks can be installed and plumbed into a home for well under $10,000 and as of July 2019, rainwater tanks were listed by the ATO as a plant and equipment item.<\/p>\n This means that rather than a 2.5 per cent deduction, you get a whopping 40 per cent rate of claim!<\/p>\n