Dux Hot Water supports Government push for reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Queensland State Manager of Dux Hot Water, Mark Lydiard, says the company has a range of products to comply with new legislation under the Queensland Development Code requiring the installation of hot water systems with low greenhouse gas emissions.

Dux Hot Water is encouraging Queensland plumbers and builders to install greenhouse-friendly hot water systems through a number of industry initiatives.

The company has initiated an intense workload of industry training sessions in anticipation of increased demand for more efficient hot water systems following the announcement of new Queensland State building regulations for implementation 1 March, 2006.

The new legislation under the Queensland Development Code requires the installation of hot water systems with low greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to new regulations concerning water conservation and energy-efficient lighting.

"Hot water systems for new homes will need to be solar, heat pump, or five-star-rated gas water heaters and Dux Hot Water is always available to help its customers manage this transition," said the Queensland State Manager of Dux Hot Water, Mark Lydiard.

"For Queensland it is a big change since around 80 per cent of the market is currently made up of electric hot water systems.

"Compared to Victoria and New South Wales, Queensland's coverage of reticulated natural gas is relatively low, so a lot of builders and home buyers will look to solar and heat pump options in order to meet the legislative requirements."

Queensland's legislative changes apply to all new Class 1 building constructions, such as detached houses, townhouses or villa units.

Solar hot water systems and heat pumps fitted to these dwellings must now - depending on the number of bedrooms - achieve a minimum rating under the Federal Government's Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) scheme.

"If the home has three bedrooms or more, the hot water system must earn at least 22 RECs, and if it is a one or two-bedroom dwelling, at least 14 RECs," said Mr Lydiard.

The government hopes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new dwellings by at least two-thirds with the installation of environmentally efficient systems.

"Using a solar or electric heat pump hot water system will reduce energy use by 33 per cent in new houses, reducing impact on the environment and saving householders about $200 a year on energy bills," said Ms Desley Boyle, Queensland Minister for Environment, Local Government, Planning and Women.

Ms Boyle says gas water heaters will also reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent, although household savings would not be as much as $200 per year.

Dux Hot Water has a range of products to comply with the new code such as the SUNPRO solar range, including SUNPRO gas 305, in addition to the HEATPRO heat pump, its five-star gas storage water heater, PRODIGY, and its five-star continuous-flow gas water heater, ENDURANCE.

"There is no one solution that fits all and that is what we are teaching at our workshops," said Mark Lydiard.