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Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources. said:
"Not only will this initiative help reduce our energy and water consumption, but it will provide students and school communities with a practical demonstration of the sustainable use of energy and of water."

"The science tells us the world needs to make massive cuts to global emissions over the next fifty years. For practical purposes this will mean that by mid-century all or almost all of the world's electricity will have to come from zero or near-zero emission sources.

"Australia moved early on climate change with the establishment of the Australian Greenhouse Office over a decade ago and has already invested $2.8 billion on climate change action."

Australia's per capita emissions in 2004 were 4.5 times the global average, just behind the USA. Australia's carbon intensity of energy (amount of carbon burned as fossil fuel per unit of energy) was 20% higher than the world average, and 25% to 30% higher than the USA, Europe and Japan.

The Australian Government also announced a further investment of $627 million on climate change action, bringing the Government's total investment to $3.4 billion.

Funding of $252.2 million over five years will also be provided for up to 225,000 solar hot water rebates of $1,000 for households which install eligible solar and heat pump water heaters in their homes.

Mr Turnbull said:
"Energy used to heat water is the single largest source of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions from Australian homes, accounting for around 28 per cent of a home's energy use.

"By replacing high emission water heating technologies almost a million tonnes of greenhouse gases will be prevented from entering the atmosphere each year."

The Government will also provide $12.5 million over five years for collaborative research on future nuclear power technologies and additional funding of $26.1 million for a national emissions reporting scheme.