“Schools still have time to apply for funding under the Coalition government’s model, where schools were eligible to spend up to $50,000 on a combination of rainwater tanks and solar hot water systems to help tackle climate change,” Mrs Hull said.

“Many schools have already entered into contracts for works to install rainwater tanks and solar hot water services on their buildings, saving significant amounts of water and energy and shrinking their environmental footprint and I encourage other schools to now apply.

“The Labor government’s revised scheme is to be called the National Solar Schools program and it will maintain funding to schools of $50,000 but will limit expenditure on rainwater tanks to $30,000.

“The remaining $20,000 in funding may be spent on solar panels and alternative energy generation systems.

“Unfortunately school principals and the school communities will have less flexibility to meet their unique environmental circumstances under the new program, so I would urge schools to apply for a Green Voucher as soon as possible.”

Mrs Hull said further information is available by logging on to http://www.environment.gov.au/pro grams/greenvouchers/register/inde x.html, emailing greenvouchers@nrm.gov.au or by phoning 1800 020 625.