The government is making a $10,000 interest free green loan available to households wanting to make energy, water and waste saving improvements to their homes over the next 2 years.  The initiative is set to assist households wanting to ‘go green’ by providing simple advice and actions to save water, energy and waste as well as providing the capital for larger scale installations of water, solar and other energy efficient products.

The first step in obtaining your green loan is to complete a home sustainability assessment. These assessments provide households with a detailed sustainability report which gives advice on how each home can save water and energy based on their own personal consumption habits.  The results can be far ranging and the homeowner is under no obligation to follow through with any course of actions recommended.

Free of Charge Home Sustainability Assessments can be organised through Planet Green Solutions. Call the HSA hotline on 1300 760 131 to make an appointment.

Once you have received your HSA documentation, the next step is to contact one of the participating financial institutions that are program partners with the government to provide the interest free loan.  Only one green loan per household may be approved, although the loan can support multiple individual actions.

There are basic eligibility criteria for green loans are:

• Aged 18 or over
• An Australian citizen, permanent resident and/or an Australian registered charity
• The dwelling owner, a trustee or renter listed on lease
• Have a valid home sustainability assessment report
• Have an income below $250,000
• The house/property being assessed must:
• Have been completed and occupied for at least 12 months (not necessarily by the applicant)
• The Green Loan must be for actions recommended in the home sustainability assessment report as provided by an accredited assessor.

The following financial institutions have signed a Deed of Agreement with the Australian Government to develop Green Loan products.

• Australian Central Credit Union
• AWA Credit Union
• BDCU
• Community First Credit Union
• Heritage Building Society  
• Hunter United Employees' Credit Union        
• Maleny and District Community Credit Union               
• MECU    
• New England Credit Union
• Old Gold Credit Union
• Queensland Country Credit Union  
• Direct Credit Union            
• Victoria Teachers Credit Union

If you are interested in taking your first step towards a obtaining a green loan, free of charge ‘Home Sustainability Assessments’ can be organised through Planet Green Solutions. Call the HSA hotline on 1300 760 131 to make an appointment.