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Green Loans About to Begin! |
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Tuesday, 09 June 2009 10:41 |
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Environment Minister, Peter Garrett said Australian homeowners will be able to make their homes more energy and water efficient with 1000 home sustainability assessors ready to begin work and credit providers signed up to commence the rollout of the Green Loans Program from July 1.
“Through Green Loans we are making it easier for 360,000 Australian homeowners to learn what they can do to make their homes more energy efficient from an accredited assessor.”
“The fact is that for many households the assessor will identify simple, low-cost actions like changing light globes, sealing draughts and repairing leaking taps.”
“However, there will also be larger-scale recommendations, many of which can now be adopted at a reduced or zero cost thanks to the Government’s unprecedented investment in energy efficiency – namely installing solar PV or solar hot water or ceiling insulation. Solar hot water and insulation are two of the most cost effective energy efficient changes households can make.”
“And now, with the launch of Green Loans, we’re also providing the opportunity for householders to access up to $10,000 for other alternate changes, enabling them to be well and truly equipped for a low pollution future.”
Mr Garrett said in light of the Government’s $4 billion investment in energy efficiency, lower interest rates and major shifts in the global financial markets, some changes had been made to the scheme to ensure that it is better focused: - Household assessments for 360,000 households will now come at zero cost and will no longer be tied to the loan.
- Loans of up to $10,000 will now be interest free for the first four years
- The Government will reduce the number of loans available to 75,000 over the five year life of the scheme.
“With more than 300,000 households now able to access the solar hot water rebate and 2.9 million homes eligible for free ceiling insulation and more solar panels going on more roofs than any other time in the nation’s history, these are sensible changes to the Green Loans program which acknowledge that many homeowners won’t need a loan to make big changes to improve their energy efficiency.
“Trained assessors will begin providing free in-home assessments and advice on heating, cooling, lighting, hot water and water efficiency in every capital city and two regional locations from next week. Loans and the full program will commence nationwide from July 1.
“I am pleased to announce the first five of our financial partners: Melbourne based winner of a 2005 Banksia Award MECU, the largest community based financial institution in Sydney and the Central Coast Community First Credit Union, Queensland’s Maleny Credit Union, industry based Old Gold Credit Union Co-op and the latest to sign up is the New England Credit Union with over 60,000 members in New South Wales.
“My Department is also in negotiations with a number of other financial providers and I expect to be able to announce further details soon.”
Minister Garrett said home owners wishing to participate in the Green Loans Program follow three steps:
1. Register for a free home sustainability assessment
2. Receive your tailored home sustainability assessment report
3. Choose your home sustainability actions which may include applying to a financial partner for a Green Loan.
For more information on the Green Loans Program please call Scott at SolarGen on 1300 676 527
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Green Loans Update-Launch date early July 09 |
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Tuesday, 09 June 2009 10:35 |
The Sydney Green Loans meeting was well attended by all training organisations. The important points are as follows
GREEN LOANS - GENERAL INFORMATION.
- Green Loans program is alive and well (contrary to some reports in yesterday’s press).
- The Green Loans Home Sustainability Assessment program will become the national benchmark for all home assessments.
- The Government sees this program as a creator of sustainable jobs and a national asset.
- DEWHA is looking for certainty of quality assessments and a high volume of assessments!
ASSESSOR ACCREDITING ORGANISATION
The first organisation has been offered a contract as an Assessor Accrediting Organisation - it is ABSA.
ASSESSMENT SOFTWARE
The HSA software is still under development by the CSIRO.
Alan Pears (Adj Prof of Sustainability at RMIT) is also working on the project.
The questions to be asked by the HSA are currently under review and should be finalised shortly.
The householder self assessment will not be available for the first few months, so HSAs will be able to claim $150 for the assessment and $50 for the self-assessment (plus any relevant travel allowances).
The software will continue to be developed over a period of time.
CONTRACTS
The DRAFT assessor contract has been uploaded onto the website.
Contracts with DEWHA will be with INDIVIDUALS - not companies.
Individuals will then nominate a bank account into which funds can be deposited by DEWHA for assessments conducted.
The timelimit for the assessment has been removed from the website.
BOOKING SYSTEM
A booking system package has been selected and will be implemented to support the program.
A call centre will provide backup and access to the scheme for householders without web access.
The HSA may return to the household to offer services once the contract with DEWHA has been completed,
BUT THE ASSESSMENT MUST BE INDEPENDENT OF COMMERCIAL INTEREST.
There are a number of State Government programs that lend themselves to a bi-lateral service.
Unless this has been pre-approved by DEWHA and the State Government, auditors MUST NOT provide another service whilst conducting the HSA.
Green Renovation Pack (replacing CFLs and shower roses) has been replaced with a voucher system.
You will not be replacing CFLS and shower roses.
Auditors will not be involved in the voucher system, they will be sent directly to the householder with their report.
CEILING INSULATION
Auditors are NOT required to assess a ceiling to view insulation. However, DEWHA will not prohibit auditors from doing so.
Clearly there are issues about ladders, safety, insurance, etc. We will have these ironed out before the next 2 day training.
HSA TRAINING COURSE
The HSA course will ultimately become an accredited course (possibly Certificate IV).
You will be given recognition of prior learning for the training completed with us.
DEWHA will not restrict the number of HSAs that are being trained around Australia.
MARKETING Of SERVICES
Green Loans Program is a BRAND owned by the Commonwealth.
CLARITY
Assessors will be known as Home Sustainability Assessors - not a GREEN LOANS Assessor.
AUDIT SERVICES
Services will be audited by an independent auditor from time to time.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
This new profession will have its own accrediting body (in the first instance ABSA), they will develop a number of CPD (continuing professional development) units to keep you up to date. Other organisations can also develop CPD units and offer them to you commercially.
PILOT PROGRAM
The pilot will be approximately 2 weeks only.
It will be in 2 or 3 locations, certain postcodes only. The post codes have not yet been announced.
The booking system will be in place, HSAs IN THE SELECTED POSTCODE AREAS, can offer their services.
They will need to become accredited, sign a contract with DEWHA and then conduct their business for a 2 week window.
The HSA will record information into a booklet which will then be forwarded to DEWHA.
The HSA will be paid as per the schedule of fees.
Research institutes will then interview households to determine their effectiveness.
POTENTIAL RESTRICTIONS ON POSTCODE
Whilst gathering information for the pilot, every participant was asked to nominate their postcode range.
A number of HSAs responded with ‘State wide’, ‘Metrpolitan area’ etc.
The Green Loans team are now considering restricting the number of postcodes in which a HSA can operate.
PROGRAM LAUNCH DATE
Currently envisaged to be early July.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Partnership agreements are to be issued by early March. |
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Green Loans for Aussie Homes |
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Thursday, 26 February 2009 09:53 |
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Soon to arrive in 2009 will be the Federal Government low interest green loan for up to 200,000 working Australian families. The Green Loans For Aussie Homes program is designed to help families make the switch to sustainable products which will help Australians reduce their annual carbon foot print.
The loan of up to $10,000 is to be repaid at 2% of annual income with a minimum repayment of $300 per Year.
Some of the items households will be able to purchase under this plan include:
1. Solar Panels 2. Rainwater tanks and greywater recycling systems. 3. Insulation and shading devices 4. solar, heat pump and high- efficiency gas hot water systems 5. Energy efficient lighting |
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