Green Loans
Program guidelines
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Part 1 - Program Overview
The 2008/09 Federal Budget announced a program to assist Australian families to install solar, water saving, and energy efficient products (the Program).
The Program will provide Householders with detailed Home Sustainability Assessments by suitably qualified Assessors, tailored Assessment Reports, general renovation information and access to subsidised 'Green Loans' of up to $10,000 to make their existing Homes more energy and water efficient.
1.1 Objectives of the Program
The key objectives of the Program are to:
- encourage wide-scale improvement of energy and water efficiency in existing Homes
- provide sound advice to Households on the most appropriate actions to reduce the environmental impact of operating their Home
- provide financial assistance to Households to gain access to the resources they need to invest in energy and water efficient technologies
- reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions.
1.2 Outputs of the Program
The key outputs of the Program are:
- consumer communication and engagement activities that identify and reach the target audience to encourage sustainable improvements of existing Homes
- an application process that ensures that only eligible applicants can receive subsidised Assessments and Green Loans
- the provision of accurate and timely advice on environmental home improvements to Australian families from accredited experts
- the efficient and timely provision of subsidised Green Loans to eligible applicants by participating Financial Institutions
- detailed Program monitoring and assessment to quantify environmental impacts, to track progress and achievements, and to inform policy development in the area of Home sustainability.
1.3 Outcomes of the Program
The key outcomes of the Program are the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption in existing Homes through:
- the engagement of Households in reducing the environmental impact of operating their Home
- a recognised industry of expert Assessors providing tailored information and guidance on energy and water saving actions
- a research industry analysing the environmental impact of Homes and Households.
1.4 Key Dates
Assessments are expected to commence mid 2009 and be available until 31 December 2012 or until available funding is exhausted (whichever comes first). Subsidised Green Loans are intended to be available until 31 March, 2013 or until available funding is exhausted (whichever comes first).
Part 2 - Program Guidelines
2.1 The Program
The Program has two main components of support provided by the Australian Government:
- a subsidised Home Sustainability Assessment conducted by a suitably qualified Assessor, including a tailored Assessment Report
- access to low cost finance through a subsidised Green Loan of up to $10,000 for a maximum of 4 years to implement changes recommended in the Assessment Report.
Home Sustainability Assessments
The Home Sustainability Assessment contains four main activities:
- booking of the Assessment using the Phone Booking Service, the Online Booking System or directly through an Assessor who has been contracted to undertake assessments for the Program
- free home inspection and Assessment by an Assessor
- provision of initial advice to the Household by the Assessor
- receipt of an Assessment Report.
Assessment Booking: Eligible Households will be able to book an Assessment through the Assessor of their choice, through the Program's Online Booking System or through the Program's Phone Booking Service.
Assessment: The Home Sustainability Assessment is conducted by an expert Assessor, contracted by the Department to undertake Assessments for the Program. The Assessment will involve the physical inspection of major energy and water systems relating to thermal comfort, water heating, lighting, refrigeration, cooking, entertainment, water consumption, and waste management. Data about each of the energy and water systems and about how the Household interacts with those systems is collected during the Assessment and provided to the Department. The length of the Assessment will be impacted by the amount of information available, the size of the property and the number of energy and water systems to be considered. The Household may be invited to conduct a partial assessment (Self Assessment) in advance of the expert Assessment to facilitate a more efficient Assessment service. Participation in a Self Assessment process is voluntary.
Advice: Initial advice will be provided through a conversation between the Household and the Assessor. This conversation will help the Assessor build a picture of the Household's environmental aspirations and current practices and behaviours.
Assessment Report: Within approximately ten Business Days the Household should be provided with a written Assessment Report describing the Assessment findings, recommending actions, and providing details of where to get further services or information. For the purposes of seeking a subsidised Green Loan, the Assessment Report remains valid for 6 months from the Assessment Report Date.
Subsidised Green Loan
Households who receive an Assessment Report may seek financing to undertake various energy and water system improvements recommended in the Assessment Report.
To assist these Households, the Department will lower the cost of finance by providing a loan subsidy to participating Financial Institutions for the benefit of the Household. The Householder can choose any qualifying financial product, from any of the participating Financial Institutions to benefit from the subsidy.
To participate in the Program, Financial Institutions will have to comply with the Department's requirements regarding the application of the subsidy as set out in the Financial Institutions Subsidy Deed. A list of participating Financial Institutions will be published on the Program's website.
Where the requirements in the Subsidy Deed are met, the Department will provide the subsidy to the Financial Institution in respect of Green Loans for a maximum loan amount of $10,000 and a maximum period of 4 years..
2.2 Eligibility and Application Conditions
Eligibility for a Home Sustainability Assessment
Householders are eligible for a free Home Sustainability Assessment if the following conditions are met.
2.2.1 The applicant must be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident of Australia.
2.2.2 The applicant must be aged 18 or over.
2.2.3 The applicant must have a taxable income no greater than $250,000 per annum. Suitable evidence of income may include the most recent Notice of Assessment produced by the Australian Taxation Office.
2.2.4 The applicant must be either an owner of the Home or a trustee of the Home (as shown on the current title) or listed on the current lease of the Home.
2.2.5 The Home being assessed must be in Australia or its territories, and be the principal place of residence for a household.
2.2.6 The Home being assessed must have been completed and occupied for at least 12 months (not necessarily by the applicant). Suitable proof may include a certificate of occupancy or similar issued by a local, state or territory government agency.
2.2.7 The applicant must give the Department permission to access (through their energy and water suppliers) energy and water consumption information for a period of 12 months (where available) preceding the Assessment, and up to 24 months after the Assessment (this data is an extremely important part of the Program for environmental impact analysis and Program evaluation).
2.2.8 Government owned dwellings are not eligible.
2.2.9 Dwellings owned by corporate organisations or companies are not eligible.
Notes:
While all reasonable effort will be made to make Home Sustainability Assessments available in all regions of Australia, some remote areas may not have expert Assessors available at all times. Households will be advised at the time of booking if an Assessment service is not available and will be provided with an alternative process to receive a Home Sustainability Assessment Report eligible for the subsidised Green Loan..
Where the dwelling is owned by an Australian Registered Charity, the applicant must have the full legal authority to apply on the organisation's behalf.
Application conditions for a Home Sustainability Assessment
To receive a Home Sustainability Assessment the applicant must:
2.2.10 Request a Home Sustainability Assessment via an assessor contracted to provide services for the Program, the Online Booking System or the Phone Booking Service
2.2.11 Agree to the terms and conditions in the Householder Application which will be provided on booking the assessment
2.2.12 Provide details of the Home and Household, including contact details for the applicant and the names of other household members
2.2.13 Allow the Assessor reasonable access to the Home to conduct the inspection and collect the Assessment data
2.2.14 Actively participate in the Assessment process by answering all reasonable questions about the Household's interaction with the energy and water systems, as requested by the Assessor.
Eligibility to apply for a subsidised Green Loan
Applicants are eligible to apply for a subsidised Green Loan if the following criteria have been met.
2.2.15 The applicant must be the recipient of a valid Assessment Report for the Home.
2.2.16 The applicant must be either the owner of the Home or a trustee of the Home (as shown on the current title) or listed on the current lease of the Home at the time of applying for the Green Loan.
2.2.17 The applicant must have a taxable income no greater than $250,000 per annum. Suitable evidence of income may include the most recent Notice of Assessment produced by the Australian Taxation Office.
2.2.18 The applicant is eligible for only one Green Loan per Assessment Report.
Notes:
Where the applicant does not own the Home, they must adhere to their lease agreement in seeking permission from the owner before undertaking any amendments to the property.
Where the dwelling is owned by an Australian Registered Charity, the applicant must have the full legal authority to apply on the organisation's behalf..
Other available subsidies and incentives for the same items or actions under other programs do not affect eligibility for a subsidised Green Loan..
Application conditions for a subsidised Green Loan
To receive a subsidy the applicant must:
2.2.19 Apply for a Green Loan from a participating Financial Institution within 6 months of the date of issue of a valid Assessment Report and by 31 March 2013 at the latest. A list of participating Financial Institutions will be published on the Program Website when available
2.2.20 Satisfy the criteria of the relevant participating Financial Institution offering the Green Loan
2.2.21 Complete and sign a Green Loan Declaration that the Green Loans funds received from the financial institution will only be used for eligible actions listed on a valid Assessment Report.
Notes:
Green Loans are loan products developed and offered by participating Financial Institutions. Each Green Loan agreement is a private agreement between the applicant and the Financial Institution. The Department accepts no responsibility in relation to any Losses arising from a Green Loan agreement.
Only one Green Loan is available per Assessment Report.
If the Green Loan is approved, the Department will pay a subsidy to the Financial Institution to reduce the cost of the Green Loan for the applicant.
The applicant is responsible for loan repayments according to their Green Loan agreement with the Financial Institution.
2.3 Privacy
The Department is aware of the importance of privacy to householders, and is designing privacy-sensitivity into its procedures. A Privacy Impact Assessment is being performed, including consultations with representative and advocacy organisations, in order to ensure that the design reflects best privacy practice.
Information about the household collected during the course of the Program is subject to the requirements of the Commonwealth Privacy Act. Participation is voluntary, and applicants are provided with full information about the scheme prior to consenting to the collection of data.
2.4 Contact Details
The Program Website contains detailed information for Householders, Assessors and other stakeholders. Queries about these Program Guidelines or other aspects of the Program should first go to the Program's website at www.environment.gov.au/greenloans.
For householders unable to access the Program website, or who need further information on the Program, this is available through the Green Loans hotline on 1800 895 076.
Written correspondence to:
The Director
Green Loans Program
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO BOX 787
Canberra ACT 2601
or greenloans@environment.gov.au
2.5 Complaints
Any complaints regarding the Program should be forwarded to: The Director, Green Loans Program at the contacts given above or by phoning the Hotline on 1800 895 076.
Complaints will be handled in accordance with the Department's Customer Service Charter. A copy of the charter is available at www.environment.gov.au/about/publications/charter.html.
2.6 Definitions
Terms used in these Program Guidelines are defined in Part Three - Glossary.
2.7 Important Notices
The Australian Government reserves the right, at its sole and absolute discretion, and at any time, to alter any or all of these guidelines, including to remove all or any part of the guidelines, or to introduce new or additional guidelines.
The Department will decide whether an applicant satisfies the eligibility requirements as set out in these Program Guidelines and reserves the right to request further information to make this decision. Applicants should therefore not assume that they will receive a subsidised Green Loan on submitting a loan application to a participating Financial Institution.
The Department may request reasonable evidence to verify the eligibility of applicants for the Assessment and a subsidised Green Loan.
The Department accepts no liability for any Losses incurred by any person as a result of, or arising from, the Home Sustainability Assessment, renovation or installation activity undertaken as a result of the Home Sustainability Assessment or receipt of the subsidised Green Loan.
The Department takes no responsibility for any private arrangement between tenants and landlords with regard to the Home Sustainability Assessment or activities undertaken as a result of the Home Sustainability Assessment or receipt of a subsidised Green Loan.
Program Guidelines Index
Part 1 - Program Overview
1.1 Objectives of the Program
1.2 Outputs of the Program
1.3 Outcomes of the Program
1.4 Key Dates
Part 2 - Program Guidelines
2.1 The Program
2.2 Eligibility and Application Conditions
2.3 Privacy
2.4 Contact Details
2.5 Complaints
2.6 Definitions
2.7 Important Notices
Part 3- Glossary
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