Green Loans for Community Housing

Queensland Shelter attended the EcoAdvance Green Loans for Community Housing key stakeholder consultation in Perth on 20 August, which focussed on ways that free Home Sustainability Assessments (HSAs) and Green Loans can be adapted for the community housing sector. Free home sustainability assessments and four year interest free loans of up to $10,000 are available to improve residential energy efficiency, which currently accounts for approximately 15 percent of Australia’s carbon emissions. Government title, tight operating budgets, and limited revenue streams were key points raised during the consultation.  While improving energy and water efficiency is a high priority for Community Housing Organisations, EcoAdvance need more survey returns to ensure that community housing perspectives on program adaptation to suit varying budgets, title arrangements, and client bases are included. A copy of survey A and survey B are available here.