Invest
Government bank launches clean energy home loans
Australians who build or buy high-energy-efficient homes will be eligible to get a discount on their loan under a new housing scheme.
Government bank launches clean energy home loans
Australians who build or buy high-energy-efficient homes will be eligible to get a discount on their loan under a new housing scheme.

The clean energy home loan will use energy-efficient measurement tools to give customers with a 7-star rating a 0.4 per cent discount on their finances under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS).
The federal government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is investing up to $60 million in a green home loan program for borrowers who meet its standards.
“The CEFC finance is designed to fill a gap in the market, giving builders and new home buyers a financial incentive to adopt sustainable design principles from the start of the project,” the government bank noted.
Bank Australia is the first lender to take up the scheme through its new Bank Australia Clean Energy Home Loan, which will offer eligible borrowers a 0.4 per cent discount for up to five years on mortgages below $1.5 million.

Housing and emissions
According to the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), the property sector accounts for about 23 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.
About half of those emissions come from residential buildings – largely from heating, ventilation and air conditioning (40 per cent), appliances (25 per cent) and hot water systems (23 per cent).
ASBEC and ClimateWorks Australia have identified potential energy savings as high as 25 per cent through the adoption of higher clean energy standards in new residential buildings.
Economic benefits of green homes
Preliminary economic modelling undertaken by ASBEC and CSIRO has found that investing in voluntary measures to accelerate Australia’s transition to sustainable homes by 2030 would:
- Deliver more than half a billion dollars of extra investment in the construction industry
- Create over 7,000 new jobs
- Save Australians more than $600 million on their energy bills
A house that has an energy rating of 7+ stars is:
- Able to keep cool in summer without “artificial cooling” like air conditioning
- Able to keep warm in winter without “artificial heating” like a heater
- Uses less electricity
- Made of higher-quality materials
- Designed to work with its environment
About the author

About the author


Property
North platform adds household reporting feature to boost adviser efficiency
AMP's North platform has launched consolidated household reporting across multiple client accounts, helping financial advisers streamline their client review processes. Read more

Property
What Adds The Most Value To Properties?
Wondering how to up the value of your property? Properties are worth a lot of money in general, but there’s always a way to maximise value. The good news is that most of the things you can do to ...Read more

Property
Centuria reports strong growth in alternative real estate sectors for FY24
Centuria Capital Group has reported significant growth in alternative real estate sectors for the 2024 financial year, driving stable performance and increased guidance for FY25. Read more

Property
How to leverage equity in your home for investment or renovation
Home equity, the value of your property minus any debts owed, is a powerful financial resource many homeowners in Australia can utilize to further their financial goals. Whether you're looking to ...Read more

Property
Exploring REITs: Real estate investment without buying property
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) offer a compelling investment alternative for those interested in the real estate market but may not want to endure the complexities and capital requirements of ...Read more

Property
Retirement communities: a pivotal element in meeting Australia's housing targets
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) has recommended that retirement communities should be considered a vital part in the Australian Government's initiative to fulfill the Housing Australia Future Fund ...Read more

Property
Australians adjust financial strategies amid changing property market dynamics
The 2023 calendar year saw Australian borrowers acquiring a total of $300.9 billion in new loans for property purchases, marking a 12.7% decrease from the previous year. Read more

Property
Split home loans unlocking doors for Aussie buyers
Australians are teaming up to dive into the real estate market and seize the advantages of home ownership, with the trend of split home loans surging as family and friends unite to buy properties ...Read more

Property
North platform adds household reporting feature to boost adviser efficiency
AMP's North platform has launched consolidated household reporting across multiple client accounts, helping financial advisers streamline their client review processes. Read more

Property
What Adds The Most Value To Properties?
Wondering how to up the value of your property? Properties are worth a lot of money in general, but there’s always a way to maximise value. The good news is that most of the things you can do to ...Read more

Property
Centuria reports strong growth in alternative real estate sectors for FY24
Centuria Capital Group has reported significant growth in alternative real estate sectors for the 2024 financial year, driving stable performance and increased guidance for FY25. Read more

Property
How to leverage equity in your home for investment or renovation
Home equity, the value of your property minus any debts owed, is a powerful financial resource many homeowners in Australia can utilize to further their financial goals. Whether you're looking to ...Read more

Property
Exploring REITs: Real estate investment without buying property
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) offer a compelling investment alternative for those interested in the real estate market but may not want to endure the complexities and capital requirements of ...Read more

Property
Retirement communities: a pivotal element in meeting Australia's housing targets
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) has recommended that retirement communities should be considered a vital part in the Australian Government's initiative to fulfill the Housing Australia Future Fund ...Read more

Property
Australians adjust financial strategies amid changing property market dynamics
The 2023 calendar year saw Australian borrowers acquiring a total of $300.9 billion in new loans for property purchases, marking a 12.7% decrease from the previous year. Read more

Property
Split home loans unlocking doors for Aussie buyers
Australians are teaming up to dive into the real estate market and seize the advantages of home ownership, with the trend of split home loans surging as family and friends unite to buy properties ...Read more