There are currently a number of funding options for community housing organisations to undertake energy efficiency projects.
Solar Homes
The Victorian Government’s Solar Homes program is providing householders with subsidies and no-interest loans for solar panels (PV) and solar hot water and new rebates for batteries and solar panels (PV) for rental properties.
At present, community housing landlords are unable to recoup the capital cost of upgrades from tenants and the Solar Homes subsidies are not available for properties leased from the department. We will continue to work though these issues with Solar Homes as they redesign their programs.
Find out more about the Solar Homes program here.
Victorian Property Fund
Consumer Affairs Victoria, through the Victorian Property Fund (VPF) ran an Environmentally sustainable housing funding round in 2017-18. This round offered grants of up to 50% of the cost of a variety of energy efficiency upgrades, including solar and batteries.
Although no subsequent funding rounds have been announced to date, there may be future rounds.
Details of all VPF funding rounds can be found here.
Darebin Solar Savers
The City of Darebin, through their Solar Savers program, has been assisting residents, businesses and organisations to install solar panels. Eligible organisations pay off the cost of the system over 10 years, interest free. Interested organisations with properties in the City of Darebin can register for the next round, which will get underway in the second half of 2019.