You can make green and wallet-friendly decisions about your home, your choice of energy provider, insurer, even your mortgage lender.
Australian consumers have more options to green up their home than ever before. This includes simple admin tasks like switching to a greener energy provider or insurer, to overhauling your home with energy efficient fixtures and systems. You can even get a green home loan.
Making greener decisions about your home is obviously good for the planet. But it can work out better for you financially too.
Green energy
Switching to a greener energy provider is better for the planet and doesn’t have to cost you extra. It might even work out cheaper.
“Research shows that household energy consumption comprises nearly a third of your annual carbon footprint,” said Finder energy expert Mariam Gabaji. “Consider switching to a 100% green energy provider or alternatively, adding on GreenPower to your plan. This will ensure your provider sends renewable energy back to the grid on your behalf.”
There are many Australian energy companies who offset their carbon emissions or sell completely renewable energy.
Here’s a quick list to get you started:
Recent Finder research found that switching to green energy could save households up to $321 a year.
Embrace the sun
Paying for cleaner energy is one thing, but you can go even further and convert to solar power. Installing solar panels can cost you thousands, but the panels will pay for themselves in 3-6 years.
And as solar systems get cheaper (and electricity prices rise), more people are embracing solar. According to Finder’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker, 24% of Australians say they’ve put solar panels on their house or apartment.
Green up your home loan
You may be scratching your head at the words “green home loan” but it’s a real thing. Several Australian lenders now offer some very competitive interest rates to customers buying energy efficient homes.
Here are some lenders offering green home loans. To qualify for most of these loans you need a home that meets certain energy sufficiency requirements:
- loans.com.au Green Home Loan (a discounted rate if your home has a NatHERS rating of 7 or higher).
- Bank Australia Clean Energy Home Loan (rate discounts for a 7+ star rated home).
- Gateway Bank Green Home Loan (a discounted rate if your home has a Residential Efficiency Scoreboard of 4-6 stars, and a bigger discount at 7+).
- Regional Australia Bank Sustainable Home Loan (your home must pass minimum environmental standards in your state or territory).
- Firstmac Green Basic and Green Offset Home Loans (a discounted rate if your home has …….
Source: https://www.finder.com.au/green-home-save-money-five-ways