CEFC Backs CBA Green Home Offer to Save on Energy and Emissions

Australia’s clean energy finance corporation (CEFC) has made a A$125 million commitment to support the Commonwealth Bank’s new Green Home Offer, to help cut emissions in the housing sector and improve energy efficiency in new and renovated homes.

The Green Home Offer encourages home builders and renovators to lift sustainability ambitions above current standards and is available to customers who build or renovate to meet the new Green Star’ Home Standard requirements established by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).

Customers are also eligible where their homes meet criteria developed by the Commonwealth Bank with the GBCA and the CEFC, aligned with Green Star standards.

The new GBCA standard supports a range of initiatives that can improve energy efficiency, such as achieving a minimum 7-star Nationwide House Energy Rating, the installation of solar panels and heat pump water systems and the absence of gas installation. Net zero energy requirements including electrification throughout the property will also be targeted.  

Buildings account for about a quarter of Australia’s emissions, with around half of those emissions coming from residential buildings – largely from inefficient energy systems including heating and ventilation, hot water and lighting. 

CEFC Head of Debt Markets Richard Lovell said: “This investment marks the further development of the green home loan market in Australia and demonstrates growing consumer demand for energy-efficient homes. It also demonstrates how ‘being green’ can encourage best practice in the building industry and can benefit both retail customers and the Australia finance industry more widely.”

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