Solar and energy improvements for your business or organisation

Can your business premises benefit from a new solar system or an upgrade to lighting, heating, ventilation, or the hot water system?

These improvements can result in savings from:

  • Lower operational costs
  • Reduced and effective energy use

What is available for businesses and organisations?

An upgrade to your business premises can:

  • Improve the conditions for occupants
  • Reduce utility bills and your business’ carbon footprint
  • Increase the resale or lease value of your property

Upgrades that are right for your business may include:

  • Energy assessment of your business or organisation
  • Solar system
  • Battery storage
  • Insulation
  • Draught proofing
  • Reverse-cycle air conditioners for cooling and heating
  • Hot water services

What subsidies are available?

There are a range of training and support programs, grants and resources to help your business reduce energy use, increase productivity and save money.

Tenants in Council-owned buildings can access our solar installation program.

This Victorian Government program is providing households and businesses with access to discounted energy-saving products and upgrades through accredited providers.

Eligible businesses can apply for a rebate of $3,500 to install a solar panel system, with the option to take advantage of an interest-free loan up to $5,000.

Is there financial support available?

Businesses can apply for Environmental Upgrade Finance to conduct building upgrades. Environment Upgrade Finance is a long term, low interest loan where the repayments are administered through your local council rates.

Environmental Upgrade Finance is a proven way for building owners to fund building upgrades.

How does Environmental Upgrade Finance work?

The benefits of this form of finance are:

  • No upfront capital or security
  • Fixed rate, long-term loan terms with low annual repayments
  • Option to share costs between owners and tenants
  • Repayments are collected through council rates
  • Every loan is legislated to deliver a positive environmental outcome

An environmental upgrade to your business premises can:

  • Improve the conditions for occupants
  • Reduce utility bills and your business’ carbon footprint
  • Increase the resale or lease value of your property

How to access Environmental Upgrade Finance

To access Environmental Upgrade Finance, an Environmental Upgrade Agreement (EUA) between the building owner, a lender and the local Council is put in place.

Merri-bek City Council is working with Sustainable Australia Fund to facilitate Environmental Upgrade Agreements (EUAs) with businesses that own or lease commercial, non-residential buildings in the municipality. EUAs give building owners a way to:

  • Protect themselves from rising energy prices and reduce operating costs
  • Replace old and inefficient equipment with newer more efficient technologies
  • Install rooftop solar PV without using upfront capital
  • Free up cash flow by locking in competitive long-term rates

If you want to find out more about Sustainable Australia Fund you fill in the contact form on their website or request a callback.