It is heating up!

The Green Loans program approaches!  Here is an article lifted from the ABC  on the Green Loans Program  as background

RMIT's Centre for Design (CfD) are developing the Home Sustainability Assessment assessment tool.Professor Alan Pears has been working with RMIT on this project. Dr. Ralph Horne, the Director of RMIT (CfD) is responsible for this project and has been involved with the Green Loans Program for some time. 

Now here's a predicament. You're worried that your home's insulation isn't up to scratch and that your wonky air-conditioner is guzzling too much electricity. Plus, you really want to do your part for global warming by getting solar panels on your roof. Problem is: you don't have the money to make the changes. Well, fear not. Even as we speak, Environment Minister Peter Garrett is training up a posse of assessors to visit your home and come up with a shopping list of energy-wise improvements. As for the dosh, the federal government will find you a loan of up to $10,000 at bargain basement rates. Welcome to the world of Green Loans, part of the government's strategy to think global and act local on climate change. How much appetite is there in Australia for green debt? And what's to stop me using the money to get a new telly? Besides, since when is government in the business of organising finance.

Dr Horne talks with ABC's Peter Mares http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/current/audioonly/nit_20090424_1830.mp3

Membership

This association was started with the individual home sustainability assessor in mind, perhaps that is you.

The benefits of membership are evolving,  perhaps you can make your mark by adding value to this association by assisting others.

Advantages of Membership.

Competitive Advantage.  Secure a head start over other assessors by illustrating your independence in green assessments.

Networking.  Meet with like minded independent people.

Tools. Gain Access to practical tools designed to assist in homes sustainability assessments and play a part in developing new tools.

Influence. Make a difference become actively involved in the development of this association.

Recognition.  Help in the development of a "brand"  that adds to the recognition.

How do I apply for Membership?

Simple!  If you have attended part of the training for Home Sustainability Assessors run on behalf of DEWHA by Fieldforce, EcoMaster, Energy Strategies, Archicentre, EcoSmart, ABSA in the past four months speak to us.  Add your name to our group by adding your name  as a follower or by way of a comment in the comment section below. Details of the cost of membership will be posted later.

Home sustainability assessments.

Home Assessments are about helping householders become more aware of;

How they use energy and water

Where energy and water use and wastage occurs

The opportunities to more effectively use energy and water more effectively

The benefits of more efficient use.

Interestingly about 75% of greenhouse emissions are generated from the energy used in Victorian homes from just three sources.   They are appliances, hot water and heating and cooling.  

Qualifications required for a Green Loan Sustainability Household assessment.

When they commence (2nd Half of 2009) the free assessment will be made available to applicants over the age of 18 provided they are permanent citizens or residents of Australia or registered charities.

The householder will be required to give permission for the Department or Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) to access information about their energy use 12 months before and for 24 months after the assessment.  Each householder is entitled to just one assessment per household.  The dwelling must be in Australia or one of the territories and be at least 12 months old.

The assessments will be booked by the householder via the web or call centre according to postcode. Tip. (Look for an independent Assessor)

Members of this Association undertake to provide accurate, reliable independent assessments without commercial ties to the suppliers of any material, or equipment, required to improve their properties.  It seems Australia generally is about to adopt the house energy rating system applied in Canberra when houses are sold.  The importance of independent advice as a means of improving the resale value of real estate should be apparent to all in time.  Keep informed about the Green Loans program and its band of Independent assessors via this website.

You have reached the member's web page of the Independent Home Sustainability Assessors Association Inc. 

The purpose of the group is:

•  1.      To offer members a collective voice
•  2.      To encourage membership of independent sustainable assessors
•  3.      To offer clients independent household sustainable assessments.
  
•  4.      To offer members personal development.
•  5.      To offer members industry information. (Sustainability)
•  6.      To offer members services and products negotiated by the association.
  

Members of the association must be independent of commercial arrangements with other sustainability providers and operate as Home Sustainability Assessors under the Federal Government's Green Loans Program.  

"The Green Loans Program is expected to commence nationally from mid 2009.  Green Loans is a new Australian Government initiative to help Australians tackle climate change.

"This innovative program will help an estimated 200,000 households to reduce our nation's annual greenhouse gas emissions by around 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year by 2020.The program will also encourage an estimated $2 billion in green-inspired investment, directly benefiting the small business sector."

"Green loans has two main components of support from the australian Government:

• A free Household Sustainability Assessment and report (valued at over $250) which includes provining a green renovation pack; and
• Access to low cost finance through a subsidy provided to financial institutions for borrowings of up to $10,000 to implement changes recommended in the assessment report." 

extracts from Green Loans update 1- Dec 2008

Further information is available at: www.environment.gov.au/greenloans

The Independent Home Sustainability Assessor Association Inc is seeking members who have trained with any of the six RTO's to deliver the Professional Household Sustainability Assessment course of the Green Loans Program  providing they are not contracted to serve as employees or contractors for one of the listed training companies ie:

• Association of Building Sustainability Assessors
  
• Archicentre
  
• ecomaster
  
• Ecosmart
  
• Energy Strategies
  
• Fieldforce