Ho ho ho!
We wish a safe and happy holiday to all our supporters! It has certainly been a big year for Sustainable Melbourne Fund (SMF) and Environmental Upgrade Agreements (EUAs), with our highest rate of successes on record for one year, recognising the hard work and dedication of Melburnians in creating a sustainable city.
2013 saw our largest EUA signing in Victoria with 501 Swanston Street, signed off at $7 million. View the full case study.
Our investments business saw some great milestones, with second time customer and sustainability entrepreneur, Erik Zimmerman launching the Cherry LED “lighting that pays for itself” initiative. Investment in technology firm, BillCap, took an idea to commercial reality in just 24 months, launching in 2013. Bringing projects like this to the forefront highlights SMF’s desire to invest in small and local businesses providing them with the opportunity to achieve their sustainability goals.
The EUA garnered traction like never before in 2013 across the country with the City of Newcastle becoming the 6th council in Australia to offer an EUA program and draft legislation for EUAs being prepared in South Australia. The City of Sydney saw its first EUA deal worth a tidy $26.5 M, a trigeneration plant installation in Central Park.
The Victorian Government is considering expansion of EUA programs while investigations into EUA opportunities in Queensland and Western Australia are under way.
The opportunity in Victoria alone has been slated at $4.5 billion with the creation of 18,000 jobs, within a local economy where job creation is sorely needed. SMF looks forward to assisting you all on the delivery of your EUA programs across the country.
To top it off, Melbourne’s great achievements were catapulted into international limelight at the Siemens C40 City Climate Leadership Awards. The City of Melbourne received one of ten prestigious awards for its Sustainable Buildings Program for which SMF facilitates finance under an EUA. This award reflects the commitment Melbourne’s building owners, businesses and residents have towards creating a greener city. The EUA was also recognised as an innovative finance mechanism for enabling building retrofits within the program.
Recognising this leadership and innovation has allowed SMF to extend its energy efficiency drive to deliver economic and environmental outcomes. SMF has received enquiries from New Zealand, South East Asia, Europe and continues our strong relationships with the American PACE fraternity about our efforts in Australia. This is not however, all about us, it is about the hard work of the many stakeholders working away at improving the performance of Australia’s building stock.
We look forward to continuing this journey with you all in 2014.
The Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program is an initiative established by the Victorian State Government. The scheme aims to promote energy efficiency by encouraging households, businesses, and indu..
The hospitality industry increasingly faces a pivotal challenge: how do hospitality businesses become more sustainable while ensuring profitability? The hospitality sector, encompassing hotels, restau..
Our new Fast Track Green loan will deliver more speed, greater flexibility, and extra choices for our customers.
This includes:
+ Accelerated approval: With our Fast Track Green Loan, eligible businesses can secure up to $200,000 without the need to submit financials for faster approvals.
+ Fixed and Variable Rate Interest Options: All our eligible businesses can now choose an SAF green loan, including out Fast Track Green Loan with either a fixed or variable interest rate, providing the flexibility in funding you deserve.
Find out more and apply today!
