(9 November 2009 – Australia) Westpac has announced that it will be joining the government in the fight against green house gasses and will be offering a ‘Green Loan’.The Australian government initiative assists families to install solar, water saving and energy efficient products to the tune of an interest free loan of A$10,000.
Customers applying for the loan, available from 16 November, are to undergo a ‘home sustainability assessment’.
The assessor will visit the household and investigate consumption patterns to identify actions that can be taken to save energy and water.
The household will then receive a tailored report detailing recommended actions; these can range from small changes like using energy efficient light bulbs to large changes like installing solar panels.
Households can then apply for the four year ‘green loan’ to make any large scale improvements.
Peter Hanlon, group executive, retail and business banking, Westpac, said that the bank is delighted to work alongside the Federal Government to deliver this important initiative, which Mr Hanlon views as a vital investment to Australia’s future.
Westpac believes it is important to educate and assist customers to take responsible actions towards creating an environmentally sustainable future, Mr Hanlon concluded.