Australian healthcare providers will have access to lower-cost loans for energy savers including rooftop solar, electric vehicles, and electric vehicle (EV) chargers under a new $20 million investment.
The investment is backed by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and specialist healthcare lender Credabl. It is designed to support healthcare professionals in reducing their energy bills while improving energy efficiency.
The ‘energy savers loan’ will enable eligible borrowers to access loans with interest rate discounts of up to 0.65 per cent, which could result in savings of more than $4600 on a $250,000 loan over five years.
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the initiative would provide long-term cost benefits for healthcare professionals.
“This CEFC investment is supporting small businesses to capitalise on the renewable revolution and play their role in the net zero transformation,” he said.
The healthcare sector is estimated to contribute nearly seven per cent of Australia’s emissions, with global estimates suggesting it would rank as the fifth-largest emitter if it were a country. The CEFC’s investment is expected to help reduce emissions by increasing the uptake of energy-efficient technologies.
“Australia’s healthcare providers deliver life-saving services across our communities, but they also need energy-saving technologies to help our health system meet the challenges of climate change,” Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney said.
“Our GPs, vets and other health providers are dealing with the impacts of climate change every day as patients present with illnesses from extreme heatwaves, pollution, and other climate-related conditions.”
“As a former nurse, I’m proud to support them to take climate action in their own backyard while reducing the cost of looking after our communities through access to technologies that can reduce the cost of their energy use.”
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