The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has made another landmark $130 million finance commitment to community
housing provider SGCH, for the construction of 300 new energy efficient homes in Sydney.
The New South Wales Government announced last week that SGCH was awarded a contract to build 300 new dwellings under the first phase of the new Social and Affordable Housing Fund (SAHF). The SAHF is a key component of the government's strategy for more social and affordable housing.
The $1.1 billion SAHF is aiming to ultimately deliver 2,200 new social and affordable homes across metropolitan and regional NSW, working alongside non-government housing providers.
CEFC finance will enable SGCH to build all its SAHF homes to a higher energy efficiency standard, with the new homes
built to an average 7-Star National Housing Energy Rating System (NatHERS) rating.
CEFC Community and Affordable Housing lead, Victoria Adams said energy efficiency and livability benefits are designed into the homes before construction.
"The marginal additional cost of the energy efficiency investment will have long term and ongoing benefits for the tenants, particularly through lower energy bills," she said. The CEFC finance means the new homes are likely to include features such as improved insulation, LED lighting, energy efficient appliances, smart meters and solar installations.
SGCH, one of Australia’s largest community housing providers, has already drawn on $40 million in CEFC finance in an
earlier transaction, to enable the construction of some 200 energy efficient dwellings.
SGCH CEO Scott Langford said the CEFC’s finance is a game changer allowing tenants to manage electricity costs using the latest clean energy solutions.
“The finance we’ve arranged with the CEFC enables us to build beyond the minimum building standard," he said.