1300 13 22 77Half of home owners plan eco-upgrades
With power set to soar across much of Australia, plenty of home owners are keen to make their homes more energy efficient. But one factor is holding them back.
The next 12 months is set to bring a big jump in power bills, with NSW households likely to experience the biggest bill hikes of up to 9.7%1.
Not surprisingly, a recent survey found more than one in two (56%) Australians would like to improve their home’s energy efficiency as a way of cutting costs2.
And it turns out we’re prepared to tip serious money into green improvements.
On average, households are planning to spend $7,950 making their homes more energy efficient.
However, for more than two in five Aussies, there’s one hurdle standing in the way – and that’s the cost.
How to fund your ‘green’ improvements
Fortunately, there are low-cost ways to fund eco-improvements.
Here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling:
- Community First’s Unsecured personal loan
Our unsecured personal loan is a popular way for homeowners to finance environmentally-friendly improvements around the home.
Borrow from as little as $3,000 with loan terms from 1-7 years with fixed and variable options.
A Community First Persona Loan can be used to fund just about any worthwhile purpose. This includes (but is not limited to):
Solar panels, solar hot water systems and solar pool heaters
Split system or high star-rated, zoned air conditioning systems
Insulation
Gas, solar, hydronic or reverse cycle air conditioners with a minimum 4 star rating
Efficient electric heaters (minimum 5 stars) or solar, hydronic or heat pump systems, and
Double glazing.
- A home loan top up
Or, if you have a Community First home loan, you may be able to harness the power of your home equity.
If you’ve owned your place for a while, and you believe its value has climbed, talk to us about topping up your Community First home loan balance. Or, talk to us about refinancing your home loan to us.
If approved, the extra cash can be used to fund all sorts of eligible environmentally friendly projects.
Lower bills could be just the beginning
Domain’s latest Sustainability in Property report3 confirms that energy efficient home improvements can do a lot more than reduce power bills.
It reveals that homeowners can enjoy a ‘green premium’ – an uptick in their home’s value, following the addition of energy-saving features.
How much is the green premium? It can be a lot!
According to Domain, energy efficient homes can sell for 14.5% more than less energy efficient properties. That can be a price premium of around $118,000.
For apartments, green features can drive a 12% uptick in value, potentially adding an extra $75,000 to the property’s value.
See how we can help
Lower bills plus a boost to the value of your place – what’s not to love?
To learn more about the options we offer for home improvements, call us on 1300 13 22 77, Mon-Fri 8am-8pm (AEST/AEDT) or 8am-3pm on Saturdays. Or pop in and speak to the friendly team at any of our stores.
Credit eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply.
References:
1https://www.aer.gov.au/news/articles/news-releases/final-determination-2025-26-safety-net-prices-nsw-sa-and-se-qld
2https://rea3.irmau.com/site/pdf/342a935a-364e-44ae-aed1-fcfe45494233/Cost-and-uncertainty-stalling-home-energy-updates-for-Australians.pdf
3https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/ffx.adcentre.com.au/domain/2025/CRTV-4403/Domain+Insight+-+Sustainability+Report+2025.pdf