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NSW Environmental Upgrade Agreements

Environmental Upgrade Agreements (EUAs) now make it easier to access finance for environmental improvements to existing commercial, industrial, strata scheme and large multi-unit residential buildings in NSW.

Under this agreement, a finance provider lends funds to a building owner for water, energy and other environmental upgrades, and this low-risk loan is repaid through a local council charge on the land.

Tenants of commercial buildings can be asked to contribute to the costs. However, these additional costs must be offset by their reduced energy and water bills.

• Environmental Upgrade Agreement factsheet (120151EUAfact.pdf 1.43MB) provides essential EUA information
• NSW Environmental Upgrade Agreement legislation commenced on 18 February 2011.

How do EUAs work?

• The building owner, council and finance provider voluntarily enter into an EUA.
• The building owner agrees to carry out the environmental upgrade works.
• The finance provider agrees to advance the funds for the works.
• Council agrees to level environmental upgrade charges to pass repayments on to the finance provider (minus council’s processing fees).

Councils offering EUAs

EUAs are currently available for non-strata commercial buildings in these local council areas:

• City of Sydney - 02 9246 7843 or email eua@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
• Parramatta City Council - 02 9806 5755 or email eua@parracity.nsw.gov.au
• North Sydney Council - 02 9936 8100 or email eua@northsydney.nsw.gov.au
• Lake Macquarie City Council - 02 4921 0333 or email eua@lakemac.nsw.gov.au

Councils planning for EUAs

• The City of Newcastle - 02 4974 2214 or email dsheehan@ncc.nsw.gov.au
• Penrith City Council - 02 4732 7803 or email eua@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au
• Wollongong City Council - 02 4227 7266

What activities are eligible for EUAs?

Upgrade activities eligible for an EUA include improving energy or water efficiency, reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions, recycling, pollution prevention or reduction, renewable energy projects and reducing car use by encouraging activities like walking and cycling.

Frequently Asked Questions

For general EUA questions refer to the FAQ overview (120274faqgen.pdf, 39KB). Find out the frequently asked questions for:

• building owners (120275faqbld.pdf, 67KB)
• tenants (120276faqtent.pdf, 50KB)
• councils (120277faqcncl.pdf, 50KB)
• strata schemes (120278faqstrta.pdf, 32KB)

Other available programs

Sustainability Advantage program helps participating companies improve their environmental and business performance by developing a sustainability action plan.

OEH provides subsidised energy audits and facilitation to eligible NSW businesses to help identify and implement energy savings. An independent energy audit can be crucial in determining your energy use and identifying projects that will deliver cost savings.

Additional funding for energy saving upgrades can be sourced through the creation and sale of Energy Savings Certificates. Under the NSW Energy Savings Scheme (ESS), building owners or energy efficiency service providers can create and sell certificates to offset the capital costs of projects.

Low Carbon Australia participates as a leading financier providing capital to help develop EUA projects and promoting the benefits and solutions implemented by building owners. In addition, the Low Carbon Australia team applies its expertise in the area of EUAs.

Find out more

Template Environmental Upgrade Agreement for a non-residential building (e.g commercial or industrial).

For more information on Environmental Upgrade Agreements email eua@environment.nsw.gov.au or phone 1300 361 967.