Environmental performance ratings and assessment grants

We have identified the accommodation (hotels, hostels and serviced apartments) sectors and residential strata sectors as key for reducing emissions and environmental impacts in our local area.

Only applications from the above sectors are eligible.

Initiatives and projects must contribute to one or more of these outcomes:

• improved knowledge of the current environmental performance of buildings and facilities in the local area, and of the business case for performance improvements
• improved energy and water efficiency, indoor environment quality and reduced resource waste impacts
• increased recognition and uptake of credible ratings and certification tools that benchmark environmental performance.

Applications are assessed against expected program outcomes. The assessment panel will also consider the:

• size of building and projected carbon, energy, water, waste to landfill and cost savings
• quality of proposal
• applicant capacity and commitment to deliver the project
• contractor credentials and capacity to deliver the project
• clear, detailed and realistic budget that demonstrates value for money.

For comprehensive information, including definitions and other details, refer to the grants and sponsorship program guidelines.

To see what projects have been awarded our grants and sponsorships in the past, please search for grants in our statutory returns annual reports.

Sustainable Sydney 2030 outlines the goals we have set to make the city green, global and connected

Up to $10,000 for a building’s first rating, including an action plan to assist the building to improve this rating.

All recipients commit to investing a minimum amount of their own funds to implement the cost-effective opportunities identified. The minimum amount invested must be half the value of the funds awarded by us. Year 1 ratings do not have to be publicly disclosed, although we encourage this.

Up to $5,000 for a building’s second rating, including an action plan to assist the building to improve this rating. This must be with the same rating or certification tool used in year 1.

Applicants must show evidence of having implemented the cost-effective opportunities identified from their first action plan and commit to publicly disclosing the rating or certification.

Up to $15,000 for energy assessments of sub-systems, such as a business case to optimise operation of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning or Australian Standard AS3598 level 2 audits. An accredited NABERS, Green Star Performance or EarthCheck rating/certification must be included in these projects unless there’s a current rating already in place.

• All supplier fee proposals must be submitted using our energy audit fee proposal template.
• All energy assessment and audit reports must be submitted using our energy audit report template.
• Each project will require a kick-off meeting and final presentation, with both meetings to be attended by a City of Sydney representative.
• All recipients commit to investing a minimum amount of their own funds to implement the cost-effective opportunities identified. The minimum amount invested must be equal to the value of the funds awarded by us.

Up to $5,000 to help the building implement recommended energy and water conservation measures. This support cannot be used to directly pay for equipment and capital upgrades.

Applicants can use this follow up support to engage specialist contractors to implement opportunities identified in year 1 energy assessment or audit, or relevant and appropriate water assessment. This includes:

• further developing business cases
• project management support
• developing technical specifications of upgrades.

Up to $10,000 is available for a building’s first NABERS energy and/or water rating. This must be accompanied by an action plan that will assist the building to improve this rating.

The recipient commits to operational improvements and take recommendations and reasonable business cases from the action plan to a general meeting for consideration.

Up to $5,000 is available for a second NABERS energy and/or water rating which must be accompanied by an action plan that will help the building improve this rating.

Applicants must show evidence of implementing the cost-effective opportunities from their first action plan and must commit to publicly disclosing the rating.

An applicant can be a not-for-profit organisation, for-profit organisation or owners corporation.

The application must be for works on one of these building types:

• residential strata
• accommodation (hotels, hostels and serviced apartments).

For more information on eligibility see the eligibility section in the grants and sponsorship guidelines.

Funding is not available for:

• projects that directly contravene the eligibility and ethics framework or existing city policies
• applications from commercial office or entertainment building types
• instances where a NABERS rating is required by government including under the commercial building disclosure scheme (at point of sale or lease).