Sustainable Finance To Help Businesses Go Green

Many small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are looking for ways to invest in equipment to minimise their carbon emissions and to reduce energy costs. Taking the first step, however, can be challenging without the funds being readily available. 

Sustainable finance is the option many SMEs turn to as a solution to fund the acquiring of new equipment and to allow them to “go green”.

But what is sustainable finance, and what are the associated benefits for an SME? In this article, we will uncover the answers and hopefully, make sustainable finance a less daunting prospect for SME owners. 

What is sustainable finance? 

Sustainable finance is any financial product that looks at the funding of energy-efficient products - for example, solar panels, agricultural equipment, or green-friendly vehicles like electric or plug-in electric hybrid cars. The move to sustainable finance is being supported by government-led initiatives such as the established Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).   

The CEFC is responsible for investing $10 billion on behalf of the Australian community, to help cut emissions right across the economy – in agriculture, cleantech innovation, infrastructure, property, renewable energy, transport and waste. It also has a strong track record of working with smaller-scale asset owners, having delivered finance for more than 11,300 smaller-scale projects Australia-wide. 

BOQ Finance has recently joined the CEFC Asset Finance program, which will allow us to provide small business owners with competitive financing for eligible equipment through our Energy Efficient Equipment Finance program.

What are the benefits for your business?

Sustainable finance offers some great incentives for SMEs to “go green”, as well as improving the energy efficiency of their business. 

Discounted finance rates, for example, are one of the benefits available to SMEs. By working with the CEFC, BOQ Finance can offer SMEs discounted finance rates on eligible equipment. 

Other benefits could include reduced power bills as a result of more energy efficient equipment, improved productivity and reduced carbon emissions.

SMEs can also boost their business profile by demonstrating that they have a vested interest in the environment and in creating a more sustainable future.  

What can a SME apply for? 

Whether you run an office, a farm or own a factory, your choice of new equipment could potentially qualify for sustainable finance.  

Some examples of eligible equipment include:

• Rooftop solar PV
• Solar thermal including solar hot water and heat pumps
• Batteries (storage)
• Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
• Construction and other heavy machinery
• Agricultural equipment (tractors, headers and self-propelled agricultural equipment)
• Variable speed drivers
• Industrial and commercial refrigeration equipment
• Heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)
• Process equipment reconfiguration or upgrades
• Irrigation
• Lighting

To find out how your business can benefit from sustainable finance, contact us today on BOQF.DirectSales@boqfinance.com.au 

_{Finance provided by BOQ Equipment Finance Limited ABN 78 008 492 582 (BOQEF). BOQEF is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Queensland Limited ABN 32 009 656 740 (BOQ). BOQ does not guarantee or otherwise support the obligations or performance of BOQEF or the products it offers. This blog post is for general information purposes only and is not intended as financial or professional advice. It has not been prepared with reference to the financial circumstances of any particular person or business and should not be relied on as such. You should seek your own independent financial, legal and taxation advice before making any decision about any action in relation to the material in this article.}