Better Score grant

This grant supports Banyule residents to upgrade their homes, whether you own or rent. Get reimbursed up to $1000 towards your upgrade bills.

We will cover the full cost of an energy audit to pinpoint the best upgrades, including lighting, hot water systems, heating and cooling, insulation or solar.

The audit

We will carry out an energy audit on your home to produce a report. This process identifies energy efficiency upgrades to consider, including lighting, hot water systems, heating and cooling, insulation and solar systems.

Key dates

  • 20 July 2026: applications open
  • 7 August 2026: applications close
  • 26 May 2027: grant acquittal is due

Eligibility criteria

You are eligible for a reimbursement grant if:

  • you are a Banyule resident
  • the property you are getting upgraded has a value of less than $3 million
  • your combined household taxable income does not exceed $210,000 per year (based on your Australian Tax Office notice of assessment)
  • you or your household have not previously received a Better Score grant
  • you own and live in the property being upgraded or, if rented, have the written approval from the landlord to carry out the upgrade(s)
  • you agree to implement at least 1 upgrade identified in your energy audit report
  • you engage licensed contractors to complete the upgrade(s)
  • you agree to the program terms and conditions.

Council staff are not eligible.

Funding

For the 2026-2027 financial year, this program will fund up to a total of $75,000 across all successful applications.

Each household is eligible for a fully subsidised energy audit and a grant of up to $1000 covering up to 60% of the total expense.

Maximum individual funding available is $1,000 plus a fully subsidised and tailored energy report.

You must read the full guidelines(PDF, 485KB) before submitting your application.

Step-by-step sections

Apply

Applications must be submitted through Smarty Grants.

Register and start a new application: you can save and return to your application at any time.

Apply for a Better Score grant

Assessment and upgrade

Step 1.Home assessment

The first step is an energy audit on your home, which produces an audit report. This identifies energy efficiency upgrades that are relevant to your home – considering areas such as lighting, hot water systems, heating and cooling, insulation and solar systems.

We will provide your contact details to our assessors so you arrange to visit your home for the energy assessment.

This takes approximately 2 hours.

Step 2.Discuss the results

After your assessment is complete, discuss your identified upgrades with the assessor.

Step 3.Do your homework

Learn about what is available in the market. Find trusted, licensed and accredited trades. Organise quotes.

Compare and choose what is right for your home and budget.

Step 4.Upgrades and invoices

It's time for action. You must hire licensed contractors to complete the upgrade(s).

Keep copies of all invoices.

Reimbursement funding is only available to upgrades on your primary residence. 

Acquittal

Step 1.Gather documentation

You must gather specific documentation to acquit your grant, including:

  • tax invoice(s) from licensed contractors with upgrade details
  • payment remittance of the paid invoice(s)
  • certificate of compliance for all electrical, plumbing and gas work
  • your most recent rates notice
  • photos of completed upgrade(s).

Step 2.Acquitting your grant

Complete the acquittal form on SmartyGrants.

Step 3.Reimbursement

Approved funding will be reimbursed to you once the acquittal form is completed.

This can take up to 8 weeks to reach your account.

Terms and conditions

You must agree to the following terms and conditions.

  • Only upgrade options recommended in the energy assessment are eligible for reimbursement funding.
  • Applicants must supply relevant compliance certificate for all electrical and plumbing work and tax invoices for the completed work as a part of their application.
  • You agree that we may use information from your application for report writing and case studies.
  • Restriction of products with less than 700 GWP consistent with Victorian Government guielines.
  • We may inspect the project when completed to evaluate outcomes.
  • Applicants must ensure all statutory legal and insurance obligations will be in compliance for all funded upgrades.
  • All upgrades are the applicant's property, and we do not take ownership or liability of the funded upgrades.
  • Applicants must take sole responsibility of work and liaise with their own trade professionals for future repair and warranty works.
  • Information we collect from you is required for the delivery of our services in accordance with Council’s powers, functions and purposes under the Local Government Act 1989 and other relevant legislation. Information may also be used to conduct research and customer satisfaction surveys so that we may better understand community needs and can improve service delivery.
  • Understand that we make certain information publicly available in accordance with legislation and our Public Transparency Policy. A listing of donations and grants including the names or persons or bodies that have received grants are made publicly available.

Accessibility

The grants process is open and accessible to everyone. You can access support if:

  • you need a printed copy of the guidelines, or a large print version.
  • you want to discuss the guidelines over the phone.
  • you need the guidelines in a video format with captions.
  • you want to talk to us about the guidelines using an Auslan interpreter.
  • your hearing or speech is impaired, you can call us through the National Relay Service on 133 677 (TTY), or 1300 555 727 on a regular phone and ask for 9490 4222.
  • you need a language interpreter, please contact TIS National on 131 450 and ask to be connected to us on 9490 4222.

If you need a printed form or help entering information into SmartyGrants, please contact us for assistance. If you face any barriers to applying, or want to talk about other ways we can help, please contact us.

Contact

We are interested in hearing from you. Call our Community Energy Officer on 9242 3451 or at energy.info@banyule.vic.gov.au

Climate action

We are committed to supporting our community to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, as detailed in our Community Climate Action Plan.

Back to top