A Home Sustainability Assessment (HSA) is a great way to get some professional advice on improving the environmental performance of your home.

Assessments are funded through the Australian Government's Green Loans program, so there's no cost to you. Each assessment takes about two hours and looks at everything that influences the energy and water performance of your home.

Benefits of having an HSA are:

* It's free! HSA's are government funded, so there's no charge.
* Find out about behavioural, low-tech, and high-tech ways to improve the comfort and environmental performance of your home
* Receive a $50 Green Rewards Card to purchase low-cost energy and water saving devices
* If you want to install bigger water and energy saving devices, anything that is recommended in the HSA report is eligible for a four year interest free loan of up to $10,000 (Valid till 22nd of March)

What does an assessment involve?

We'll come out to your home and start by discussing what your priorities are. Some common goals include:

• Saving water, or reusing grey water
• Using energy more efficiently
• Saving money on water, gas, and electricity bills
• Comfort - being warmer in winter or cooler in summer
• Reducing carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions

Once we've established what's important to you, we'll look around your home to assess its current environmental performance.

Then we'll provide you with detailed, practical advice on what you can do to make improvements.

We'll also help you reduce the cost of those improvements, by providing information on various water and energy rebates, and the Federal Government Green Loans program.

How much does an assessment cost?

Nothing - HSAs are government funded, so they're free.

In addition there are a range of water rebates and energy rebates available to help offset the cost of implementing the advice provided in the HSA report.

Will you be judging us during the assessment?

At Think Eco our policy is that we'll start judging others when we're perfect. We still have a bit of a way to go before you have to worry about that...

It's your house, and it should perform the way you want it to so, as well as producing a general report with a range of energy and water saving options, we'll focus on whatever is important to you (eg maybe it's too hot upstairs in summer, maybe you're obsessed with saving water, or maybe you just want to learn about no-cost solutions).

We will never judge how tidy your house is, so please don't clean up before we come!

Do I have to take out a Green Loan?

No. You need to have an HSA to get a Green Loan but you don't need to get a loan to have an assessment. (Valid till 22nd of March)

I rent, can I have an assessment?

Absolutely, Think Eco will talk you through what you can do yourself, and what requires landlord permission. We'll also leave you with a copy of the Alternative Technology Association's Renter's Guide to Sustainability.

How do I book an assessment?

If you live in the Melbourne metropolitan area, Think Eco are happy to book an assessment for you. Just book online, email assessments@thinkecoshop.com.au or call 0422 147 466 anytime.

If you don't live in metropolitan Melbourne you'll need to call the Australian Government's Green Loans hotline on 1800 895 076 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

If you live in country Victoria and there are no assessors currently working in your area, give Think Eco a call and we'll see if we can come out to your area (especially if a couple of your neighbours would like an assessment on the same day).

Which suburbs do you service?

Think Eco offer Home Sustainability Assessments anywhere in metro Melbourne, with a particular focus on the bayside suburbs between St Kilda and Frankston.

Wherever you live, please call or email and we'll try to organise a visit to your area.

How do I apply for a Green Loan?

For more information about the Green Loans program, see http://www.environment.gov.au/greenloans/ (Valid till 22nd of March)