Green building grant - 2025-26 - Summer round

Funding program archive

This page preserves a dated funding-program record and links it to current project-planning guidance.

Publication date: 4 February 2025.

Status note: This archive does not confirm that applications are open, funds remain available or the earlier eligibility and co-funding settings still apply. Verify the current administrator page and guidelines.

What this article reported

2025 summer round archive

Summer round

About this program

This grants program supports building owners and owners corporations to receive environmental ratings, certifications and assessments to make their buildings resource efficient and achieve net zero emissions by 2035.

Funding can support:

Residential apartment buildings

Accommodation buildings, including hotels, hostels and serviced apartments

Eligibility

How to apply

Applications for grants and sponsorship must be completed online.

Click here to check for a current round

How to use this information now

Before relying on a grant, confirm the current round, applicant and project eligibility, eligible expenditure, co-contribution, assessment process, closing date and evidence obligations. Build the technical case so the project remains understandable with grant support shown separately.

Separate source-reported facts from forecasts, targets and commentary. For a current project, retain the official source, version, effective date, assumptions and decision record in the evidence file.

What is the Green Building Grant 2025-26 Summer round and who administers it?

The Green Building Grant 2025-26 Summer round is a City of Sydney program supporting building owners and owners corporations to obtain environmental ratings, certifications and assessments that improve resource efficiency and advance net zero emissions goals by 2035. Applications are submitted through the City of Sydney's SmartyGrants portal. The grant recognizes that buildings represent a significant share of operational emissions, and rating and assessment work establishes the baseline data needed for credible investment planning and performance tracking. We deliver NABERS ratings, energy and water assessments, and electrification feasibility studies—core eligible activities under this program.

When do applications open and close, and what is the important project timeline?

Applications open Tuesday 4 February 2025 and close at 5pm on Tuesday 11 March 2025. The project delivery period runs from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, with Council recommendations expected in June 2025. Applicants should note that the project timeline begins well after the application deadline, allowing time for assessment and approval. Early planning is essential: buildings should confirm their current NABERS rating status, available energy and water data, and measurement readiness before applying, since baseline establishment may take several weeks if interval metering or historical records need to be gathered.

What types of buildings are eligible for funding under this grant?

The program supports residential apartment buildings and accommodation buildings including hotels, hostels and serviced apartments located within the City of Sydney's local area. These building types were selected because they represent concentrated populations and occupancy patterns where energy and water efficiency improvements deliver material absolute and per-occupant benefits. Commercial office and entertainment buildings are explicitly excluded. We work with owners corporations and accommodation operators across both categories, and can advise on whether a specific building classification qualifies and what assessments are most relevant to our operational characteristics.

What eligible assessment and certification activities does the grant support for residential apartment buildings?

For residential apartments, grant funding supports NABERS energy and water ratings with action plans, energy and water assessments, waste assessments, renewables feasibility assessments, and building electrification assessments including electric vehicle charging infrastructure. These activities establish the technical baseline needed for building-wide improvement decisions. A NABERS rating identifies current operational performance and creates a structured comparison point for future upgrades. Energy and water assessments investigate consumption patterns and equipment condition, while electrification studies examine the grid capacity, electrical infrastructure and economic case for converting gas heating or cooking to electric alternatives—increasingly material for net zero pathways.

What additional eligible activities are available for accommodation buildings like hotels and hostels?

Accommodation buildings can access all residential apartment funding categories plus additional certifications: Green Star performance rating, EarthCheck certification, eco-tourism certification, and net zero action plans. These broader options reflect the customer-facing nature of accommodation operations and the role of third-party certification in demonstrating environmental commitment to guests and booking platforms. A hotel or serviced apartment pursuing both a NABERS rating and Green Star certification, for example, establishes both operational performance data and market-aligned sustainability credentials. Waste verification—distinct from residential waste assessment—applies to the accommodation sector's specific operational challenges around single-use materials and recycling systems.

Who is eligible to apply, and what organisation types does the program accept?

Eligible applicants are the owners corporation of a residential building or the owner of an accommodation-sector building located in the City of Sydney. Acceptable organisation types include Owners Corporation, Eligible Not For Profit Organisation, Incorporated Association, Corporation, Co-operative, and Trustee of a Trust. Sole traders and government departments and agencies cannot apply. For-profit accommodation operators must match grant funding with their own cash contribution. Applicants should confirm their legal entity structure and verify they hold the necessary authority to commit to a project timeline and funding match before preparing an application, as misclassification can delay assessment.

What is not eligible for funding, and why do these restrictions apply?

Capital expenditure and capital works—the actual installation of equipment, materials or systems—are not eligible; grant funding supports assessments and ratings only. New buildings, commercial office and entertainment buildings are excluded from the program scope. Sole traders and government departments cannot apply. For-profit organisations must match the grant funding dollar-for-dollar with their own cash contribution. Mandatory NABERS ratings required by government disclosure schemes at point of sale or lease do not qualify. These restrictions focus program resources on voluntary assessment and planning that advances net zero strategy, rather than mandatory compliance or capital installation. The cash-matching requirement for for-profit operators reflects the policy intent to support building owners who are committed to improvement rather than those meeting minimum legal obligations.

How should applicants prepare to meet the project timeline and demonstrate readiness?

The project delivery period of 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 allows twelve months for assessment completion and action planning. Buildings should prepare by gathering one year of energy and water bills and tariff information, identifying interval metering (or arranging installation if needed), and confirming building access and operational constraints. Owners corporations should engage their building manager or facilities contact early; accommodation operators should identify who will coordinate data collection. We can support readiness assessment through an initial project brief, establishing what baseline data exists, what measurement may be needed, and realistic timelines for each activity. Starting preparation before the application deadline significantly improves delivery confidence and output quality.

How do applicants complete their application, and where can they find detailed eligibility guidance?

Applications must be completed online via the City of Sydney's SmartyGrants portal at cityofsydney.smartygrants.com.au/GBGSR202526. The City of Sydney's grants and sponsorship guidelines, available at cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/council-governance-administration/grants-sponsorship-guidelines, contain detailed eligibility criteria and assessment requirements. Applicants are advised to review the eligibility section carefully before preparing their submission, particularly regarding building classification, organisation type, and cash-matching obligations. We can advise on whether a proposed project scope aligns with eligible activities and whether assessment approach is appropriate for the building type, though the final eligibility assessment rests with the City of Sydney.

How can Northmore Gordon assist buildings through the grant application and delivery process?

We deliver NABERS ratings, energy and water assessments, renewables feasibility studies, and building electrification assessments—all core eligible activities under this program. We can help applicants prepare a project brief defining the decision needed, data available, and realistic delivery scope; support application development by confirming assessment scope and deliverables; and execute the funded work during the 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 project timeline. Our measurement and verification services establish credible baselines for future investment cases, and its carbon advisory capability can support development of action plans and net zero roadmaps. Buildings should discuss their specific circumstances—building type, current performance rating status, key operational constraints—to confirm the appropriate assessment pathway.

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