FAQ

How much will it cost to join the partnership?

Participation in the Better Business Partnership is free of charge. 

Those businesses that are recommended to take a professional energy assessment will be required to pay the subsidised fee of $75 upfront for the energy assessment and action plan under the Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water, Energy Efficiency for Small Business Program.  Those businesses may then be eligible to apply for a rebate of 50% of the cost up to a value of $5,000 of the energy wise equipment.

Who is eligible to participate?

Small to medium sized businesses in Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, North Sydney and Willoughby City Council.

Who runs and funds the partnership?

The Better Business Partnership is run in partnership with Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, North Sydney and Willoughby City Councils in order to maximise reach, build relationships and ensure effective delivery of opportunities and solutions to business.

Phase 1 of this business improvement program was assisted by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust and by Sydney Water’s Every Drop Counts Business Program and funded by Ku-ring-gai, North Sydney and Willoughby City Councils.

Will my information be kept private?

You can view the privacy policy by following this link.

What are the terms and conditions?

You can view the Better Business Partnership terms and conditions by following this link.

What is the Better Business Partnership process?

What is a sustainability overview?

After registering for the Better Business Partnership project, a Partnership Officer will organise a face to face session with the business owner or manager to go through a sustainability overview of their business.

A sustainability overview is a process by which the Partnership Officer will identify strengths and areas for improvement in the business across three key areas of energy, water and waste.  There are additional areas that can also be covered which are purchasing, transport, community and staff support.   In order to generate the overview the Partnership Officer will ask the business owner or manager a series of questions relating to current practices, actions and equipment used.

What is an energy assessment?

Participation in the Better Business Partnership is free of charge.

A professional energy assessment might be recommended for your business. To have an energy assessment done, you will pay an initial fee of $75 or $150, depending on the size of your power bill.  The Energy Efficiency for Small Business Program offers 50 per cent of costs up to $5,000 for buying and installing energy efficient equipment.  You will get an on-site assessment and an action plan, and up to four hours free support to coordinate installation.

What is a water assessment?

A water assessment may be recommended by the Project Officer after the sustainability overview is conducted.  This water assessment will be conducted by our Sydney Water trained Project Officers and will help the business to understand how it manages water and opportunities to save water and bills.

The free water assessment will help you to:

• determine where and how much water is used within the facilities
• identify and eliminate leaks
• identify options for improving water efficiency
• set a realistic conservation goal
• identify options to avoid water use or use an alternative to Sydney Water’s supply
• identify water reuse options, where practical
• promote cultural change through an increase in staff/tenant/ patron awareness

What is an action plan?

An action plan is produced after the sustainability overview has been carried out by the Project Officer at the business premises.  It takes into account a business’ equipment, fittings, behaviours and expenses for energy, water, waste, transport, purchasing, community and staff.  The Project Officer then develops recommendations for ways in which the business can become more sustainable and then explains the report to the business owner/ manager. The business can then commit to no-cost actions, low cost actions and technology retro-fits in order to become more sustainable and gain their recognition badge.   

Who are the Partnership Officers?

The Better Business Partnership program team brings a vast array of experience and knowledge in business, marketing, sustainability and design.

What are the tax benefits?

Refer to your accountant to discuss the tax benefits of implementing water, waste and energy saving actions and technologies.

Who is Vertigy?

The three Councils (Ku-ring-gai, North Sydney and Willoughby City Councils) in 2009, invited proposals from suppliers of sustainable energy and water products and services to achieve more proficient supply and installation of such products and services for small to medium businesses and to provide financial assistance to a business by means such as bringing about reduced capital costs, obtaining green loans and rebates and securing direct funding from available sources.

As a result of the process, the Councils entered an agreement with Vertigy Pty Limited (“Vertigy”) for the provision of sustainable energy and water products and services at stipulated prices; tailored energy assessments in accordance with the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water’s assessment process; action plans; project management; sourcing of products; installation of technologies; and assistance in applying for available environmental rebates for a business who may choose to implement recommended actions.

The Councils recommend Vertigy as a supplier they believe is capable of providing the available products and services in a competent and professional manner but make no warranty as to the performance of Vertigy in any situation. Products and services will be supplied by Vertigy only pursuant to contracts between the company and consumers and the Councils will accept no responsibility for untradesmanlike products or services or for any damage or expense incurred as a consequence of the program or the products and services availed of.

What is the recognition scheme?

A great benefit, apart from improving your environmental performance, is the Better Business Partnership recognition scheme.

When a business participates in the Better Business Partnership they will receive a participation sticker to display on their front window or in another prominent location.  As the business completes the actions set out in their action plan and the Project Officer verifies the actions, they will receive a badge for each of the three core areas of water, waste and energy and the additional areas of transport, purchasing, community and/or staff.

Those businesses who complete the actions agreed to in their action plans for all three core areas of energy, water and waste plus two additional areas from transport, purchasing, community or staff can then be recommended for sustainability awards.