Green loans…politicians AND a small business in Warrandyte…

Kevin Rudd has promised a $300 million solar/water plan that means about 200,000 households could get cheap loans of up to $10,000 to install ‘green devices’. Repayments would be ‘in line with capacity to pay’ and the policy could generate up to $2 billion work of green inspired work. BUT, Kevin has been beaten to the draw by at least one grassroots businessman – Darren Bowers!

Darren is doing his bit for sustainability by giving discounts on ‘green’ home loans from his Warrandyte (Vic) office of True Blue Financial Services. I met Darren while spruiking for Warrandyte’s CAN (Climate Action Now) membership at our recent Yarra-side Festival. That weekend, Darren – an amateur actor – was also on stage in the Warrandyte Follies, a highlight of the Festival.

FYI Warrandyte CAN has ended up with 81 ‘interested residents’!

Darren’s Danish-born wife, Birgitte, is a full-time physio, and last year as a home-based businessman Darren had the creche/kinder run, as well as his relatively new brokerage business, keeping him very busy. This year with young Callum in Prep he now has time to concentrate on his business.

True Blue handles:

• Owner-occupied & investment purchases
• Equity release (reverse mortgages)
• Construction & renovations
• Debt consolidation
• Commercial finance
• Lo Doc loans (self-employed & PAYG)
• Bridging finance
• Mortgage protection & household insurance
• Car finance
• Products from over 30 Bank & Non-Bank Lenders

What is the ‘green’ part of True Blue Loans?

• Clients are offered a fixed percentage of the total loan amount as a refund for environmentally sustainable home improvements e.g. the installation of solar heating and/or water treatment systems etc.
• Darren’s refund applies to all ‘borrower profiles’ different from other ‘green offers‘ that require a specific green product/service be ‘part of the deal’.
• As a local broker Darren supports local schools: Warrandyte Primary puts out a booklet of supporting businesses and Darren’s ad offers to donate $300 to the school for every loan generated by the ad.

How one broker learnt the brokerage business

Darren worked for a bank for two years after completing Year 12. He then took off and spent 3 wonderful years travelling in Europe, meeting Birgitte on a Kibbutz.

He came home, did a Business-Accountancy degree – tutoring and working part-time, as you do – and then started working in the corporate world, but, when he negotiated a home loan through a young broker he thought to himself “I can do this….. and work for myself!”

He worked for a while with an online broking organisation to learn the lie of the land then linked up with his current associate Graeme Kiby.

What is Darren doing for the environment at home?

With his three kids growing up and needing more space Darren and Birgitte have just completed a double glazed north-facing extension. Key components of these renovations are Evacuated Tube -Solar Hot Water Panels on his roof and a 4550 gravity fed (e.g. no pump needed) water tank facility.

Darren has long considered himself a keen environmentalist having done lots of bushwalking (Wilson’s Prom is a favorite)and cycle touring over years, so he is enthusiastic about using his occupation to help reward and encourage those trying to do their bit for a better environment.

You can contact Darren E: darrenbirg@ozemail.com.au T: 03 9844 0031 M: 0413 494658

Is your business doing something green? Drop us a line…