INTRODUCTION
Need help paying for energy efficiency or renewable energy upgrades? Who doesn't? The links to Financing & Energy Loans, below, offer solutions for just about every case imaginable.

If you are interested in upgrading a new or existing home, you can now afford to install energy improvements at the time of purchase through Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs). EEMs provide financing for energy improvements as part of a home mortgage package. EEMs can also allow home buyers to automatically qualify for a larger mortgage to pay for efficiency improvements. This is possible because the lender knows that your saving more in an average months energy bill than the added cost of the mortgage. Lenders provide EEMS under the rationale that the mortgagee will have greater disposable income from savings on utility bills and can therefore afford a greater monthly mortgage payment. For help with an EEM contact the Home Energy Rating Organization in your area from the list of links below.

In addition to EEMs and other types of energy loans, there may also be Tax Credits and Other Incentives available.

Public agencies can take advantage of tax-exempt financing for their projects. This type of financing provides the lowest cost financing and the interest rates are based on the amount borrowed, the term and the credit-worthiness of the applicant. This section provides information and links to other web sites offering financing to public agencies and some types of non-profits.

Check the links below to see some of what is available on the world wide web!

FINANCING &
ENERGY LOANS

A list of Financing Options for Renewable Energy Systems
Fact sheets (in Adobe Acrobat) that provide examples and some information about loans that are available and a list of additional loan companies that have special renewable energy financing packages. From the California Energy Commission.

The Borrower's Guide to Financing Solar Energy Systems: A Federal Overview (New 12/20/2002)
Provides information that can assist consumers in financing solar energy systems that include both solar electric and solar thermal systems. This page has summaries of three programs outlined in the booklet. For a copy of the booklet, contact:

Patrina Eiffert, PhD.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
1617 Cole Boulevard
Golden, CO 80401-3393

California State Programs and Information Available

California Department of General Services -
Energy Management Division - Revenue Bond Program (Updated 12/20/2002)
Energy Efficiency Revenue Bonds offer many advantages, including a tax-exempt status and a very competitive interest rate. Because of the time and expense involved in performing a bond sale, projects are pooled together - it's not feasible for bonds to be sold on a project by project basis.

California Department of General Services -
Lease Purchase Financing (Updated 12/20/2002)
DGS offers help in obtaining quotes from lenders, performing cash flow analysis, pre-negotiating lease agreements - lower interest rates and longer repayment terms.

California Energy Commission - Bright Schools Program
An easy way for schools to learn about and pay for energy efficiency projects, as well as to apply for financing through the Energy Efficiency Financing Program.

California Energy Commission - Energy Partnership Program
Costs for local government keep going up, but one place where local officials can help save tax-payer money is by reducing energy costs. The Energy Partnership Program was developed to help local governments use energy more efficiently in their buildings and vehicles. It also is part of the process for applying for financing through the Energy Efficiency Financing Program.

California Energy Commission - Energy Efficiency Financing Program
The Energy Efficiency Financing Program provides financing for schools, hospitals and local governments through low-interest loans for feasibility studies and the installation of energy-efficiency measures.

California Energy Commission - General Information on Financing (Updated 12/20/2002)
How to Finance Public Sector Energy Efficiency Projects: this handbook describes the different types of financing available to public agencies.

California Guide to Smarter Home Energy Use - Get The Big Picture! (New 12/20/2002)
(Downloads Adobe PDF file) A Step-by-step California Guide to Smarter Home Energy Use Like most Californians, you want your home to use energy wisely ñto save money and help the environment. But you may not know where to begin .

California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (Updated 12/20/2002)
Eligible applicants for Infrastructure Bank loans include any local government subdivision,
such as: cities, counties, departments, agencies, commissions, non-profit corporations (formed
on behalf of applicant), special districts, and joint powers authorities.

Eligible projects include: city streets, state and county highways, public transit, drainage
and flood control, educational facilities, environmental mitigation, port facilities, sewage
collection and treatment, solid waste collection and disposal, public safety facilities, water
treatment and disposal, public safety facilities, water treatment and distribution, defense
conversion, parks and recreational facilities and communications facilities.


Cities for Climate Protection; Manual for Financing Energy Efficiency

DSIRE Database of Renewable Energy Incentives (California) (New 2/3/2002)

Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM)
Pacific Gas & Electric Company, California

Energy Solutions for Cities and Counties
Planning and sustainability for balancing local growth, energy use, and goals for a healthy environment. Both the energy efficiency and the environmental aspects of public buildings, public utilities, transportation, and water systems are considered. Solutions are intended to foster local economic development as well as the health and well-being of the citizens of the community. From the U.S. Department of Energy.

Federal Citizen Information Center (New 12/20/2002)
A variety of information on housing finance, sales, and more.

Financing Solutions
For everyone - from consumers to public entities. From the the U.S. Department of Energy.

Financing Energy Projects (Updated 12/20/2002)
These links from the Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development have something
for everyone, from municipalities to individuals.

Financing Solar Energy Projects (New 12/20/2002)

Green Energy Finance
This web site is sponsored by the U.S. DOE and the U.S. EPA, and was developed by CREST, the Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology. Their database is a one-stop shop of energy efficiency financing resources for the homeowner, building manager, architect, lending institution, or other user interested in financing green energy!

How to Finance Public Sector Energy Efficiency Projects

How To: Stop Assuming Your Utility Bills are as Low as They Go (New 12/20/2002)
An article about how Energy Efficient Mortgage and Home Energy Rating systems work together.

HUD - Buying a home (New 12/20/2002)
Tips from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Off-Grid Home Mortgage loans
Make a solar-powered home affordable with the low interest rates and long financing terms of conventional home loans.

Pooled Financing Programs (Update 12/20/2002)

League of California Cities and California State Association of Governments
California Statewide Communities Development Authority
Lease financing for energy efficiency projects.

Association of Bay Area Governments, Financial Services
Financing for energy efficiency projects.

California School Board Association, Financial Services
Lease/financing for energy efficiency projects.

Calfornia State Association of Counties, Financial Services
Financing for energy projects.

Renewable Energy System Finance Options (New 07/24/2003)
Fact sheets (in Adobe Acrobat) that provide examples and some information about loans that are available and a list of additional loan companies that have special renewable energy financing packages. From the California Energy Commission.

The Residential Energy Services Network's (RESNET) (New 03/20/2000)
The mission of RESNET is to improve the energy efficiency of the nation's housing stock and to qualify more families for home ownership by expanding the national availability of mortgage financing options and home energy ratings. RESNET is a national network of mortgage companies, real estate brokerages, builders, appraisers, utilities and other housing and energy professionals. RESNET's activities are guided by a mortgage industry steering committee composed of the leading national mortgage executives.

Sacramento Municpal Utility District (SMUD) (California)
SMUD has design and financial assistance programs for SMUD customers in both solar water heating and passive solar homes. Contact SMUD at 916-452-3211 (General Information) or 916-753-5400 (Conservation) for more information; Sacramento, California, USA

Safe-Bidco Energy Conservation Loans (Link found dead on 03/20/2000 - see address below)
SAFE-BIDCO provides low-interest (5%) loans to small businesses and non-profit organizations seeking to reduce their energy costs. Examples of eligible projects include: installation of energy-efficient lighting; weatherization; and alternate energy systems. Loan maximum is $150,000, with up to 5 years to repay.

SAFE-BIDCO, Mary Jo Dutra; President
1626 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(707) 577-8621; (800) 273-8637; FAX (707) 577-7348

State Incentives For Energy Efficiency In The State Agency and School District Sectors (New 12/20/2002)
From the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Utility Financing Programs - California (New 04/17/2000)
Utility financing programs have changed as a result of electricity deregulation. Contact your local utility to find out whether they are offering any financing or incentive programs. This link will take you a listing of the utilities serving California.

HOME ENERGY
RATING ORGANIZATIONS

Home Energy Rating Organizations are responsible for the implemention of "standardized rating systems," required for the approval of Energy Efficiency Mortgages (EEM) and Energy Improvement Mortgages (EIM). The following is an alphabetically arranged list:

AK/USA - Energy Rated Homes of Alaska
P.O. Box 112642
Anchorage, AK 99511
(907) 345-4963
(907) 348-0468
104632.1447@CompuServe.com (e-mail)

AR/USA - Energy Rated Homes of Arkansas
5401 JFK Bouledvard, Suite C-1
North Little Rock, AR 72116
(501) 771-2299
(501) 771-1498 (fax)
energyratings@aristotle.net (e-mail)

AZ/USA - Arizona Department of Commerce
3800 N. Central Avenue #1200
Phoenix, AZ 85012
(602) 280-1410
(602) 280-1445

CA/USA - California Home Energy Efficiency Rating System (CHEERS)
1700 Adams Avenue, Suite 102
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 540-0501
(714) 540-2860 (fax)

CA/USA - Rated Energy Plus Homes
Whitmore Avenue, #102
Ceres, CA 95307
(800) 890-7929

CO/USA - Energy Rated Homes of Colorado
1675 Broadway, Suite 1300
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 297-7395
(303) 297-0948 (fax)

FL/USA - Florida Building Energy Rating System
Department of Community Affairs
2740 Centerview Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32399
(904) 487-1824
(904) 922-5623 (fax)

IL/USA - Energy Wise Homes of Illinois
Department of Commerce and Community Affairs
325 West Adams, Room 300
Springfield, IL 62704
(217) 785-2007
(217) 785-2618 (fax)
John.Marley@Accessil.com (e-mail)

IN/USA - Energy Rated Homes of Indiana
Energy Policy Division
One North Capitol, Suite 700
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 232-8948
(317) 232-8995 (fax)

IA/USA - Energy Rated Homes of Iowa
212 West Ingledue
Marshallrown, IA 50158
(515) 752-7162
(515) 752-9724 (fax)
claude_papesh@central.mica.midiaca.org (e-mail)

KS/USA - Kansas Energy Star
Department of Commerce & Housing
700 SW Harrison, Ste 1300
Topeka, KS 66603-3712
(913) 296-2686
(913) 296-8985

LA/USA - Energy Rated Homes of Louisiana
625 N. 4th Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
(504) 342-2133
(504) 342-2707 (fax)
wadeb@dnr.state.la.us (e-mail)

ME/USA - Maine Home Energy Rating Organization
c/o York Community Action Corporation
P.O. Box 72
Sanford, ME 04073
(207) 342-5762
(207) 490-5026 (fax)
yorkcap@aol.com (e-mail)

MI/USA - Michigan Home Energy Rating System
P.O. Box 30221
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 334-7234
(517) 882-1685 (fax)
john.h.sarver@cis.state.mi.us (e-mail)

MS/USA - Energy Rated Homes of Mississippi
P.O Box 9362
Jackson, MS 39286
(601) 981-6699
(601) 362-9579 (fax)

OH/USA - Home Energy Ratings of Ohio
37 West Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43125
(614) 222-0115
(614) 221-3421 (fax)

OR/USA - Energy Rated Homes of Oregon
Oregon Housing and Community Services Department
1600 Salem Street
Salem, OR 97310
(503) 986-2092
(503) 986-2020 (fax)

RI/USA - Rhode Islanders Saving Energy (RISE)
728 Valley Street
Providence, RI 02908
(401) 784-3700
(401) 273-9630 (fax)

UT/USA - Energy Rated Homes of Utah
590 North State Street, Suite F
Orem, UT 84057
(801) 765-0034
(801) 765-1976 (fax)
uecc19@idt.net (e-mail)

Vermont - Energy Rated Homes of Vermont
127 Pine Street
Burlington, VT 05401-4710
(802) 865-3926
or (800) 639-6069 (toll free)
(802) 658-1643 (fax)
http://www.ghm.com/EnergyRating/ERH-VT/

VA/USA - Virginia Home Energy Rating Organization, Inc.
804 Moorefield Park Drive, Suite 101
Richmond, VA 23235
(804) 560-9134
(804) 560-9139 (fax)

WI/USA - Wisconsin Home Energy Rating and Energy Efficiency Financing Service
Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation
3120 International Lane
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 249-9322
(608) 249-0339 (fax)

TAX CREDITS AND
OTHER INCENTIVES

California Energy Commission - Rebates, Tax Credits,Grants, Loans

Federal Incentives for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
This link provides a search of the IRS's web site for documents related to the tax credits for solar and efficiency - the credits cover systems put into service after Jan 31, 2005 and most will remain in effect through 2007.

Federal Incentives for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
DSIRE tracks federal financial incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency ó those designed primarily for residents, businesses, and other end-users rather than funding opportunities for research & development, outreach, or inter-governmental programs. New federal programs and incentives for renewable energy will be added to DSIRE as they become available

State Incentives for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy. DSIRE now includes incentives for energy efficiency. Choose one or both databases to search using the check boxes below.

Tax Credits and Other Incentives for Renewable Energy
This link provides a search of the DOE's web site for documents related to the tax credits and incentives.