Winterizing Homes with Loans

Winter weather is here. It’s time to insulate your home and replace that old boiler or furnace before the cold winds snap your energy budget.

Thanks to a grant from the Saint Paul STAR program, the Neighborhood Energy Connection now offers the Energy Smart Homes deferred loan program for Saint Paul homeowners and landlords. The loan helps pay for efficient energy improvements. There is no minimum or maximum income requirement to participate.

Energy Smart Homes is a zero interest deferred loan. No payments are ever made and no interest is added to the principal. The original principal comes due in 15 years, or when the borrower sells their home or refinances their mortgage and takes cash back. 

Borrowers can cover from 50% to the entire cost of their energy projects using an Energy Smart Homes loan, but they must match the financing 1:1. The match can be covered with cash, with other financing (the NEC has several safe and flexible financing options or can refer you to other programs), or with payment toward other qualified home improvements.

Energy Smart Homes loans can be used to purchase and install attic and wall insulation, air sealing, and for furnace/boiler replacement. Minimum efficiency standards apply.

Get started today. The nonprofit Neighborhood Energy Connection looks forward to helping you with your project and ensuring that you receive all applicable utility rebates and other incentives. Step one is to call LeAnne at the NEC: 651.221.4462 x132, or email leannek@thenec.org. Program details available at the Neighborhood Energy Connection website: www.TheNEC.org.

Energy Smart Homes is made possible with funds from the Saint Paul STAR program.