Financing

Energy efficiency projects are an investment.  In return for your short-term financial investment, you get the long-term rewards of improved comfort, increased home value, more sustainable energy consumption, and dramatically reduced energy bills. A variety of state and federal incentive programs can help you get started, and Evergreen Home Performance is here to help you navigate the options.

Maine State Incentive Programs

PACE: Under the Property Assessed Clean Energy Program, homeowners pursuing eligible energy improvements can borrow up to $15,000 at 4.99%, with no closing costs.  The loans have a term of up to 15 years and are transferable upon the sale of a property.  Federally funded and administered by Efficiency Maine, the PACE program must be authorized in each municipality before homeowners can apply for a loan.  Almost 100 Maine municipalities have already adopted the program. 

Solar Thermal Program: Efficiency Maine’s Solar Thermal Energy Incentive Program offers 25% of the cost of installing a residential or commercial solar air and water heating system, up to a maximum of $1,000.  Earn an additional $500 rebate if you spend at least $2,000 on additional energy-efficiency upgrades.

Federal Tax Credits

The 2011 Federal Tax Credit for Consumer Energy Efficiency includes:

• Insulation and Air-Sealing– 10% of the materials cost, up to $500
• Heating Systems– $150 for qualified boilers & furnaces, $300 for qualified biomass stoves, $300 for qualified hot water heaters
• Windows, Doors, and Skylights– 10% of the materials cost, up to $500

Geothermal, wind, and solar energy systems are eligible for federal tax credits of 30% with no upper limit.  The credits apply to existing or new construction and primary or secondary residences through 2016.