Infographic: How Home Improvement Financing Works

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how home improvement financing works infographic at Evergreen

(View as a downloadable PDF version)

Nobody loves to talk about money. But when it comes to making your home a more efficient and comfortable place to live, you want to know how much it is going to cost you, and what your options are! Let’s walk through financing this example of how a home improvement project that cost $10,000 could actually end up as a monthly payments well below $100, using the available Efficiency Maine rebates and financing options.  

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The Project

In this example project, Evergreen Home Performance performed an energy audit and found this Mid Coast Maine home was in need of:

  • Attic Air Sealing & Insulation

  • Basement Insulation

  • Entry Door Replacement

The total initial cost of the project: $10,000

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The Savings & Rebates

You stand to save between $50 and $$3,500 on qualifying energy upgrades through Efficiency Maine Rebates. (You must be a Maine resident to qualify, and depending on the loan type you may need to meet minimum credit score and debt-to-income ratio requirements.)

$10,000 Project Cost – $2,500 in Efficiency Maine Rebates (basement & attic zones) = $7,500

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For the remaining balance of your project, the Efficiency Maine Home Energy Loans and the National Energy Improvement Fund (NEIF) offer both low and no interest financing options. $5,000 of the project is in home efficiency projects that Efficiency Maine Home Energy Loans can be used for. NEIF EnergyPlus Loans can be used for the entry door replacement portion of the project, at $2,500.

Efficiency Maine Home Energy Loans: borrow up to $15,000 over 10 years with no fees, and interest rates as low as 4.99% APR. 

NEIF: borrow up to $35,000 when using a NEIF approved contractor, at a fixed interest rate ranging from 7.99% to 12.99% APR, based on your credit. 

Estimated monthly payment of remaining balance of $5,000 to be financed through Efficiency Maine over 10 years: $53

Estimated monthly payment of remaining balance of $2,500 to be financed through Efficiency Maine over 10 years: $33

After rebates and employing both financing products this $10,000 project will give you a more comfortable & beautiful home for just $86 a month!

*actual monthly payment will vary based on program(s) used, and approved APR.

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Efficiency Maine & National Energy Improvement Fund (NEIF)

Nationally recognized lenders that we trust & so can you. No gimmicks, no closing costs and we do most of the paperwork for you! 

Evergreen Your Home For Low Monthly Payments

Want to know what your monthly payment would look like for your home improvement project? Get in touch with the Evergreen team today! Learn about all your options by giving us a call at 207-594-2244 or get in touch here.

Want to know how to finance your next home improvement project?

Talk to Evergreen today! 207-594-2244

Evergreen has insulated two homes that we've owned now and both times we experienced exceptional service and craftsmanship. Our rep, Justin, went above and beyond answering questions and the installation team was attentive to every detail, including pulling out old poorly installed insulation and redoing a bathroom fan that wasn't up to current code. They also left the place spotless every day! Our home is already so much warmer this fall and we are looking forward to using less oil this winter.

Eva G.

Falmouth

I cannot say enough great things about working with Evergreen Home Performance. Everything including the initial consultation, the fabulous work crew, the office support and the final resolution was handled in a caring and professional manner. My only regret is that I did not know about them earlier. I enthusiastically recommend Evergreen to anyone with concerns about home energy use.

Darlene R

Bath

Evergreen has just completed Phase 2 of 2 at my home. They are professional, hard-working and courteous. They communicate well..no surprises. They've gone above and beyond to make my home comfortable and were very respectful of my home.I recommend them unequivocally!!!Many thanks to Brian, Brian, Rick, Eddie, Dawson and the rest of the Evergreen crew!!

David Henry Feldman

Our basement was the eyesore of the house. I wanted to make improvements, but first needed to make structural, insulating and moisture mitigation improvements. Evergreen was professional and competent in taking on a complex project of not only encapsulation and insulation of basement and crawlspace, but completed needed improvements to the structural integrity of the wood floor platform above a crawlspace and brought in a concrete contractor to pour where there was once a rotting, tiered wood platform - replacing that area with a more functional and tight tiered concrete area.

Duane B.

East Boothbay

Evergreen came back this year to finish insulating our house. We have been remodeling and renovating an 1850s cape for several years. Their employees are very professional and pleasant to deal with. Over several years Brian Robinson has been able to schedule us in for several small areas that needed addressing and finally turning a room we used to close off in the winter into a comfortable usable space. We primarily heat with wood and since Evergreens great work our furnace has only come on ONCE this winter. Fantastic. Really satisfied customer in Thomaston.

Chris F.

Thomaston

We are so pleased with the work the team from Evergreen Home Performance did in our home. The project included encapsulation of our basement with a reinforced vapor barrier, installation of a sump pump, spray foam insulation on the walls and insulation of the heating duct work. Everyone at Evergreen was friendly and professional. The project was completed on time and in budget. Our home is much cozier and warmer since the project was completed.

Linda Metzger

"Working with Evergreen from start to finish was a great experience." See what our customers have to say about their experience with Evergreen Home Performance. 

Jeff L.

Really great experience from start to finish with Evergreen. They helped us prioritize what needed to be completed first, and has made a significant difference in our hearing costs already. Plus they were really friendly and considerate to work with!

Amy W.

Kennebunk

I never leave reviews, but had a great experience with Evergreen and wanted to spread the word! In short, we worked with them to insulate our roof this winter and have noticed surprising immediate results. The constant ice dams I have wrestled with are completely gone, and the home is noticeably more comfortable. It's a little too early to tell if our oil bill is going to reduce, but I imagine we will see an impact there as well.

Joel W.

Portland

Very easy process, start to finish.  Friendly, professional, and really know their stuff.  They made some improvements to our condo and we were very happy with how it played out.  Would definitely recommend them.

Clayton Eames

From start to finish, our experience was incredible. Justin was extremely helpful. The crew was fast, friendly, and efficient. And most importantly, our home is WAY warmer and our heating is less costly. I'd highly recommend evergreen to anyone looking to upgrade their home!

John S.

South Portland

Led by Brian Robinson, the Evergreen Home Performance team just completed an insulation refit at my home. It was truly a great experience from start to finish, a period of time that was a fraction of the time that I originally anticipated due to the team's unbelievable work habits and professional knowledge of their tasks. As impressive were the communication skills and friendliness of each and every member of the team.

Anne W.

Rockport

A thorough inspection of our (older) house and its energy needs. Competent and personable work crew.

Jacob Watson

Update 12/2018: Evergreen has completed Phase II of my house (insulating and installing air/moisture barrier on exterior walls, replacing old windows) and now that heating season is upon us, the difference is astonishing. The house is tight as a drum and so easy to keep warm. Worth every penny. Thank you all! Working with Evergreen was a positive experience from start (no charge energy audit) to finish (a MUCH more comfortable home). Brian Robinson spent a lot of time with me on the audit, explaining clearly what he was finding in my ca.

Rebekah W.

Rockport

Thorough, smart, informative, integrated, and communicative -- that's how my experience was with Evergreen even with the covid interruption midstream. The team picked up where they left off, insulated basement and air sealed attic and knee wall in 100' temps under the eaves! This business group was a pleasure to work with.

Karen W.

Gray

Portland Buy Local
Efficiency Maine
EPA Lead-Safe Certified
Building Performance Association
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