Incentives and Financing for Home Performance with ENERGY STAR

New incentives and financing options are available in 2009 to help Vermonters improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

When you're ready to begin your project, the first step is to call an Efficiency Vermont specialist. They will walk you through the process, ask questions about your home and determine whether you may qualify for available incentives. Your project must be pre-approved by Efficiency Vermont before installation in order to qualify

2009 incentives and financing options for Vermont homeowners include:

Green Mountain Power and Vermont Gas customers are eligible for an incentive equal to one-third of the installed cost (up to $2,500) to help pay for a comprehensive home energy efficiency project completed by an Efficiency Vermont approved Home Performance with ENERGY STAR^® contractor. Green Mountain Power customers may also be eligible for a rebate of the energy audit fee upon completion of the recommended work.
Moderate and lower income Vermonters that use oil, propane, or kerosene to heat their homes may qualify for an incentive equal to one-third of the installed cost (up to $2,500) to help pay for a comprehensive energy efficiency project completed by a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor.
Customers not eligible for the above incentives can access an incentive equal to 10% of the installed cost (up to $500) or an interest rate reduction incentive offered through participating Vermont lenders to help pay for comprehensive energy efficiency improvements completed by a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor.

Interest Rate Reduction Incentive

For homeowners not receiving a cash incentive, Efficiency Vermont partners with participating Vermont lenders to offer a 3.5% interest rate reduction on loans of $15,000 or less for terms of 5 years or less. For example, if the interest rate for a qualifying home improvement loan is 8.5%, Efficiency Vermont will pre-pay the interest up to 3.5%, leaving your interest rate at 5%. Residential homes with four units or less are eligible. You can finance 100% of installation costs for qualifying home improvements.

Participating Contractors

Comprehensive energy efficiency projects must be completed or supervised by a certified Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor in order to qualify for incentives. Qualifying heating system replacements must be completed by a state-licensed heating technician in order to qualify. Contact Efficiency Vermont to learn more.

Participating Lenders

Efficiency Vermont partners with Vermont lending institutions to offer loans for qualifying Home Performance with ENERGY STAR home improvements.* Homeowners taking advantage of cash incentives may access market-rate financing through any lender, include those listed here. Alternatively, homeowners may choose to access Efficiency Vermont's interest rate reduction incentive in lieu of a cash incentive.

Please contact one of the participating lenders listed below to find out more about financing your Home Performance with ENERGY STAR project.


Opportunities Credit Union
18 Pearl Street,	PHONE: 802-865-2003 x125
Burlington, VT 05401	FAX: 802-860-6123
Contact: Heather Riley, Consumer Lender hriley@oppsvt.org
Serving: Employees, volunteers, members, clients, or supporters of any non-profit or religious organization serving low income Vermonters


Vermont State Employees Credit Union
P.O. Box 67 Montpelier VT, 05601	PHONE: 800-371-5162 FAX: 802-241-2282
Contact: Amra Brkic, Branch Manager	efficiencyvermont@vsecu.com
Serving Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Rutland, and Washington counties


Brattleboro Savings and Loan
221 Main Street P.O. Box 1010	PHONE: 802-254-5333 / 888-806-6400
Brattleboro, VT 05302-1010	FAX: 802-257-0694
Contact: Theresa Masiello, Branch Manager	tmasiello@brattbank.com
Serving: Brattleboro and Springfield regions


New England Federal Credit Union
141 Harvest Lane	PHONE: 866-80-LOANS (866-805-6267)
Williston, VT 05495	FAX: 802-879-8564
Contact: Dawn Valley, Loan Center Supervisor loanrep@nefcu.com
Serving: Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, and Washington counties


Union Bank
20 Lower Main Street,	PHONE: 802-888-6600/866-862-1891
Morrisville, VT 05661-0667	FAX: 802-888-6463
Contact: Stephen Kendall, Vice President stephenk@unionbankvt.com
Serving: Addison, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orleans and Washington counties


The NeighborWorks Alliance of Vermont is comprised of five regional nonprofit housing organizations dedicated to expanding and preserving homeownership opportunities for all Vermont residents. The Alliance offers low-cost energy loans for income-eligible households through the Vermont Energy Saver Loan program.
Central Vermont Community Land Trust 107 North Main Streeet Barre, VT 05461 Phone: 802-476-4493 Fax: 802-479-0120 Contact: Chandra Pollard, Director of HomeOwnership Programs Email: chandrapollard@cvclt.org
Champlain Housing Loan Fund, Champlain Housing Trust 88 King Street Burlington, VT 05401 Phone: 802-527-2361 Fax: 802-527-2373 Contact: Liz Curry, Loan Fund Manager Email: lcurry@getahome.org
Gilman Housing Trust PO Box 259 Lyndonville, VT 05851 Phone: 888-MY VT HOME Fax: 877-689-3760 Contact: Robin Drinkwater, Loan Fund Manager Email: RobinD@NEKhome.org
Neighborworks of Western Vermont 110 Marble Street W. Rutland, VT 05777 Phone: 802-438-2303 Fax: 802-438-5338 Contact: Mary Rajda, Deputy Director Email: mrajda@nwwvt.org Windham Housing Trust 68 Birge Street Brattleboro, VT 05301 Phone: 802-246-2119 Fax: 802-254-4656 Contact: Tara Brown, Loan Administrator Email: tbrown@windhamhousingtrust.org

Other Lender Partners

These lenders offer energy efficiency loans and partner with Efficiency Vermont to promote customer incentives for Home Performance with ENERGY STAR projects. They do not offer the 3.5% interest rate reduction incentive. Please contact lender partners for specific terms and conditions of loans.


Chittenden Bank, a division of People's United Bank
2 Burlington Square,	PHONE: 802-258-4090
Burlington, VT 05401	FAX: 802-2588-4095
Contact: Arne Hammarlund, Vice President/Community Services Manager Email: ahammarlund@chittenden.com
Apply for a loan through any Vermont branch.