California homeowners and businesses seeking low-interest loans for energy efficiency upgrades and clean energy systems can now find information on affordable financing options online at the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) website, www.energycenter.org/financing.  

CSE is offering new web-based tools listing California cities and counties that allow property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing programs as well as extensive information on other low-interest energy loan opportunities. Some examples of eligible measures include attic and wall insulation, HVAC replacements, solar electric and water heating systems, tankless water heaters and low-flow toilets.

“Our new clean energy financing tools make it easy for anyone interested in installing sustainable systems to see where the most favorable loans are available and to compare the benefits of various financing options,” said Jack Clark, CSE’s director of programs. "The opportunities for clean energy financing are evolving rapidly, and these tools are continually updated with the latest information.”

CSE’s PACE map displays counties and cities in California where the financing programs are available by building type and provides facts about PACE as well as direct links to loan provider websites. The information is also useful to home performance contractors and solar energy companies to target sales in areas with PACE and other energy loan programs, Clark said.

PACE financing provides loans to fund energy efficiency, renewable energy and water efficiency projects with little to no up-front costs. With PACE, residential and commercial property owners can finance up to 100% of their project and pay it back over time as a voluntary property tax assessment through their existing property tax bill.

CSE’s clean energy financing database identifies and evaluates various loan programs in California, their basic terms and links to provider websites. The database allows sorting of financing options by energy technology type, user building sector and type of financing desired. CSE developed the financing tools with funding from the Department of Energy’s Rooftop Solar Challenge and the San Diego Regional Energy Partnership.

(Photo Credit: CSE)