EPC - ENERGY STAR® Mortgage

The groundbreaking ENERGY STAR Mortgage Program helps homeowners and home purchasers reduce home energy consumption (and expensive home energy bills) by at least 20 percent -- by obtaining competitive, affordable financing for energy efficiency improvements that yield significant energy cost savings year after year.

Our research shows that these improvements can generate savings of up to $1,000 annually, depending on type of fuel, utility, and delivery costs.

ENERGY STAR mortgage borrowers receive an additional financial benefit above and beyond the home energy savings, such as a discount in mortgage rates, reduced loan fees, assistance with closing costs, or other benefits.

Typically, borrowers achieve dual savings: lower overall monthly mortgage payments compared to a conventional mortgage, and reduced monthly energy bills for years to come.

ABOUT THE ENERGY STAR MORTGAGE Program

The ENERGY STAR Mortgage Program is a public-private partnership directed by the Energy Programs Consortium, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state energy and housing agencies, with support from the Ford Foundation and Surdna Foundation.

In February, Maine became the first state to launch the ENERGY STAR Mortgage Program. EPC is working with several other states, including Massachusetts, New York and Colorado, which plan to launch the program this year.

EPC is responsible for approving all lenders who wish to offer ENERGY STAR mortgages. Participating financial institutions must be regulated lenders or state-supported loan programs.

ENERGY STAR is a U.S. government-sponsored program that identifies and promotes energy efficient products, including homes and other buildings. In 2007 alone, ENERGY STAR helped Americans save $16 billion on their heating and electricity bills and reduce learn an amount of greenhouse-gas emissions that was equivalent to taking 27 million vehicles off the roads.