• Wants a simple, quick, accessible financing option with minimal contract complexity
• Is considering working with a manufacturer or contractor that offers loan financing
• Is relatively credit-worthy and willing to take on equipment performance risk
• Qualifies for one or more of the various below-market and philanthropic loan options below

To compare loans to other financing options that might be a good fit, answer a few questions about your organization.

The customer arranges loan financing through the manufacturer, vendor, or installer of the energy equipment being purchased or, if unavailable, directly with a third-party bank or other lender. Regional and local banks have been the primary drivers of these offerings to date, but larger banks have shown increasing interest in energy efficiency and renewable energy. In addition, project financiers specializing in energy projects are increasingly offering commercial loans or other debt products to fund these projects. The customer owns the equipment from day one and pays down the loan over time.

The specific term, interest rate, down payment, and other loan parameters depend on the credit history of the customer, the lender’s perception of payment default or delinquency risk, and in some cases the details of the proposed project. Loans often require a down-payment of 20-25% of the full loan value, and they may be secured by the energy equipment (non-recourse debt) and/or by the customer’s mortgage or other assets (recourse debt).

In addition to being used to directly fund energy projects, loans are also used to back other financing structures.  Energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs), commercial property assessed clean energy (CPACE), and on-bill financing/repayment (OBF/OBR) are all commonly backed by loans or other debt products.

For certain organizations, loans may be available with more flexible or favorable terms such as below-market interest rates or greater tolerance for poor creditworthiness. These programs are typically established by public organizations, foundations, or other private entities for the purpose of serving a specific social need such as greenhouse gas mitigation or community development. They vary widely in program design and target market but typically fall into the following categories:

State and Local Loan Programs

Many state and local governments have established loan programs that specifically target energy efficiency and clean energy projects within their borders. These programs can often provide lower rates and/or more flexible terms than traditional private sector lenders, and they may operate in communities where loans are less accessible. They include “internal” loan programs that fund only projects in government facilities, as well as “external” programs that serve the broader community, including private sector organizations. One of the most prominent examples is the Texas LoanSTAR Revolving Loan Program, which has financed 237 loans totaling over $395M. In total, more than 30 states have established loan programs targeted at energy conservation or renewable energy.

More information on state and local loan programs is available from the Department of Energy Revolving Loan Funds page. You can find specific information about loan programs in your region by searching for “Loan” in the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy.

Community Development Financial Institutions

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) provide loans and other financial services to poor, underserved, or otherwise disadvantaged communities. They include banks, credit unions, loan funds, and venture funds, and they may serve organizations including non-profits, small businesses, real estate companies, affordable housing, and other sectors. Many CDFIs have programs specifically targeting energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, so they may be a good fit for organizations that seek to reduce their energy costs but otherwise have difficulty accessing capital markets at reasonable rates.

More information on energy-related CDFI programs is available from the Opportunity Finance Network and the Council of Development Finance Agencies.

Grants and Program-Related Investments

Foundations, governments, and other funders sometimes issue grants, repayable grants, or program-related investments (PRIs) to fund clean energy and energy efficiency projects in mission-driven organizations. A grant is a direct donation (and is therefore not considered a loan or debt), whereas a repayable grant comes with a requirement that the principal be paid back to the donor. A PRI is a relatively new structure in which the donor issues a loan with an interest rate well below the standard market rate, allowing the donor to count the PRI as a charitable donation as long as it meets certain IRS requirements. These options are provided by a variety of local, regional, and national organizations, and each program typically has its own target market and overarching goals.

Notable grantmaking organizations focused on energy efficiency include the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, the High Meadows Fund, and the Department of Energy.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan Programs

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise, and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. As part of their services, the SBA offers numerous government guaranteed loan programs that can be used to improve the energy efficiency of commercial buildings. By providing government guarantees to loans made by commercial lenders, SBA helps to enhance small business credit by guaranteeing 50%-85% of an eligible bank loan.

SBA loan programs that can be used to finance building energy efficiency projects include:

• SBA Advantage (7a): SBA’s most common and flexible loan program. $5 million maximum loan amount.

• SBA Grow (504): Designed for financing real estate projects and equipment purchases. If building owner can reduce energy use by 10% or offset energy use by 10% with renewables, they can increase their maximum loan debenture from $5 million to $5.5 million.

• SBA Express: 36-hour application review and response from SBA. $350,000 maximum loan amount.

• SBA Microloan: Typically up to $50,000 in loan dollars; however, some lending institutions can go up to $350,000.

Loans have existed since nearly the beginning of recorded civilization, with the first known loans of grain made to farmers and traders in Mesopotamia nearly 4,000 years ago. Loans are used to finance a variety of assets, and they are one of the most common methods to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. Due to the large size of the lending industry and the fact that many lenders do not track which of their loans qualify as energy-related, it is difficult to estimate the size of the energy efficiency and renewable energy lending market. However, the market is very large, in part because leases are commonly used to provide underlying financing for energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) and other structures. Within the Better Buildings program, the Financial Allies completed over $1.5B in energy efficiency and renewable energy loans from 2012 to 2019. Loans and debt will likely continue to play a major role in energy financing for years to come.

CONNECT WITH PROVIDERS

ENERGY STAR® — Building Upgrade Manual Ch. 4
NASEO — State Energy Loan Fund Map