Energy Savings Mortgage Incentive for Existing Homes

Summary

A tiered incentive is available for individuals purchasing an existing home that receives energy efficient or renewable energy upgrades within 120 days of purchase or has efficiency improvements paid through a refinance on a first mortgage. This incentive builds upon a previous mortgage program and was developed out of legislation signed in May 2013 (H.B. 13-1105). 

A homeowner must have an initial Home Energy Score and select improvements with the Qualified Assessor. The Qualified Assessor will provide an estimated Home Energy Score based on selected improvements. Recommendations must prioritize energy efficiency improvements, specifically the following three when appropriate: air sealing, adding insulation to meet 2009 IECC levels and installing an ENERGY STAR certified heating system if less than 80% AFUE furnace before solar or other improvements are completed. A benefit of $750 will be provided for each scoring bin moved up (i.e., each Home Energy Score point improvement) to $3,000 for moving 4 bins.

The incentive should be reserved with the Colorado Energy Office before closing on a new house. For more information, visit the Colorado Energy Office’s Mortgage Incentives for Homes website. 

Solar

For homes that have met the basic air sealing, insulation, and furnace requirements and would like to add solar PV, the following procedure should be used:

Step 1: Calculate the solar PV system output using PVWatts or other CEO-approved method and convert the kWh produced to MMBTU using a rate of 1 kWh equals 0.0034095 MMBTU 

Step 2: Calculate the number of bins jumped where 11 MMBTU equals 1 bin jump. 

Step 3: Submit all paperwork to CEO to receive approval of solar PV use with the Home Energy Score before at least two weeks before closing on the loan.