Nebraska Dollar and Energy Saving Loans are offered statewide by the Nebraska Energy Office and the state's lending institutions. The simple interest rate is 5%* or less. [*final annual percentage rate (APR) may vary by lender and loan fees charged].
Many common home, building or system energy improvements qualify for financing. These projects are generally cost-effective and can be financed with a low-interest loan for up to ten years, or for five years for appliances.
Borrower Maximums
Residential limits Single-family homes (including townhouses and condominiums)
$35,000
N/A
$35,000
Wind/Photo Voltaic/Fuel Cell:
$125,000
Solar Hot Water Heating:
$14,000
Multi-family buildings
$75,000
More than 3 Stories Above Grade:
$750,000
$75,000
Wind/Photo Voltaic/Fuel Cell:
$125,000
Solar Hot Water Heating:
$14,000
ENERGY STAR ® Partners
$150,000
$750,000
$150,000
Wind/Photo Voltaic/Fuel Cell:
$125,000
Solar Hot Water Heating:
$14,000
Nebraska Businesses, Manufacturers, Institutions and Non-Profits
$100,000
$750,000
$100,000
Wind/Photo Voltaic/Fuel Cell:
$125,000
Solar Hot Water Heating:
$14,000
Farms and Ranches (borrowers must produce at least $1,000 of agricultural products during a calendar year)
$75,000
$750,000
$75,000
Wind/Photo Voltaic/Fuel Cell:
$125,000
Solar Hot Water Heating:
$14,000
Local governments and all political subdivisions, except public school districts and state government
$175,000
$750,000
$175,000
Wind/Photo Voltaic/Fuel Cell:
$125,000
Solar Hot Water Heating:
$14,000
Public School Districts
N/A
$750,000
N/A
Wind/Photo Voltaic/Fuel Cell:
$125,000
Solar Hot Water Heating:
$14,000
Telecommunications Projects
$150,000
N/A
N/A
N/A
Dedicated Alternate Fuel Projects
$150,000
N/A
N/A
N/A
ENERGY STAR® Certified Equipment for Home
$10,000
N/A
N/A
N/A
ENERGY STAR® Certified Office Equipment
$25,000
N/A
N/A
N/A
Getting a Loan
Some of these documents are in Adobe Acrobat or "PDF" format. If you need Acrobat Reader to view a document, click the Adobe Reader link to download Reader before viewing the document.
The first thing you will need are the loan application forms for the improvements you wish to make. Specific energy efficiency requirements are listed on the forms for each type of project.
If you are an individual or in the case of a business, a sole proprietor, you must complete and submit a United States Citizenship Attestation form in order to comply with Nebraska Legislative Bill 403 signed into law on April 8, 2009.
When you are ready to apply for loan, you may get loan application forms from your lender, the Nebraska Energy Office, or print a copy of the form from the list below. Just click on the form or forms you need and print them on your printer. Form B must be included with your loan application when submitting project application Forms 1,2,3,4,7,8,9,20 and 30.
Project Application Forms
Form 1: Replacement Appliance Application. For Refrigerator, Freezer, Dishwasher and Clothes Washer Appliance Replacement
Form 2: Door, Window, Wall and Ceiling Projects Application. Insulation Added, Seal leaking Doors and Windows, Wall and Ceiling Insulation, Caulking and Sealing Building Envelope (if your project includes roofing, siding, new windows or doors you must attach supplemental forms 2 Roofing,2 Siding, or 2 Window/Door).
Form 3: Heating,
Cooling and Water Heating Projects Application. Furnace, Air Conditioning and Water Heater Projects.
Form 8: Telecommunications
Equipment Application. Telecommunication Network Access Equipment, Servers, Modems/Rack Modems, Channel Service Units, Data Service Units, Computers, Video Conferencing Products, Portable Conferencing Units, Teleconferencing Bridges and more.
Form 9: ENERGY STAR® Certified Home Electronics and Office Equipment Application. Computers and Laptops, Printers, Monitors, Fax Machines, Copiers, Cordless phones, answering machines, Battery Chargers, Home Audio Equipment, Televisions and more.
Form 20:Wind, Solar and Fuel Cell Application. Fuel Cells, Wind, Solar Hot Water and Photovoltaic Systems.
Form 35:Utility Records Release. For use when Utility Account is in the name of someone other than the applicant.
Form A: United States Citizenship Attestation. To comply with Nebraska Legislative Bill 403.
Form B: Project Start Notification. Agreement not to purchase equipment or contractually obligate yourself to a project until a Commitment Agreement (Form 10) is signed by the Nebraska Energy Office.
Form 30: Technical Analysis Loan Application and Form 31: Technical Analysis Cost Estimate.
Apply for a loan to pay for a professional energy audit.
Forms Requisition:For ordering Lender and Project Application Forms and other Program Materials.
Get Price Quotes/Bids
Obtain price quotes or bids from contractors, dealers or installers for the desired projects, but do not proceed with any work or contractually obligate yourself to proceed. (If you do, you lose your eligibility to finance the project through the Energy Office. You may get a bid or quote, contingent on Energy Office approval of your project.) Only one bid or quote is required by the Energy Office. However, it is prudent to compare several bids or quotes and some lenders may require more than one. If there is a minimum performance requirement for a particular project, such as a heating or cooling unit, make sure the bidder is aware of the requirement and ask the bidder to mark the performance factor on the bid form. If more than one project is included on a bid form, or if there is additional work which does not qualify for low-interest financing, costs of each qualifying project must be itemized.
Complete all the information requested on each form and attach the price quotes or bids that you intend to accept. You may install projects yourself, but may not include the value of your labor in the project cost. If the project will result in a rebate, the amount of that rebate must be deducted from the project cost.
Go To Your Lender
Energy loans are available statewide. Take the completed forms to an eligible lender — a Nebraska bank, savings institution or credit union of your choice. Most financial institutions in Nebraska offer Dollar and Energy Saving Loans. If your present financial institution does not, contact the Nebraska Energy Office for names of other eligible lenders in your area. You
must provide the information required by the lender to complete your loan application and determine that you meet the institution’s credit requirements. Lenders are encouraged to make these loans for the maximum term. If your lender does not, or if you are not satisfied with fees or other details of the loan, you may want to contact another participating lender.
The lender will approve your loan application subject to the Energy Office’s commitment of funds. After the Energy Office reviews your project and reserves funds for your loan, your lender will notify you to proceed with your project. Do not begin any part of the project until your lender notifies you of the Energy Office’s commitment.
Your lender will notify you when to proceed with the work. All qualifying work should be completed within five months after the Energy Office’s commitment of funds. When completed, notify the lender to finalize any remaining details.
Start repaying your loan while you enjoy the lower energy bills and operating costs provided by the improvements you have made.
Typical Improvements You Can Finance
Refrigerator, Freezer, Dishwasher, Dehumidifier or Clothes Washer Replacements
Certain Commercial Appliance Replacements
Room Air Conditioner and Room Heat Pump
Insulation added to walls, floors, ceilings, attics and other building envelope surfaces
Windows, Glass Doors and Exterior Doors
Storm Windows and Doors
Skylight Replacements
Broken Windows
Windows and Doors to be replaced with solid walls
Reflective Window Film
Building Air Leaks to be sealed with caulk and weather-stripping or thresholds
High Efficiency Space Heating Equipment
Forced air gas furnace
Steam or hot water boiler
Combination water and space heater
Radiant heating
High Efficiency Space Cooling Equipment
Central air conditioner
Air source heat pump
Ground water or ground coupled heat pump
Packaged terminal heat pump or air conditioner
Programmable Thermostats and other controls
High Efficiency Water Heating Equipment
Duct, Pipe and Water Heater Insulation
Whole House Fans, Heat or Energy Recovery Ventilator and Outdoor Combustion Air Intake Duct
Fireplace Inserts
High Efficiency Lighting and Controls
Renewable Wind, Solar and Fuel Cell Projects
Dedicated Alternate Fuel Vehicles and Fueling Facilities
Telecommunications Equipment such as network access equipment, video and audio conferencing products and other equipment which save energy by reducing the need for physical transportation
ENERGY STAR® Certified Home Electronics and Office Equipment
Other Energy Efficiency and Waste Minimization projects can be financed in some situations. Contact the Energy Office for details
If you want to make an improvement or purchase equipment that is not listed on forms 1-4 or 7-9, you may be able to qualify for financing by demonstrating that the project will pay for itself within:
15 years for building improvements,
5 years for replacement appliances or home electronics and office equipment or
10 years for all others
This is done with a professional technical analysis or a self-prepared analysis. If you need technical assistance to determine what improvements or equipment are appropriate for your project, you may want a professional analysis done.
Do-It-Yourself Analysis and More Steps to Obtain a Low Interest Loan Using an Energy Saving Improvement Analysis, Form 32 and Form 33 provide a simple energy saving analysis which you can complete yourself. Form 36 provides the format for doing the same on waste minimization projects. Free or low-cost energy audits may also be available from your local electric or natural gas utility. If these are unavailable or not appropriate, you may seek assistance from a professional engineer, architect or other licensed or certified technician. When a third party prepares the technical analysis, that person must complete and sign an Analyst No Interest Statement, and the borrower must complete the Utility Records Release, both on Form 34.
Submit the completed analysis of the energy saving improvement(s) or waste minimization project(s), with all supporting documentation, to the Energy Office. The Office will review it to make sure that savings estimates are reasonable or the waste minimization project qualifies, and will return a Technical Analysis Acceptance, Form 6, to the participating lender you designate. This form lists those improvements or projects identified in the analysis which qualify for a Dollar and Energy Saving Loan. Meet with your lender when form 6 is received and proceed with financing the qualifying improvement(s) or project(s).
The cost of an analysis prepared by a third party may be added to a Dollar and Energy Saving Loan as a part of the cost of the project.
Technical Analysis Loans
A technical analysis of energy saving improvements or waste minimization projects may be financed with a Dollar and Energy Saving Loan provided it will be done, as appropriate, by a Professional Engineer or Architect, Certified Energy Manager, Certified Lighting Efficiency Professional or Home Energy Rater. Use Form 30 and Form 31 to apply for a technical analysis loan through a participating Nebraska lender.
New Home Construction Loans for Pre-Sold Homes The Nebraska Energy Office is offering 2.5% Dollar and Energy Saving Loans through eligible Nebraska lenders for the construction of single family, detached dwellings located in Nebraska which will be built as Energy Star®, Five Star Plus homes. You must be supply the Energy Office with a set of the construction drawings and specifications showing inclusion of all required products, dimensions, R-values, efficiencies, mechanical design, etc., along with the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) reports, from plans, which show the home meets Energy Star®, Five Star Plus requirements, and shows the program inputs used by the HERS rater and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) sizing (a copy of the Building File Report and Equipment Sizing Summary). Once the Energy Office has this information, it will be reviewed for compliance with the requirements of the program and you will be notifed that either (a) the plan complies and you may apply for a loan from an eligible Nebraska lender, or (b) the plan is deficient in specific areas and you have the opportunity to revise and resubmit the information. If your plan complies with program requirements, the Energy Office must be notified by your Nebraska lender that your application for a construction loan has been approved by their institution and receive your loan application paperwork from the lender. Once a Commitment Agreement between your lender and the Energy Office has been signed, the lender will notify you that you may begin construction. You may not begin construction prior to receiving notification from your lender that the Energy Office has committed funds to your project. Construction is considered to start when any permanent structure is placed on top of the footings. During and after construction the HERS rater will need to inspect the home to insure construction is completed according to the plans and Energy Star®, Five Star Plus requirements, and provide the Energy Office with the associated completed checklists and final HERS rating.
The construction loan must be secured by a 1st mortgage on the home being constructed; have a permanent loan take-out commitment in place; not be written for more than 1 year; carry an interest rate of no more than 2.5%; and be covered in full by property insurance. Any loan fees charged by the lender will be only for costs associated with the loan paid to a non-affiliated third party or, if in-house fees, not exceed the lender’s published fees for like extensions of credit.
The construction loan can include the costs of the lot, Home Energy Rating, design and plans, material and equipment to be installed in the house, building permits, utility installation or connection, general contractor, subcontractors and wages paid to employees, as well as loan fees charged by the lender. The costs of services by the borrower and the borrower’s family or friends who are not actual employees or contractors engaged in the construction business are not eligible.
Lender may loan 100% of the total cost of the project up to the appraised value of the home as completed or $417,000.00, whichever is less, provided the lender determines the borrower has sufficient resources, or can provide additional collateral, to cover any amount over and above the permanent loan take-out commitment.
Use Form M10 to apply for new home construction loan for pre-sold homes through a participationg Nebraska lender.
Projects may not be started prior to Energy Office commitment of funds to your lender except in two
emergency situations:
When a heating system fails or is red-tagged during the winter
months of September through May, or
When a cooling system fails
during the summer months and immediate replacement is essential for verifiable medical reasons.
In either case, the lender must obtain Energy Office approval for immediate installation of qualifying equipment. Then the improvement may be financed with a conventional loan until the Energy Office commits funds to refinance the balance with
an energy loan.
Equipment installed in an emergency must still meet minimum performance requirements and the borrower must still meet the lender’s credit requirements.
Borrower Maximums
