Nebraska Energy Office
Nebraska Energy Office
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DOLLAR AND ENERGY SAVING LOANS
at 5% Interest or Less*
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Loans for Wind, Photovoltaic Systems, Solar Hot Water, and Fuel Cells.
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NPPD customers may qualify for 2.5% interest loans for HEAT PUMPS.
See if you qualify!
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 Borrower Maximums
Getting a Loan
Typical Improvements You Can Finance
Getting a Loan for Other Improvements or Equipment
Loan Particulars and Incidental Costs
Emergencies |
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Nebraska Dollar and Energy Saving Loans are offered statewide by the Nebraska Energy Office and the
state's lending institutions. The interest rate is 5%* or less. (*annual percentage rate)
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.
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Borrower Maximums |
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Residential limits Single-family homes (including townhouses and condominiums)
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$35,000 |
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Multi-family buildings
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$75,000 |
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ENERGY STAR ® Partners
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$150,000 |
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Nebraska Businesses and Non-Profits
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$100,000 |
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Farms and Ranches (borrowers must produce at least $1,000 of agricultural products during a calendar year)
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$75,000 |
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Local governments and all political subdivisions, except public schools, school districts and state government
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$175,000 |
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Telecommunications Projects
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$150,000 |
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Dedicated Alternate Fuel Projects
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$150,000 |
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ENERGY STAR® Certified Equipment for Home
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$10,000 |
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ENERGY STAR® Certified Office Equipment
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$25,000 |
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Renewable Wind, Solar or Fuel Cell Projects
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$75,000 |
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Getting a Loan |
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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. 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.
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 4: Lighting
Projects Application.
- Form
7: Dedicated Alternate Fuel Vehicle and/or Alternate Fueling Facility Projects Application.
- 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.
Do-It-Yourself Analyses and More
Tool to Help: United States Department of Agriculture Wood and Corn Btu Calculator
- Form 30: Technical Analysis Loan Application and Form 31: Technical Analysis Cost Estimate.
Apply for a loan to pay for a professional energy audit.
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 a participating 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 participating 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.
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Typical Improvements You Can Finance |
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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
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Getting a Loan for Other Improvements or Equipment |
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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.
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Loan Particulars and Incidental Costs |
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- All eligible project costs can be financed with a loan. However, the total amount borrowed by any one individual, business or organization may not exceed the limits listed. A borrower may choose to finance less than 100% of the cost of the improvements.
- Loans can only be made for the cost of goods and services, not for labor provided by the borrower.
- The only fees a participating lender may charge are out-of-pocket expenses, a physical inspection fee of up to $75, a loan fee to cover indirect or overhead costs up to $75, a 1% origination fee if the term of the loan is for at least seven years and a 2% origination fee if the term of the loan is for the maximum length of time — ten years for home, building and system improvements, five years for appliance replacements and the simple payback period rounded up to the nearest year for projects requiring an energy audit. Maximum length of the loan may vary for Loan Particulars and Incidental Costs other types of projects. Consult the specific application form for the maximum length of the loan. Also, the maximum length may be determined by the minimum monthly payment requirement: $25 for appliances and home and office equipment and $50 for all others. If a lender charges
any of these fees, the final annual percentage rate on your loan may be higher than the program’s simple interest rate.
- Only legal residents of Nebraska may apply for loans. A legal resident is a Nebraska taxpayer, a Nebraska partnership, a Nebraska-chartered corporation, a subdivision of Nebraska government (except public school districts) or a person who has maintained a permanent residence and lived in the state for more than six months. Residency requirements may differ for ENERGY STAR® business or non-profit partners.
- All buildings and systems being improved must be located in Nebraska.
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Emergencies |
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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.
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