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Funding and Financing

DC Green Bank: CLEER

Building Sector:

Commercial Office Industrial Multifamily Affordable Housing Multifamily Market Rate Housing

Energy Type:

Electricity Gas Solar

Financial Incentives:

Loan

Administrator

DC Green Bank

Program name

CLEER

Program summary

CLEER financing offers building owners the ability to secure a low-interest loan to quickly propel their energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to completion. The program helps to minimize out-of-pocket costs with 100% financing, no additional debt on the property, and available loan terms of up to 12 years.

Applicable building size

All.

Opportunity

100% financing to cover the cost of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

Funding

  • Incentive/funding details. Loan.
  • Contract structure. 100% financing, no additional debt on the property, and available loan terms of up to 12 years.
  • Amount (max, min, average). Min $10,000; max $250,000.
  • Simple payback. Yes, loan terms up to 12 years available.
  • Pairing with other sources. Up to 30% of the loan can cover non-energy efficiency improvements; 50% of the utility rebates that get paid after installation can be included in the loan.

Process

  • When in the project process an application should be started/completed. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
  • Level of effort required. Obtaining a loan is a fairly simple process. Contractors must be authorized to perform work for their customers (building owners) by signing the Contractor Agreement and by providing any additional required documentation.
  • Length of time to receive funding. Process is dependent on the complexity of the loan proposal.
  • Contractor requirements. Contractors must be authorized to perform work for their customers (building owners) by signing the Contractor Agreement and by providing any additional required documentation.

Additional information

  • Advantages. Frees up cash for other uses on projects; low interest rates; achieve clean energy solutions at a low start-up cost.
  • Program fit for customer. This program is a good fit if there is a need for quick funding to support energy efficiency or renewable energy efforts on a project; if there is a need to upgrade energy efficiency or renewable energy efforts; if there was an impact to current financing and project funding slowed down or was halted; if there is a desire to install a new technology that positively affects the clean energy economy or DC residents.

Take action

Visit the DC Green Bank website for more information on CLEER.

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