Super Saver Loans

for electric customers to make energy efficiency improvements

The Program

Increasing the energy efficiency of your home is good for our community. You can reduce your utility bills and help the environment. For the utility, lowering your demand means we purchase less wholesale power which helps your electric rates stay as low as possible.

After you sign up for the Super Saver Loan program, a member of our staff will visit your home to conduct a free energy audit. An air infiltration test might be conducted on your home to help with the efficiency evaluation. You will be given suggestions on how to make your home more energy-efficient and how our loan program can best serve you.

The Money

Our Super Saver Loan program is financed from the enterprise fund of Columbia Water and Light. No general revenue funds of the city, nor any other forms of public money, are used by the program.

Super Saver Loans Feature:

fixed, low-interest rates*
no prepayment penalties
a five-year payback period

*Interest rate is determined by a weekly index of tax-exempt notes.

To qualify, you must:

be a Water and Light electric customer
have a good credit history
own your own home
meet additional requirements and guidelines outlined below

Additional Requirements and Guidelines

Insulation

In order to maximize the efficiency of your energy improvements, the Super Saver loan program requires cost-effective insulation levels in key areas.

Key Area	Minimum R-Value
Attic	R-38
Floors above unheated areas (crawl spaces, unheated basements)	R-19
Ductwork running through unheated spaces	R-13

In an existing structure, without any wall insulation, financing may be available for blowing insulation into wall cavities. Individual conditions of each home determine the amount of insulation and the cost necessary to complete the job satisfactorily. When insulating your home, you must also adequately ventilate it so that your attic can "breathe."

Heating and Cooling Systems

Allows for replacement of a furnace — natural gas, propane, or electric — if it is installed along with a new central air conditioner with an efficiency rating of 14 SEER or higher. (NOTE: Systems installed before Oct. 1, 2007 can be a SEER 13, those installed after Oct. 1 have to be rated a SEER 14). Combustion furnaces must have an efficiency rating of 80% AFUE or higher.

Solar Water Heaters

Solar water heaters that provide at least 50% of water heating costs are eligible. Only solar space heating systems that involve active solar heat collectors are eligible for loans. All solar heating projects must be permitted by Public Works and have a completed final inspection. Pool solar heaters are not eligible.

Heat Pumps

The heat pump will provide you with more efficient heating and central air conditioning. Financing available for financing a new heat pump or the replacement of an existing one. All financed heat pumps must have minimum efficiency ratings of 14 SEER and 7.7 HSPF. Customers installing a high efficiency heat pump will be offered a reduced electric rate during the months of November through May. See our heat pump rate page for more information about heat pumps.

Home Performance with Energy Star improvements

In addition to the other items you can receive financing for listed above, participants in the Home Performance with Energy Star program might be eligible for a Super Saver Loan for windows, doors and duct sealing.

Windows and Doors: If new windows are to be installed, they must be rated by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) with a minimum U-value of 0.40 and SHGC of 0.55.
Duct Sealing: If accessible, seal the supply and return ducts to achieve a leakage rate equal to or less than 10% of the conditioned floor area.

Please see our information about Home Performance with Energy Star for the parameters of this program if you wish to receive a loan for windows, doors and/or duct sealing.

The Process

After you sign up for the Super Saver Loan program, a member of our staff will visit your home to do an evaluation and discuss necessary items you will need to qualify for a loan.

Download our Super Saver Loan Checklist PDF

Download the Super Saver Loan application in a .pdf file. Please note that you have to either have an audit of your home or have a Home Performance evaluation before the loan application can be completed.