Energy efficiency saves money, but getting there requires upfront investment that many households and businesses can’t always easily afford. Closing that gap is one of the most important challenges in making efficiency work for everyone, and financing is a critical part of the solution. A growing ecosystem of financing mechanisms is helping more people access the upgrades they need.
ACEEE works to make clean energy financing more accessible, effective, and equitable. We engage with federal agencies, including the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the U.S. Treasury Department, state energy offices and green banks, utilities, and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) to improve the design and reach of efficiency financing programs. We also research the financial barriers that have historically kept efficiency upgrades out of reach for low-income households, as well as the program designs that overcome them.
The goal: a marketplace where every homeowner, business, and building owner who wants to invest in energy efficiency can find low-cost capital to do it on fair terms, with strong consumer protections.
Evergreen Funding and Financing Sources for Small- to Medium-Sized Commercial Buildings
Small- to medium-sized commercial buildings (SMCB) help anchor thriving neighborhoods, but SMCB owners typically operate without facility management staff and with constrained budgets. This can mak…
How to Pay for Low- and Moderate-Income Home Energy Retrofits
Energy efficiency upgrades can lower household energy costs significantly. However, many low-and moderate-income (LMI) households cannot afford the full cost of upgrades, even with assistance from …
Contracts for Difference to Spur Clean and Competitive Industry: Options for Federal Policymakers
A government-issued contract for difference (CfD) to support industrial decarbonization is an agreement between two parties in which one party (the government) promo…
Financial and Systemic Barriers and Solutions to Scaling Energy Retrofits in Commercial Buildings
Retrofitting commercial buildings lags far behind what is needed to reach climate targets, despite the demonstrated high paybacks and the plethora of financing solutions. A structural analysis of t…
EPA Can Supercharge Affordable, Healthy Rental Housing with Climate Law Funds
Climate law funding can help slash pollution and reduce energy burdens for millions of families
Support the Work That Makes Energy Go Further
ACEEE’s independent research and advocacy depend on the support of foundations, businesses, and individuals committed to cutting energy bills, waste, and climate pollution.
