The Carolina SURE (Smart Upgrades for Residential Efficiency) program, launched earlier this year, is now providing financing for homeowners to invest in quite a number of home upgrades, including solar, home heating and cooling, home weatherization, insulation, and air sealing, water heaters, electric vehicle chargers, improvements to help with disabilities and aging in place, and much more.
The financing program is significant because it is dedicated to serving people who aren’t being served by traditional financing programs. As a nonprofit program dedicated to helping everyone access the benefits of clean energy, Carolina SURE does not base eligibility on credit score and is dedicated to equitable underwriting standards and no high upfront costs, dealer fees, or predatory rates. The program is offered by the Clean Energy Fund of the Carolinas (CEFC), which works to ensure that clean energy financing is not a privilege but a tool for progress available to all.
Carolina SURE financing is primarily offered through a network of vetted contractors. You can see the current list of approved contractors here, and CEFC is looking for more contractors (plumbers, roofers, HVAC, and solar and battery installers) to join the network. CEFC is new to South Carolina, and contractors are being sought to help grow this program. The financing program serves as a big help not only to homeowners but also to contractors, who can offer loans to people who otherwise would not be able to move forward with home improvement projects. For example, when an HVAC contractor hands a $10,000 quote to a customer, having the loan program available can mean the difference between the customer either being able or not being able to sign the contract and enjoy the benefits of an efficiently heated and cooled home. If you are a contractor interested in joining the list or an approved contractor, click the link here. If you know a contractor who you think should be aware of this program, then please send them this article. Local power utilities could also play a partnership role in this program and help promote local participation so that ratepayers lower their energy bills and reduce costs for the utility.
Homeowners who already have a contractor not on the pre-approved contract list also have the option to apply directly to CEFC here.
Applying for a loan does not impact the homeowner’s credit score until the loan is finalized. Another great perk for homeowners participating in this program is that CEFC provides quality assurance, reviewing project details to ensure the homeowner receives a fair price.CEFC is available to fill the gaps to help energy projects happen. Additional residential and commercial programs are also available. Reach out to CEFC for more information.
