Financing resources are provided for both residential and commercial buildings.

Links: Residential Building Finance

See also the Energy-Efficient Mortgage subsection of the Smart Communities Network's Green Buildings section.

The Residential Energy Services Network's (RESNET) mission is to improve the energy efficiency of the nation's housing stock and to qualify more families for home ownership by expanding the national availability of mortgage financing options and home energy ratings. RESNET is a national network of mortgage companies, real estate brokerages, builders, appraisers, utilities and other housing and energy professionals.

HUD's Energy-Efficient Mortgages Program
The Energy-Efficient Mortgages Program (EEM) helps homebuyers or homeowners save money on utility bills by enabling them to finance the cost of adding energy-efficiency features to new or existing housing as part of their FHA-insured home purchase or refinancing mortgage.

Fannie Mae's Housing and the Environment Initiative
Offers a menu of mortgage options that address environmental concerns such as energy- and resource-efficient design and construction, smart growth, and sustainable communities.

Home Depot Foundation
Home Depot Foundation invests in nonprofit organizations throughout the United States and Canada that have demonstrated success within one of the grant-making initiatives of the Foundation: create and rehabilitate affordable housing, assist at-risk youth, protect the environment and prepare for disasters.

The Development Fund
Provides innovative model financing programs for affordable housing and community economic development.

Articles and Publications: Residential Building Finance

Sustainable Building Technical Manual (large PDF)
Chapter VII reviews sustainable building financing issues and opportunities for local governments, as well as future green building issues and trends.

More House for the Money--the Energy Efficient Mortgage
Describes how energy-efficient mortgages recognize energy costs along with other recurring payments, such as principal, interest, taxes and insurance.

What are energy mortgages?
RESNET provides a primer on home energy mortgages.

DOE/HUD Initiative on Energy Efficiency in Housing: A Federal Partnership, Program Summary Report
Describes DOE's and HUD's joint initiative on home energy efficiency. Available by calling 800-483-2209.

Home Performance Power: Fannie Mae's Guide to Buying and Maintaining a Green Home
Fannie Mae's Home Performance Power Initiative is supporting environmental housing efforts by developing specialized mortgage products, backing local green builder efforts, and working with housing partners to create innovative solutions to environmental issues. Working with community partners, Fannie Mae has already developed a suite of green mortgage products for homes that meet or perform beyond the standards of local green-building programs and/or local energy codes, or are located near efficient public transportation. Available by calling 800-732-6643.

Links and Publications: Commercial Building Finance

DOE's Industrial Technologies Program Financing Toolbook
Helps manufacturers work through key issues and alternatives relating to financing manufacturing modernization. Includes the following sections: 1) Financing options and strategies; 2) Case studies; 3) Federal programs; and 4) State programs.

Funding Green Buildings Toolkit, 2004 Edition
A 150 page Toolkit publication available for purchase, describing major grants, loans, and green manufacturing donor sources, as well as a strategic planning checklist for developing a capital campaign.

Last updated: April 6, 2004

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