Many building owners do not have the up-front capital to invest in energy efficiency upgrades without access to additional financing. Traditional lenders have historically been reluctant to make loans for energy efficiency due to the perceived risks, which include a lack of technical knowledge about building energy systems and difficulty securing such a loan when the building is already covered by a mortgage. This fact sheet provides an overview of the ways that city officials can make available tools and mechanisms for financing efficiency in private sector buildings.
This resource is part of the City Energy Project Resource Library. Launched in 2019, the library is the culmination of 6+ years of work on the ground in 20 U.S. cities to reduce energy use in large buildings. The City Energy Project is a joint project of IMT and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). For more information, visit www.cityenergyproject.org.
