The Bloomington Green Home Improvement Program (BGHIP) is a lending program to provide financing for homeowners to complete eligible energy efficiency, solar, and/ or geothermal upgrades to their homes.
This lending program is a partnership between the City of Bloomington’s Department of Economic and Sustainable Development, CDFI Friendly Bloomington, Clean Energy Credit Union and Hoosier Hills Credit Union (solar)
The Bloomington Green Home Improvement Program helps Bloomington homeowners finance energy efficiency upgrades, reduce their utility bills, and increase the environmental sustainability of their houses, in accordance with the City's goals to improve environmental and economic equity in Bloomington.
Eligibility requirements:
- Residence must be owner-occupied and the homeowner must submit the online form and loan application to receive lending for an eligible project.
- Property must be within the Bloomington city limits. If you are not sure if your house is in city limits, check at Bloomington.in.gov/MyBloomington. If your property is not within city limits, you can receive lending through CECU or Hoosier Hills Credit Union, but are not eligible for the interest rate reduction or rebate.
- Eligible projects for lending through CECU or Hoosier Hills Credit Union include:
- Solar photovoltaic system installation
- Solar photovoltaic system installation
- Eligible projects for lending through CECU include:
- Geothermal heat pump systems
- HVAC- EnergyStar certified
- Water heaters- EnergyStar certified
- LED lighting and fixtures
- Appliances (ex: dishwasher, clothes washer/ dryer, refrigerator)- EnergyStar certified
- Building envelope (ex: storm windows, exterior doors, insulation)
- Electrical vehicle chargers
- Find a full list of eligible green home improvements for lending through CECU here.
- For more information about appliances, lighting, water heaters, and heating and cooling products that are EnergyStar certified search here.
Available Program Support:
- Low interest loans: All program borrowers are qualified for a 0.5%-discounted loan rate to finance eligible home improvements (see above). Low interest loans will be provided through Clean Energy Credit Union’s Solar, Geothermal, and/or Green Home Improvement loan programs or through Hoosier Hills Credit Union's Solar loan program. The minimum loan amount is $3,000.
- Note: if your 2022 household income was below $50,000 and you are pre-approved for a loan below $3,000, you may still be eligible to participate in the program and receive a $1,000 rebate. Eligibility for program participation for loans below $3,000 will be reviewed on a case to case basis. Please contact Lauren Clemens at lauren.clemens@bloomington.in.gov to verify eligibility after pre-approval.
- Note: if your 2022 household income was below $50,000 and you are pre-approved for a loan below $3,000, you may still be eligible to participate in the program and receive a $1,000 rebate. Eligibility for program participation for loans below $3,000 will be reviewed on a case to case basis. Please contact Lauren Clemens at lauren.clemens@bloomington.in.gov to verify eligibility after pre-approval.
- $1,000 rebates: Program borrowers with a 2022 annual aggregate household income of up to $150,000 are eligible for a $1,000 rebate from the City of Bloomington after the loan from Clean Energy Credit Union or Hoosier Hills Credit Union has closed and the resident has submitted proof of completion of eligible projects and income verification. The rebate will be issued directly to the program participant within 90 days of verification of loan closure. Rebates will be limited to the first 75 borrowers. Limit one rebate per borrower.
- Tax credit and net metering:
- Any solar installations installed starting in 2023 are also eligible for 30% federal income tax credit. More information about the federal income tax credit is available here.
- Please note, Indiana net metering programs for new solar customers has ended. Customers now receive a lower rate for electricity generated as a bill credit. More information about Indiana’s current net metering practices can be found here.
For more information visit: bloomington.in.gov/sustainability/bghip
Bloomington Green Home Improvement Program (BGHIP)
The Bloomington Green Home Improvement Program (BGHIP) is a lending program to provide financing for homeowners to complete eligible energy efficiency, solar, and/ or geothermal upgrades to their homes.
This lending program is a partnership between the City of Bloomington’s Department of Economic and Sustainable Development, CDFI Friendly Bloomington, Clean Energy Credit Union and Hoosier Hills Credit Union (solar)
The Bloomington Green Home Improvement Program helps Bloomington homeowners finance energy efficiency upgrades, reduce their utility bills, and increase the environmental sustainability of their houses, in accordance with the City's goals to improve environmental and economic equity in Bloomington.
Eligibility requirements:
- Residence must be owner-occupied and the homeowner must submit the online form and loan application to receive lending for an eligible project.
- Property must be within the Bloomington city limits. If you are not sure if your house is in city limits, check at Bloomington.in.gov/MyBloomington. If your property is not within city limits, you can receive lending through CECU or Hoosier Hills Credit Union, but are not eligible for the interest rate reduction or rebate.
- Eligible projects for lending through CECU or Hoosier Hills Credit Union include:
- Solar photovoltaic system installation
- Solar photovoltaic system installation
- Eligible projects for lending through CECU include:
- Geothermal heat pump systems
- HVAC- EnergyStar certified
- Water heaters- EnergyStar certified
- LED lighting and fixtures
- Appliances (ex: dishwasher, clothes washer/ dryer, refrigerator)- EnergyStar certified
- Building envelope (ex: storm windows, exterior doors, insulation)
- Electrical vehicle chargers
- Find a full list of eligible green home improvements for lending through CECU here.
- For more information about appliances, lighting, water heaters, and heating and cooling products that are EnergyStar certified search here.
Available Program Support:
- Low interest loans: All program borrowers are qualified for a 0.5%-discounted loan rate to finance eligible home improvements (see above). Low interest loans will be provided through Clean Energy Credit Union’s Solar, Geothermal, and/or Green Home Improvement loan programs or through Hoosier Hills Credit Union's Solar loan program. The minimum loan amount is $3,000.
- Note: if your 2022 household income was below $50,000 and you are pre-approved for a loan below $3,000, you may still be eligible to participate in the program and receive a $1,000 rebate. Eligibility for program participation for loans below $3,000 will be reviewed on a case to case basis. Please contact Lauren Clemens at lauren.clemens@bloomington.in.gov to verify eligibility after pre-approval.
- Note: if your 2022 household income was below $50,000 and you are pre-approved for a loan below $3,000, you may still be eligible to participate in the program and receive a $1,000 rebate. Eligibility for program participation for loans below $3,000 will be reviewed on a case to case basis. Please contact Lauren Clemens at lauren.clemens@bloomington.in.gov to verify eligibility after pre-approval.
- $1,000 rebates: Program borrowers with a 2022 annual aggregate household income of up to $150,000 are eligible for a $1,000 rebate from the City of Bloomington after the loan from Clean Energy Credit Union or Hoosier Hills Credit Union has closed and the resident has submitted proof of completion of eligible projects and income verification. The rebate will be issued directly to the program participant within 90 days of verification of loan closure. Rebates will be limited to the first 75 borrowers. Limit one rebate per borrower.
- Tax credit and net metering:
- Any solar installations installed starting in 2023 are also eligible for 30% federal income tax credit. More information about the federal income tax credit is available here.
- Please note, Indiana net metering programs for new solar customers has ended. Customers now receive a lower rate for electricity generated as a bill credit. More information about Indiana’s current net metering practices can be found here.
For more information visit: bloomington.in.gov/sustainability/bghip