Dollar and Energy Savings Loans
Administered by Nebraska Energy Office
Nebraska's Dollar and Energy Savings Loans offer low-interest financing at 5%, 3.5%, or less for a wide range of home energy improvements—from appliances and insulation to solar, wind, and geothermal systems—with loan terms up to 15 years for building improvements and shorter terms for appliances. You apply through your Nebraska bank, savings institution, or credit union with completed application forms and contractor bids; most applications are reviewed within 10 working days, and you cannot start work or contractually obligate yourself until the Energy Office commits funds.
The program finances customer projects through participating Nebraska lenders, with the state purchasing 50–75% of the loan at 0% to deliver below-market rates; prequalified project categories (renewable energy, HVAC, insulation, appliances, lighting) have clear specifications on application forms, while non-prequalified projects require an energy audit demonstrating reasonable payback. You should provide itemized bids specifying performance factors when required, understand that customers cannot begin work before Energy Office approval, and note that qualifying projects for residential customers are capped at $125,000 for one- or two-family dwellings while commercial, agricultural, and institutional borrowers may access up to $500,000.
The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment administers this program using oil overcharge funds, leveraging State Energy Office capital by purchasing 50%, 65%, or 75% of loans at 0% interest through partnerships with Nebraska banks and credit unions; borrowers must complete citizenship attestation and project-specific forms, obtain lender approval first, then receive Energy Office review (typically 10 working days), with work to be completed within 5 months of commitment. The program targets residential, commercial, agricultural, local government, nonprofit, and institutional sectors, offering differentiated borrowing caps ($125,000–$500,000) by borrower type and prequalified improvements spanning renewable energy, efficiency equipment, and building envelope work.
Program details
- Program ID
- 214
- Last updated
- 7/29/2025
Eligibility
- Sectors
- commercial construction local government nonprofit residential federal government agricultural multifamily residential institutional
- Technologies
- solar water heat solar space heat geothermal electric solar photovoltaics wind (all) biomass hydroelectric geothermal heat pumps municipal solid waste fuel cells using non-renewable fuels landfill gas wind (small) clothes washers dishwasher refrigerators/freezers dehumidifiers ceiling fan equipment insulation water heaters lighting lighting controls/sensors furnaces boilers heat pumps air conditioners heat recovery programmable thermostats caulking/weather-stripping duct/air sealing building insulation windows roofs custom/others pending approval other ee personal computing equipment tankless water heater
Program summary
The Nebraska Dollar and Energy Savings Loan program was created in 1990 using oil overcharge funds. The program, administered by the Nebraska Energy Office, makes available low-interest loans for residential and commercial energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy projects.
Renewable energy projects may be eligible for a loan under one of two circumstances. First, a project may be eligible if it is included in a list of prequalified improvements. This list includes a variety of renewable energy projects, including wind, photovoltaics, solar hot water heating, and fuel cells. Second, projects not listed as prequalified improvements may be eligible with the submission of an energy audit that verifies that the project will have a reasonable payback period (varies by improvement type).
Process
The program works by leveraging of State Energy Office funds through collaboration with individual Nebraska banks, savings institutions, and credit unions. An individual seeking a loan under this program first approaches his or her financial institution, which approves the project on financial terms. The financial institution then gains approval from the Energy Office, who can purchase 50%, 65%, or 75% of the loan at 0% to deliver a low interest rate to the borrower.
Terms and Conditions
Under the program the simple interest rates are 5%, 3.5%, or less for the borrower, depending on the project. Prequalified projects are financed with a low-interest loan for up to 15 years for home and building improvements, 5 years for appliances, and 3 to 10 years for other prequalified projects.
Most loan applications are reviewed and processed within 10 working days. All qualifying work should be completed within 5 months of Energy Office's commitment of funds to invest in lender's fund.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- John.Osterman@nebraska.gov
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
