Energy Saver Helps Update Three-Family Home in Brockton

When Jason and his wife bought a three-family home in Brockton during the pandemic, the property needed a lot of improvements.

"It's an older house and it needed a lot of upgrades," said Jason. "We needed to upgrade the heating system, which we did with heat pumps. The heat pumps are great for heating and cooling, but our electric bill went up significantly."

The couple decided to offset their electrical costs, with the added goal of bringing down costs for their tenants, by installing solar panels on the property. 

"We thought what can we do to make it more affordable, not only for us, but for the other folks here," said Jason. "We decided we needed to get solar panels to reduce the cost."

The couple quickly realized they did not want to lease a solar system and that buying their own was the best way to proceed. But when they looked at the cost of installing a solar system and the high interest rates for a loan to finance the project, they were briefly discouraged.

"I didn't want to pay out of pocket," said Jason. "When I looked at private loans the interest rates were high. Do I want to pay 7 percent for a loan? I did a quick search, and this program through MassHousing came up. I had a first mortgage loan through MassHousing, and I was familiar with all the MassHousing processes."

The program Jason found is the Energy Saver Home Loan Program (ESHLP) through MassHousing and the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank (MCCB) that afforded the couple 20-year financing with just 2 percent interest to install roof-mounted solar panels.

The ESHLP helps eligible Massachusetts homeowners cut their energy use by at least 20 percent and reduce or eliminate their reliance on fossil fuels. It provides low-interest rate, second-mortgage loans that support a variety of energy-related home improvements. Another benefit of the program is that participants receive guidance on available incentives and tax credits to lower the cost of their home energy projects. Jason is expecting to receive state and federal tax credits for his energy upgrades.

Jason and his wife began to contact solar companies, but many were hesitant to work on a three-family home. "Many said we really don't do three-families. They wanted a single-family house with cookie cutter kind of deals."

When the couple talked to Great Sky Solar, they found their contractor, one that was already familiar with the ESHLP and program-approved.

"They were the most flexible," said Jason. "They said, ‘Yes, we can do three-families. We've worked with other people and (the ESHLP) is a good program."

Energy Saver Home Loans are made in partnership with Concierge Service Providers (CSPs), who will guide you through all aspects of the home energy improvement process. The couple contacted the Center for Eco Technology (CET), the CSP covering their city.

"We went through CET," said Jason, a Certified Financial Planner. "The concierge services were great. It was great to have a third party overseeing the process to make sure you don't get ripped off."

"Jason was a pleasure to work with. He was proactive, timely, and communicated clearly throughout each step of the loan process. His positive attitude and discipline helped him reach final loan approval in just a few months. We truly enjoyed supporting him and are glad to see him completing his projects. It's always rewarding to see customers successfully make it through the program and begin making meaningful contributions to environmental sustainability," said  Mary Lydum-Long, CET Program Consultant.

Jason was then referred to Abode Energy Management, the Energy Service Provider for the ESHLP. Joe Fisher, a Decarbonization Consultant from Abode, conducted a no cost assessment of the couple's home and provided them with a detailed report of solutions that would reduce its energy usage by an estimated 36 percent and reduce their CO2 emissions by two tons a year.

"Abode came out and Joe did a full energy assessment," said Jason. "He put it all together in a bid plan and he was so helpful because he was like an independent third party to give you an opinion. I thought that it was good for homeowners (who use the ESHLP) to use his expertise. That was a value add for me."

"Jason was great to work with from the first site visit through the entirety of the planning and optimization process. He was relentlessly organized and positive, and his plan came together easily due to these qualities. The ESHLP was a perfect fit for his home after all the hard work already put into the property's repairs and improvements," said Joe Fisher.

"Jason's project is a testament to how low-cost financing can empower homeowners to take bold, thoughtful steps toward decarbonization. After investing significant effort into improving his three-family home by installing heat pumps - benefiting not just his family but his tenants as well - he then leveraged the ESHLP to continue his clean energy upgrades with solar. His disciplined approach and commitment to affordability made it possible to turn a high-impact energy plan into reality, proving that climate-conscious choices can also be financially sustainable," said Christopher Haringa, Vice President of Programs at Abode.

The couple used Avidia Bank to obtain their ESHLP loan.

"This is a very affordable financing option, not only the financing piece, but if you own the system there are way more savings and benefits that you get," said Jason. "The loan is a lot cheaper than making utility payments. This program is something they should let first-time homebuyers know about because many times you need to make property improvements down the road," he added.

"I took great pride in working with Jason to help him reduce his energy costs with a low-interest second mortgage through MassHousing. The Energy Saver Home Loan is truly an exceptional product," said Tad Perachi, Vice President of Mortgage Lending at Avidia Bank.

Jason said one facet of the loan program he likes is that it can encompass a range of improvements. "It's a great program," he said. "What the state has done to make it a holistic process to make with other repairs is thoughtful. I care about the environment and want to make sure I'm moving in the right direction."

Jason's advice for others who may want to use the ESHLP is "look into it. The worst they can say is no."

The Massachusetts Community Climate Bank at MassHousing, with resources like the ESHLP, is working to accelerate investments to decarbonize the building sector in Massachusetts. As the Commonwealth transitions to a net-zero future, MCCB promotes an equitable transition to clean energy by addressing the needs of low- and moderate-income households and environmental justice communities. 

"The rising cost of energy is a big concern for many homeowners and renters in Massachusetts. The Energy Saver Home Loan Program is here to help by making homes more energy efficient and less reliant on fossil fuels. We are proud to support homeowners like Jason who are taking steps to make their homes more affordable for themselves and their tenants," said Maggie Super Church, MCCB Director of Policies and Programs.

It's a great program...I care about the environment and want to make sure I'm moving in the right direction." - Jason