Home Performance Super Saver Loans

The Super Saver Loan program has been expanded to cover improvements that might be suggested for customers participating in the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR.

Download a loan application in a .pdf file.

The Money

Our Super Saver Loan program is financed from the enterprise fund of Columbia Water & Light. No general revenue funds of the city, nor any other forms of public money, are used by the program.

Super Saver Loans feature:

fixed, low-interest rates determined by a weekly index of tax-exempt notes
no prepayment penalties
a ten-year payback period

To qualify, you must:

be a Water and Light electric customer
have a good credit history
own your own home so a lean can be put on your property
meet additional requirements and guidelines outlined below

Additional Requirements and Guidelines

Tier I Improvements

The specifications in this area must be met to be eligible for the Tier II improvements of the Home Performance Super Saver Loan.

Building and Envelope Sealing: Using the Home Performance Assessment, air leaks along the building envelope must be sealed to achieve the lowest ACH @50 PA possible.

Attic Insulation: A minimum level of R-38 is required. If your home has knob and tube wiring that needs to be upgraded in order to install insulation, financing is also available to finance the project.

Insulate Ductwork: A minimum level of R-13 is required for ducts running through unconditioned spaces.

Floor Insulation: A minimum level of R-19 is required in joist cavities, unless you are creating a conditioned crawl space.

Conditioned Crawl Space: You must insulate exterior foundation walls to a minimum of R-10. All outside air vents must have an automatic temperature control. A 1/1500 ratio for net free vent area to floor area with a 6 mill poly vapor barrier must be installed on the crawl space floor. The sheets of plastic must overlap each other by a minimum of 6 inches and sealed with mastic and tape.

Tier II Improvements

Exterior Wall Insulation: These walls must be insulated to the maximum amount that the house’s construction allows. If the stud cavities are not insulated, blown-in cellulose insulation should be installed to a density of 3.5 to 4.5 pounds per cubic foot.

Heat Pumps: Financing is available for financing a new heat pump or the replacement of an existing one. All financed heat pumps must have minimum efficiency ratings of 14 SEER and 7.7 HSPF. Customers installing a high efficiency heat pump will be offered a reduced electric rate during the months of November through May. Load management switches must be installed on all heat pump installations.

Heating and Cooling Systems: Allows for replacement of a furnace — natural gas, propane, or electric — if it is installed along with a new central air conditioner with an efficiency rating of 14 SEER or higher. Combustion furnaces must have an efficiency rating of 80% AFUE or higher. Loans for furnaces are only available to customers also installing a central air conditioner or heat pump. Load management switches must be installed on all air conditioners. Optional accessories are not eligible for heating and cooling system loans.

Duct Sealing: If accessible, the supply and return ducts must be sealed to achieve the lowest leakage rate possible.

Windows: Newly installed windows must be rated by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) with a minimum U-value rating of 0.40 and a SHGC rating of 0.55.

Solar Water Heaters: Solar water heaters that provide at least 50% of water heating costs are eligible. Only solar space heating systems that involve active solar heat collectors are eligible for loans. All solar heating projects must be permitted by Public Works and have a completed final inspection. Pool solar heaters are not eligible.

Steps for Participation

Follow the steps outlined in Columbia Water & Light’s Steps for Participating in the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program.
Before you start work on your Home Performance projects, submit a loan application to Columbia Water & Light.
Once you have been approved for financing through the Home Performance Loan program, schedule and complete the Home Performance projects.
After completing all work, make copies of all invoices and contact Water & Light (874-7325) for a final inspection. Copies of invoices and equipment ratings are necessary to completing this step. If you are also applying for our rebate program, you can turn in your rebate application at this time.
You will be contacted by Water and Light when the check and the loan paperwork is completed (usually within two weeks from final inspection) and to set up an appointment for signing the loan papers at the Water and Light offices: 105 East Ash, Columbia, MO. (874-7325)
- A photo ID (i.e. drivers license) is required for each applicant.
- A deed of trust is required for each property.
- There is a one-time application fee.
- Checks are released at this meeting.
Make your loan payments as scheduled. A monthly statement will be mailed to you and must accompany payments. Checks for loan payments should be for the loan only and not include payments for utility bills. The Deed of Trust cannot be subordinated later (i.e. for refinancing purposes), however, there are no prepayment penalties so you can elect to pay the loan off early.

	The Environmental Protection Agency sponsors the Home Performance with Energy Star program.
	The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is the state sponsor of the program.