FindMyRebate See my rebates

All of New York · Loan

Smart Energy Loan

Run by NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority)

NYSERDA unsecured loans of $1,500 to $25,000 for solar panels, heat pumps and energy efficiency work on one- to four-family New York homes, repaid monthly by check or automatic payment over 5, 10 or 15 years.

Open Checked Oct 26, 2026

Amounts

How much you get

A loan, not a rebate: $1,500 to $25,000, with a 5, 10 or 15 year term, repaid monthly by check or ACH. Loans over $13,000 must have a payback period under 15 years. The interest rate depends on household income and location (NYSERDA's rate estimator) and is set after a credit review. If you sell the home you stay responsible for the balance.

Eligibility

Do I qualify?

You need to meet all 5 of these.

  • Your home is in New York.

  • You must own the home or be an authorized representative of the owner.

  • Existing one- to four-family homes. Stand-alone additions, new construction and gut rehabs are not eligible.

  • You need a no-cost home energy assessment first, and the work goes through a NYSERDA program (Comfort Home, EmPower+, NY-Sun, NYS Clean Heat or PSEG Long Island's Home Performance and Home Comfort programs) with a participating contractor.

    What to doGet the no-cost energy assessment through your participating contractor before applying for the loan.

  • Credit approval. Debt-to-income limits run from 40% (credit score 540-599) to no limit (720+); mortgage paid on time for 12 months; no bankruptcy, foreclosure or repossession in 24 months; collections, judgments and liens no more than $2,500; no prior GJGNY loan 30 or more days late.

Applying

How to apply

Follow these steps.

  1. Get a no-cost home energy assessment from a participating contractor.

    Get a quote from a contractor

  2. Choose the loan with your contractor.
  3. Apply online through NYSERDA's Residential Financing application and pass the credit review.

    Loans are originated by Slipstream.

    Go to nyserda.ny.gov

  4. Repay monthly by check or automatic payment (ACH).

Forms and instructionsFrequently Asked Questions: EmPower+ | NYSERDA

Questions about applyingresidential.financing@nyserda.ny.gov

Your address

Next steps

Check that it covers your address. Then, if you want, ask for a contractor quote.

FAQ

Questions

How much does Smart Energy Loan pay?

A loan, not a rebate: $1,500 to $25,000, with a 5, 10 or 15 year term, repaid monthly by check or ACH. Loans over $13,000 must have a payback period under 15 years. The interest rate depends on household income and location (NYSERDA's rate estimator) and is set after a credit review. If you sell the home you stay responsible for the balance.

Do renters qualify?

You must own the home or be an authorized representative of the owner.

Do I need approval before I buy?

You need a no-cost home energy assessment first, and the work goes through a NYSERDA program (Comfort Home, EmPower+, NY-Sun, NYS Clean Heat or PSEG Long Island's Home Performance and Home Comfort programs) with a participating contractor. Get the no-cost energy assessment through your participating contractor before applying for the loan.

Is it still available?

Yes. It was open when we last checked, on October 26, 2026.

Can the loan move to the buyer if I sell my home?

No. A Smart Energy Loan is not transferable; you can pay it off with no prepayment penalty or keep paying the monthly installments.

References

Sources

This page is built from these official pages, run by the program itself.

  1. Residential Financing Programs | NYSERDAnyserda.ny.gov · Read Oct 26, 2026 · Re-checked weekly
  2. Frequently Asked Questions: EmPower+ | NYSERDAnyserda.ny.gov · Read Oct 26, 2026 · Re-checked weekly

When one of these pages changes, we re-check this page against it.

Report a problem with this page

Nearby

More in New York

  • All of New York

    Comfort Home Program

    Up to $3,000 back

    Owners of one- to four-family New York homes who pay the System Benefits Charge on their electric bill can get $2,500 for an attic and rim joist seal-and-insulate package, $3,000 for a package that adds walls and floors, and $2,000 more for ENERGY STAR windows, through a Comfort Home contractor.

    Checked Oct 26, 2026

  • All of New York

    EmPower+

    Up to $14,000

    Income-eligible New York owners and renters of one- to four-family homes get a no-cost home energy assessment and NYSERDA funding for air sealing, insulation, heat pumps, heat pump water heaters and electrical upgrades, free for low-income households and 50% of the cost for moderate-income households.

    Checked Oct 26, 2026

  • All of New York

    Geothermal Energy System Credit

    Amount varies

    New York homeowners who buy or lease a ground source heat pump (geothermal) system for their home can claim a state income tax credit of 25% of the cost, up to $10,000 for systems placed in service on or after July 1, 2025, with unused credit carried forward five years.

    Checked Oct 26, 2026