BeSMART Energy Efficiency Financing

The BeSMART Home Loan Program offers innovative financing to improve home energy efficiency through replacement and upgrading of appliances, heating, cooling and ventilation systems and whole house envelope improvements across the state. These changes are intended to save the homeowner money, increase the safety and comfort of the home, and add value to the home. Home owners may choose their weatherization and energy efficiency professionals from a list of eligible providers whose qualifications have been reviewed by The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

BeSMART Home Loan Brochure

ELIGIBILITY

Participants in the BeSMART Home Loan Program must be Maryland homeowners seeking energy efficient improvements to their primary residence and who meet the following eligibility standards:​

• Verification of income
• Credit score of 640 or greater
• Debt-to-income ratio of up to 50%

LOAN AMOUNT

Up to $30,000 in financing is available for eligible homeowners.

TYPES OF FINANCING AND ELIGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS

Unsecured loans provided through the BeSMART Home Loan Program may be used for weatherization and whole home envelope improvements, as well as for replacement and upgrading of ENERGY STAR rated appliances and home heating or cooling systems. Loans are offered at an interest rate of 4.99%. Work must be done by a contractor from the BeSMART Home Loan Program eligible contractors list. Typical energy savings are in the range of 15–25%, depending on each household’s energy usage profile.

Based on the result of a prescribed home energy audit, the following measures may be recommended to improve the efficiency, safety and comfort of a home:​

• Insulation in the attic, floors, and walls
• Hot water system improvements
• Lighting retrofit
• Furnace cleaning/tuning and burner repair/replacement
• Renewable energy systems including solar and geothermal
• Health and safety items that improve energy efficiency

Qualified ENERGY STAR improvements include, but are not limited to:​

• Air Source Heat Pumps
• Central AC Systems
• Boilers (All Fuels)
• Water Heaters
• Refrigerators
• Ceiling Fans
• Programmable Thermostats
• Ventilating Fans

APPLICATION FORMS

• Be SMART Home Loan Application
• Be SMART Approved Contractors

Program Guidance for Network Partners and Contractors

Type    Name    1 CONTRACTOR APPLICATION PACKAGE    2 HOW TO BECOME AN ELIGIBLE CONTRACTOR    3 CONTRACTOR APPLICATION    4 ATTACHMENT A - ARRA SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS    5 ATTACHMENT B - SUMMARY of ARRA SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS    6 ATTACHMENT C-1 Be SMART Home ENERGY STAR Contractor Reporting Responsibillities    7 ATTACHMENT C-2 Be SMART Home Complete Contractor Reporting Responsibillities    8 ATTACHMENT D - WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN    9 ATTACHMENT D-1 PRE-CONSTRUCTION    10 ATTACHMENT D-2 - POST CONSTRUCTION    View in Web Browser /Residents/_layouts/VisioWebAccess/VisioWebAccess.aspx?listguid={ListId}&itemid={ItemId}&DefaultItemOpen=1 0x0 0x1 FileType vdw 255 Manage Subscriptions /_layouts/images/ReportServer/Manage_Subscription.gif /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/ManageSubscriptions.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x80 0x0 FileType rdl 350 Manage Data Sources /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/DataSourceList.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x20 FileType rdl 351 Manage Shared Datasets /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/DatasetList.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x20 FileType rdl 352 Manage Parameters /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/ParameterList.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x4 FileType rdl 353 Manage Processing Options /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/ReportExecution.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x4 FileType rdl 354 Manage Cache Refresh Plans /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/CacheRefreshPlanList.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x4 FileType rdl 355 View Report History /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/ReportHistory.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x40 FileType rdl 356 View Dependent Items /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/DependentItems.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x4 FileType rsds 350 Edit Data Source Definition /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/SharedDataSource.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x4 FileType rsds 351 View Dependent Items /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/DependentItems.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x4 FileType smdl 350 Manage Clickthrough Reports /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/ModelClickThrough.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x4 FileType smdl 352 Manage Model Item Security /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/ModelItemSecurity.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x2000000 FileType smdl 353 Regenerate Model /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/GenerateModel.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x4 FileType smdl 354 Manage Data Sources /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/DataSourceList.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x20 FileType smdl 351 Load in Report Builder /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/RSAction.aspx?RSAction=ReportBuilderModelContext&list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x2 FileType smdl 250 Edit in Report Builder /_layouts/images/ReportServer/EditReport.gif /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/RSAction.aspx?RSAction=ReportBuilderReportContext&list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x4 FileType rdl 250 Edit in Report Builder /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/RSAction.aspx?RSAction=ReportBuilderDatasetContext&list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x4 FileType rsd 250 Manage Caching Options /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/DatasetCachingOptions.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x4 FileType rsd 350 Manage Cache Refresh Plans /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/CacheRefreshPlanList.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}&IsDataset=true 0x0 0x4 FileType rsd 351 Manage Data Sources /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/DataSourceList.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x20 FileType rsd 352 View Dependent Items /Residents/_layouts/ReportServer/DependentItems.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} 0x0 0x4 FileType rsd 353 Compliance Details javascript:commonShowModalDialog('{SiteUrl}/_layouts/itemexpiration.aspx?ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}', 'center:1;dialogHeight:500px;dialogWidth:500px;resizable:yes;status:no;location:no;menubar:no;help:no', function GotoPageAfterClose(pageid){if(pageid == 'hold') {STSNavigate(unescape(decodeURI('{SiteUrl}'))+'/_layouts/hold.aspx?ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}'); return false;} if(pageid == 'audit') {STSNavigate(unescape(decodeURI('{SiteUrl}'))+'/_layouts/Reporting.aspx?Category=Auditing&backtype=item&ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}'); return false;} if(pageid == 'config') {STSNavigate(unescape(decodeURI('{SiteUrl}'))+'/_layouts/expirationconfig.aspx?ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}'); return false;}}, null); 0x0 0x1 ContentType 0x01 898 Edit in Browser /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif /Residents/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XsnLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser&Source={Source} 0x0 0x1 FileType xsn 255 Edit in Browser /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif /Residents/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser&Source={Source} 0x0 0x1 ProgId InfoPath.Document 255 Edit in Browser /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif /Residents/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser&Source={Source} 0x0 0x1 ProgId InfoPath.Document.2 255 Edit in Browser /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif /Residents/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser&Source={Source} 0x0 0x1 ProgId InfoPath.Document.3 255 Edit in Browser /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif /Residents/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser&Source={Source} 0x0 0x1 ProgId InfoPath.Document.4 255 View in Browser /Residents/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?id={ItemUrl}&DefaultItemOpen=1 0x0 0x1 FileType xlsx 255 View in Browser /Residents/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?id={ItemUrl}&DefaultItemOpen=1 0x0 0x1 FileType xlsm 255 View in Browser /Residents/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?id={ItemUrl}&DefaultItemOpen=1 0x0 0x1 FileType xlsb 255 View in Browser /Residents/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?id={ItemUrl}&DefaultItemOpen=1 0x0 0x1 FileType ods 255

​​

MORE INFORMATION

CONTACT: BeSMART Home Loan Program
Community Development Administration
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
E: BeSmartHome.dhcd@maryland.gov​
P: 301-429-7402 ​​​​