Kansans now have access to a new revolving loan program designed to provide low-cost financing for cost-effective energy-efficiency improvements to Kansas homes or small businesses. Thanks to a recent partnership between the Kansas Corporation Commission's Energy Office and the State Treasurer's Office, we are proud to launch the Efficiency Kansas loan program. The Efficiency Kansas program uses money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to create jobs and upgrade the quality of Kansas' housing stock.
The Treasurer's Office disburses the loan money to participating local lenders, who then loan it out at a low interest rate of no more than 4%. These disbursements are very similar to other programs currently administered by the State Treasurer's Office. Therefore, we were able to duplicate the processes and implement Efficiency Kansas without creating additional bureaucracy in state government.
Based on the findings of the energy audit-a required step in the Efficiency Kansas program-energy auditors identify the improvements that will save the owner the most. The program aims to reduce energy demand which will save the participating Kansas homeowners money and avoid waste.
Efficiency Kansas is a true public-private partnership. The State has partnered with the lending community and contractors across Kansas. The program engages private forces to market the program and ensure that the dollars are put to work in the most effective places.
We know that our partner lenders will help us to be sure that the customer, the contractors and the lenders are getting the biggest bang for their buck. It is these lenders that can assure us that the loans are being used in the best ways possible and can be repaid by the borrowers. Because these hometown lenders and contractors are trusted in their communities, we can depend on them to refer folks to this program so they can take advantage of this great opportunity.
The Efficiency Kansas revolving loan program shows how partnerships between the public and the private sector can create efficient, effective use of these very important stimulus dollars.
As I have traveled the state, and listened to people in their home communities, there is one comment that I hear time and time again: that there is a shortage of quality housing. This
program helps address this concern by first taking care of what we already have and making it more energy efficient.
For more information about the Efficient Kansas program please visit www.efficiencykansas.com or call 1-877-448-3185.
