Bank of America Announces Energy Efficiency Finance Program using Bright Power’s EnergyScoreCards
EnergyScoreCards, a subsidiary of Bright Power, Inc., will be the third party consultant for data collection and analysis as part of Bank of America’s Energy Efficiency Finance Program.
$55 Million in Low-Cost Loans, Grants Will Help Community Development Financial Institutions Finance Energy Efficient Building Retrofits
PRESS RELEASE, Bank of America Newsroom
CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 25, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE)
In its ongoing effort to provide capital that helps reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption, Bank of America today announced a new $55 million program to encourage energy efficiency improvements to older buildings. The new competitive program will provide low-cost loans and grants to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) specializing in financing energy efficiency improvements.
Older properties consume far more energy and often have higher costs for electricity, heating and air conditioning than newer buildings. CDFIs in local markets are developing innovative solutions to address barriers that have kept many property owners from financing important energy efficiency upgrades that can immediately save energy and, over time, save money. Bank of America willselect up to 12 CDFIs with the most effective solutions for funding to scale on a national level as part of its new program.
“Residential and commercial buildings account for approximately 40 percent of all primary energy consumption in the United States. That’s why, if we really want to address climate change, we have to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings, particularly older ones that tend to be the least efficient,” said Anne Finucane, Global Strategy and Marketing officer, Bank of America. “Through this program, Bank of America will fund the community lenders that have developed creative and effective approaches to financing energy efficient retrofits, with the aim of bringing these innovative financing structures to scale for greatest impact in reducing U.S. carbon emissions.”
“Making our existing building stock more energy- and resource-efficient is the best way to create jobs, save energy and save money,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). “The fact that Bank of America is not only launching this program, but gathering data and reporting on the conclusions will help enhance the effectiveness of the existing building sector.”
“I applaud Bank of America for looking to CDFIs as the delivery vehicle for innovative energy retrofit solutions,” said Mark Pinsky, president and CEO of Opportunity Finance Network (OFN). “CDFIs have launched numerous residential and commercial green financing initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, improve energy efficiency, and create green jobs in distressed markets across the country. Energy efficiency is good for the planet and good for the homeowner, for whom cost savings and affordability can mean opportunity.”
The $55 million includes $50 million in low-cost, long-term loans to CDFIs with innovative energy efficient retrofit programs that finance the upfront investment costs for building owners to make energy efficient improvements. The energy cost savings realized over time will create cash flow to repay the loan. An additional $5 million in grants will also be awarded to help with staffing, training, reserves, and marketing needs associated with the implementation of the programs.
Once CDFIs have made loans to property owners, Bank of America will work with them to collect pre- and post-retrofit data in order to measure program outcomes, including impacts on energy and water usage and associated financial savings. EnergyScoreCards, a subsidiary of Bright Power, Inc., will be the third party consultant for data collection and analysis.
Applications are available at www.cybergrants.com/boa/energyefficiency, with the winning energy finance programs and partners announced in November 2011. A selection committee comprised of industry experts will select the program participants.
Bank of America has long recognized that business and environmental objectives go hand in hand. With one of the most comprehensive environmental platforms of any financial institution, Bank of America in 2007 embarked on a 10-year, $20 billion business initiative to address climate change through lending, investments, capital markets activity, philanthropy, and its own operations. Bank of America is also the nation’s leading investor in CDFIs, with more than $1 billion invested with 120 CDFIs in 37 states. These investments help finance affordable housing, charter schools, fresh food supermarkets, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses in underserved communities.
For more information on Bank of America’s community development lending and investing, including its work with CDFIs, visit www.bankofamerica.com/opportunity.
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 58 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 5,800 retail banking offices and approximately 18,000 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 30 million active users. Bank of America is among the world’s leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
SOURCE: Bank of America
Reporters May Contact: Britney Sheehan, Bank of America, 1.206.358.7563 britney.w.sheehan@bankofamerica.com