Boulder County has announced it will make about $12 million worth of ClimateSmart money available to county residents in a third round of loans for energy efficiency home upgrades.

Participants must take one free homeowners' workshop to be eligible for the low-interest ClimateSmart loans, which were made possible when voters approved Issue 1A in 2008.

The loans are repaid during 15 years through special assessments added to property tax bills.  The assessments stay with the house when the structure is sold.

More than 40 home energy efficiency and renewable energy projects are eligible for ClimateSmart funding, the county says.

Applications for ClimateSmart loans will be available in mid-April. Homeowners will be invited to apply for the ClimateSmart funding after they have enrolled in one of the 15 workshops. All ClimateSmart workshops are scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m.

Sessions will be held in Boulder at the Center for ReSource Conservation, 2639 Spruce St. Monday, March 15; Tuesday, March 16; Monday, March 22; Wednesday, March 24; Monday, April 5; Tuesday, April 6; Monday, April 19; and Wednesday, April 21.

There will be a session at the Lafayette Public Library, Basement Meeting Room, 775 W. Baseline Rd. on Tuesday, April 20.

Four sessions will be held at the Longmont Civic Center, Council Chambers, 350 Kimbark St. The Longmont ClimateSmart sessions will be Monday, March 29; Wednesday, March 31; Monday, April 12; and Monday, April 26.

Sessions at the Superior Town Hall, 124 E. Coal Creek Dr. will be Wednesday, April 7 and Wednesday, April 28.

For more information, visit www.ClimateSmartLoanProgram.org, e-mail climatesmart@bouldercounty.org, or call 303-441-4565.

Ron Rovtar is a broker associate at Prudential Real Estate of the Rockies in Boulder.  He is EcoBroker Certified® and can be reached at 303.473.1926. Please visit Ron's website for more information.

This Article © Ron Rovtar/All Rights Reserved

Tags: Boulder County, ClimateSmart, energy efficiency