A bill that helps home buyers afford energy improvements & encourages banks to offer a discount on loans to pay for reducing energy usage passed the U.S. House in June & could pass the Senate in the fall. The American Clean Energy & Security Act of 2009 requires Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac to offer discounts on mortgages that include extra cash for making a home more energy efficient.
     These discounts, which are already in effect at some lenders, include savings on closing costs for homes that have Energy Star appliances. The Federal Housing Administration is offering a plan that allows borrowers to add the cost of making efficiency improvements into the mortgage.

For more information visit:  http://www.energystar.gov/