Get involved in Net Zero

Planning the Retrofits

Clean Net Zero will design your pathway to Net Zero in three ways:

Milestone I – Optimizing your building’s energy efficiency

These upgrades decrease energy consumption by preventing energy loss
Consists of efficiency upgrades which include insulation, windows, doors, etc.
Specific upgrades will be dependent on the home & design

Milestone 2 – Optimizing your heating, cooling and ventilation efficiency

These upgrades decrease energy consumption by making your homes mechanical systems as efficient as possible
Upgrade your heating, cooling, and ventilation systems
Specific upgrades will be dependent on the home & design

Milestone 3 – Offset your remaining energy needs with renewable energy, especially solar photovoltaic

These upgrades will provide your home with a renewable energy system
Size of system will depend on the home, both in terms of space available and energy needed to supply the remainder of the homes energy demand

These milestones can be completed all at once, or over a series of upgrades, depending on the financing available to you, and what you are comfortable with investing.

If you are unable to take your home all the way to Net Zero performance, we will complete the milestones that the financing allows, and will provide you with a planned path to get you the rest of the way.

The Financing

Clean Net Zero options:

The financing for Clean Net Zero will be a simple, trusted, one-portal process that will be overseen by the LaHave River Credit Union. The financing options that are available to you will depend on where the home is located:

For homeowners within the Town of Bridgewater:

For homeowners outside the Town of Bridgewater:

Financing Suite

1. PACE-style* financing through the Town of Bridgewater

· Financing for up to 15% of home’s value

· 4% interest over a term to be determined

2. Remainder financed through the LaHave River Credit Union

Single Source Financing

· Entire amount financed through Lahave River Credit Union

If you are able to pay for the upgrades without the financing options through Clean Net Zero, our Team may still be able to help you create your path to Net Zero and manage the retrofits.

* PACE stands for Property Assessed Clean Energy. This is a type of financing that is offered through some municipalities as a Local Improvement Charge (LIC). This charge is placed as a lien on the property and stays with the property in the event of a sale. Therefore the payments are taken over by the new homeowner. This is the same financing that is offered in the Clean Energy Financing Program.

The Application

Once we receive your registration form, Clean will screen it to confirm your eligibility for the program.

Eligibility Criteria:

You own the home
You have at least 20% equity in your home
The home is detached, semi-detached, or a row house style home
If your home is a mobile home, it is affixed to a foundation and you own the property it sits on
To be eligible for the PACE funding component, you are located within the Town of Bridgewater boundary
You are, and have been in, good standing with municipal charges for up to 5 years past.
LaHave River Credit Union will conduct a credit check and an assessment of ability to pay off debt
Total borrowing does not exceed a maximum acceptable level of debt after home is upgraded

The Process

1. Apply

Simply complete & return this form that will allow us to confirm you are eligible to participate in the program.

2. Receive your tailored financing plan

We will arrange for you to meet with a LaHave River Credit Union financial advisor to determine how much financing can be put toward your retrofit plan.
If you live in the Town of Bridgewater and meet their threshold criteria for PACE-style financing, you may also be eligible to supplement your financing from the LaHave River Credit Union with municipality financing.

3. Receive your free home energy assessment and Net Zero retrofit plan.

Clean will help you book a certified Home Energy Assessment. Once completed you will receive a report on your home’s energy use. Based on the information from this audit, we will develop a tailored plan to most effectively take your home to Net Zero. This plan will include a cost-benefit analysis with a payback period.
The first 30 homes accepted into the program will receive their energy assessment for FREE!

4. Complete the Retrofits

Once confirmed that the house will go through Clean Net Zero retrofits, you will be provided with a Customer Agreement. Once all agreements are made, Clean will begin contracting the work. Clean will provide free project management services throughout the retrofit process.