Green Loans

Thinking of buying a home, or refinancing your current one? An innovative Fannie Mae-based mortgage underwrites big energy efficiency projects that save homeowners hundreds, perhaps thousands of dollars in annual energy costs. Such "Energy Efficient Mortgages" offer up to 15 percent of a house's appraised value, not its equity, to purchase approved energy-saving techniques, from better insulation and tighter windows and doors, to high-efficiency furnaces and appliances, to solar hot water and electricity installations. Exactly one Michigan company, Priority Mortgage Corp of Lansing, administers this green deal. Reach them at www.EnergyEfficientMortgages.com or 517-483-5121. Tell 'em the Institute sent ya!