California's GoGreen Financing program offers affordable loans through partnerships with local banks. The loans can be used for energy efficiency and clean energy home upgrades such as appliance replacements, heating and air conditioning upgrades, and solar installations. These upgrades can help you use less energy or create your own, thereby reducing your monthly utility bill.
The program works by providing creditors with risk mitigation tools, allowing them more leeway to offer loans than they otherwise could. This means that loans can be on longer repayment timelines with more affordable monthly payments, lower rates, and larger borrowing amounts. Creditors can also lend to individuals with lower credit scores.
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Eligibility requirements for a GoGreen loan
Building and utility
To qualify, your building must be 1-4 units. That means that in addition to single-family detached homes, townhomes, condos, and even manufactured homes can qualify! Homeowners and renters are eligible, but renters must obtain permission from the owner. In addition, you must receive electricity, gas, or both from one of the following utilities: PG&E, SCE, SoCalGas, SDG&E, or City of Palo Alto Utilities.
Personal situation
Under most circumstances, you must have a minimum credit score of 580, and for borrowers with credit scores between 580 and 640, the lender will verify your income during the underwriting process. You can still get a loan if you have no credit score, provided that you do not have any unexplained derogatory credit reports.
In addition to credit score, your total debt-to-income ratio must be less than or equal to 55%. This means that your monthly debt payments may not be 55% or more of your monthly income.
Allowed upgrades
Pretty much everything! Kitchen, heating and air conditioning, laundry and water heating appliances, insulation, air sealing, windows and other exterior improvements, solar and storage, pool heating, and more are all eligible upgrades that can be financed under GoGreen.
Contractors
Your upgrades must be completed by a GoGreen-approved contractor. If you need help finding a reliable contractor, sign up with QuitCarbon. We can help you plan your project, find all incentives available to you, and connect you with a trusted contractor that has experience working with the GoGreen program.
Typical terms for a GoGreen loan
You can receive up to $75,000 in loans and use those funds to cover up to 100% of energy upgrades. As of October 2025, interest rates range from 3.58% to 10%, depending on your loan term.
Get reduced-rate (0-2%) loans for heat pumps
GoGreen currently offers reduced-rate loans at 0%-2% interest for low-income customers who are installing heat pumps, including water heaters or heating and air conditioning systems.
Loans with terms up to 10 years may qualify for 0% financing, and loans with terms between 10 and 15 years may qualify for 2% financing. The project maximum for reduced-rate loans is $30,000.
To see if you qualify, follow these step-by-step instructions:
- Confirm that your home is located in a qualifying community using this mapping tool.
- Confirm that your income falls within the acceptable threshold with this income limits table.
- Submit a loan application at a standard Go Green Homes rate using your income (borrower income). A partner bank will verify your income before assigning the 0-2% loan rate.
If you're already signed up with QuitCarbon, you can update your income level in your Home Profile to see what extra incentives you might be able to access and combine with affordable financing. If not, follow the link below to sign up!
