Here is a great case study showing how a couple used green financing to increase the green of their home. Their mortgage did go up but their monthly energy savings were greater. So they end up saving money.
Financial Importance of a Green Home
First-time home buyers purchased their home in New York. It was built in 1950, and sold for $260,000. They got an FHA loan for 90% of the value of the property. The lender arranged for them to improve on their investment and recommended an energy-efficient mortgage.
A HERS Rating on the home recommended $3,500 in energy improvements including a new energy star boiler and furnace duct insulation, plus a better thermostat. The lender set aside an extra $3,500 for the improvements, bringing the total loan amount from $234,000 to $237,500. The loan closed, the home buyers moved in, and the improvements were installed. The monthly mortgage payment increased by $22, but they are saving $67 each month through lower utility bills.