VHFA is committed to affordable and safe housing initiatives that increase energy efficiency and reduce costs for Vermonters. That commitment includes cost-effective and environmentally sound solutions for single-family, multifamily, and manufactured homes. VHFA's home energy-focused initiatives:
Weatherization Repayment Assistance Program (WRAP)
The Weatherization Repayment Assistance Program (WRAP) is an innovative program to help Vermonters afford comprehensive home energy projects that make homes more comfortable and energy efficient in any season.
WRAP addresses the financial barriers commonly encountered in weatherization projects that typically come with high upfront costs by allowing Vermont households to pay for qualifying weatherization projects (including heat pumps, advanced wood heating systems, and health and safety measures) through a low monthly charge on their utility bill that is paid back over time. For homeowners and renters who have limited access to credit this puts weatherization projects well within reach. What's more, no credit checks are required because verification is based on the customer's utility bill payment history.
Homeowners and renters who live in single family homes, and those who occupy master metered multifamily buildings of up to four units, can participate in WRAP. The program is open to Vermonters of all incomes, however the majority of program funding is targeted to households earning between 80 to 120% of the area median income.
Customers interested in WRAP should contact Vermont Gas Systems (VGS), Efficiency Vermont, or Burlington Electric Department (BED). They work directly with customers and approved contractors who will perform energy audits and recommend home energy solutions to customers interested in home weatherization. Once the energy audit is completed, the program administrators confirm that the recommendations meet energy savings targets and are able to determine the incentives that the customer is eligible for. VHFA provides capital and incentives for the remaining upfront costs of the project using state funding. In some cases, up to 75% of funding may be covered depending on combined incentives and the scope of the individual project.
Once work is completed, the WRAP charge is added on the customer’s monthly gas or electric utility bill. Currently, Green Mountain Power, Ludlow Electric, Vermont Electric Cooperative, VGS, and BED all offer the program to their customers.
Interested in WRAP? See our WRAP overview (PDF) and visit the WRAP customer page for more details on who to contact and how to apply!
New VHFA energy initiatives:
Solar for All
In May 2025, VHFA and the Vermont Department of Public Service received $22 million as part of the federal Solar for All Program (SFA). Under this partnership, VHFA will award grants and loans to affordable housing developers to support installation of solar arrays on building rooftops, on-site ground-mounted arrays, or participation in larger off-site community solar installations. In the coming months, VHFA will hold public outreach sessions with housing developers, residents, and other key stakeholders to further inform the design of this exciting program in Vermont. Read more about it on VHFA's news page.
VHFA's past energy initiatives include:
- In 2018, VHFA issued its $37 million Housing for All Revenue Bonds, the proceeds of which were used to fund 34 new affordable housing developments in 23 Vermont communities for a total of 843 new housing units. These bonds earned the State’s first Sustainability Bond designation by virtue of the investment of proceeds in housing projects that met VHFA’s Green Building Design Standards, which require higher standards of efficiency and climate-sensitive sourcing than Vermont’s basic energy standards.
- $2 million commitment for energy conservation loans to Vermont homeowners.
- VHFA partnered with VEIC to establish Energy Rated Homes of Vermont, a rating system to help lower income and first-time home buyers avoid high energy costs.
- Housing Acquisition & Rehab Program (HARP) - Between 2009 and 2015 VHFA acquired and rehabilitated foreclosed homes for resale to low and moderate income first time homebuyers. With considerable energy investments made, the 74 homes served by this program employed over 1,600 contractors who completed extensive energy-related work on the homes, as shown below.
- Provided funding for 230 households to purchase either Energy Star or Zero Energy Modular homes through the state housing tax credit program. $6.4 million in tax credit equity has leveraged over $21.7 million in other financing serving households with an average household income of $45,000.