C-PACE Financing Calculator

C-PACE finances clean energy + efficiency retrofits via long-term property tax assessment.

Project cost

C-PACE rate %

Term years

C-PACE LTV limit %

Property value

Annual energy savings

Annual assessment

$169,627

Savings/investment ratio

1.3

Max C-PACE (LTV limit)

$4,500,000

How the math works

Annual assessment amortizes project over term. SIR = savings ÷ assessment.

$2M at 7% × 25yr = $14,136/mo × 12 = $169,631/yr. SIR = $220k / $169,631 = 1.30 ✓.

How to Use

Enter project cost.
Enter C-PACE rate %.
Enter assessment term years.
Enter LTV limit %.
Enter property value.
Enter annual energy savings.
Read financing details and cash-flow.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is C-PACE?

Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy: state/local program that funds energy efficiency, renewable energy, water efficiency, and resiliency retrofits via voluntary tax assessment on commercial property. Third-party capital provider funds upfront; property pays back via annual property tax bill over 15-30 years. Available in 38+ states. Loan structured as senior to mortgage (requires existing lender consent, typically). Interest rates: 5-9% fixed.

Qualifying projects?

(1) Energy efficiency: HVAC replacement, LED, insulation, windows, controls, roofing. (2) Renewable energy: solar PV, geothermal, battery storage, wind. (3) Water efficiency: low-flow fixtures, greywater, irrigation. (4) Resiliency: seismic retrofits, wind upgrades, flood protection. (5) Electric vehicle infrastructure. Most jurisdictions allow 'combined measures' — stack multiple retrofits under single C-PACE.

C-PACE vs conventional loan?

C-PACE pros: long term (15-30 yr vs 5-10 yr), fixed rate, non-recourse, transfers with property on sale, can exceed property LTV. C-PACE cons: higher rate than conventional (5-9% vs 5-7%), takes senior lien position (requires mortgage lender consent), annual escrow complication. Best for: deep retrofits with long payback, new construction where developer wants to preserve conventional debt capacity.

Energy savings required?

Most states require savings-to-investment ratio (SIR) > 1.0, meaning annual energy savings must exceed annual C-PACE assessment payment. Some states require 3rd-party engineering verification of savings. Conservative projects: 5-7% energy IRR. Aggressive: 15-25%. Many states require SIR > 1.25 or 1.5 for larger projects. Not all projects qualify — high-rate equipment (industrial boilers, specialty HVAC) may fall short.