Project Spotlights
CCEF is proud to finance renewable energy and energy efficiency projects for homes and businesses. Check out our Project Spotlights below to learn more!
RENU Project Spotlight: Solar PV and Battery Storage for Allison and Ben
Living off-grid requires a thoughtful approach to energy. Every appliance, device, and upgrade has to fit within the capacity of their solar energy system. When Allison and Ben purchased an electric vehicle, they quickly realized their existing Solar PV system didn’t have enough capacity to keep up. Charging an EV would require a significant amount of electricity, nearly as much as their entire household uses. To support the additional demand, the couple partnered with SolarSet, a CCEF-authorized contractor that specializes in pre-assembled off-grid solar solutions. Through SolarSet, Allison learned about the Residential Energy Upgrade (RENU) Loan Program.
OBR Project Spotlight: Air-Source Heat Pump, Water Heater, and Insulation Upgrade for Carlos
Carlos first learned about the Electrify and Save On-Bill Repayment (OBR) program in May of 2024 after seeing a Facebook post. He was initially intrigued by the program’s payment terms and convenience, by allowing homeowners to make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes with no money down and at interest rates below 5%. CCEF covers the installation and equipment costs, and the homeowner is responsible for repaying the costs as a voluntary line item on their monthly utility bill. The simplicity and ease of repayment terms fit perfectly with Carlos’ situation, making OBR a seamless way to finance some necessary upgrades.
OBR Project Spotlight: Windows, Doors, and a New Heat Pump for Melanie
Melanie and her husband both work for the Town of Crested Butte, where finding affordable housing can be challenging for the local workforce. This year, the couple was thrilled to secure a deed-restricted home that allowed them to stay rooted in the community they serve—but after moving in, they quickly realized the home needed some updates. The windows, doors, furnace, and water heater were long overdue for replacement. Mel saw an opportunity to bring her projects to life through the Electrify and Save On-Bill Repayment (OBR) Program.
Tailwind Nutrition
Located in a low-income area and energy community, the Tailwind Nutrition facility serves a growing client base, including major outdoor retailers such as REI. To support sustainability, operational efficiency, and long-term growth, the company invested in a 54 kW roof-mounted solar PV system with financing from CCEF through a CLIMBER REAP grant bridge loan.
OBR Project Spotlight: Air Source Heat Pump and Insulation Upgrade for Christina
Christina had been considering home energy upgrades for some time, but was concerned about the time and financial commitment of making significant improvements. That’s where the Electrify and Save program caught her attention.
Wild Bear Nature Center
With financing from CCEF, the nonprofit is investing in a high-efficiency HVAC system to support a facility designed to run 100% electric by harnessing solar power and installing heat pumps.
Venture Inn
With financing from CCEF, Daniel invested in a 92-panel, 55.2 kW roof-mounted solar PV system and a new flat roof to restore the property’s integrity while unlocking long-term energy savings.
Habitat for Humanity of the Roaring Fork Valley
To help bridge a temporary funding gap due to a delay in grant disbursement, Habitat RFV secured a $500,000 CLIMBER Loan through Collective Clean Energy Fund (CCEF). The funds are being used to cover critical operating expenses.
OBR Project Spotlight: Air Source Heat Pump for Dan
With support from I.C.E. Heating & Cooling, Dan installed a Daikin One system configured as a "dual-fuel" setup, pairing a high-efficiency air source heat pump with a gas furnace—a significant comfort upgrade for a home that had never had air conditioning.
eCamion Project Spotlight
eCamion is bringing high-speed electric vehicle charging stations to five rural communities in Colorado, with support from the NEVI (National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure) program and critical bridge financing from CCEF.
RENU Project Spotlight: Air Source Heat Pump for Adam
With support from MGI Mechanical, Adam installed an Energy Star dual-fuel heat pump system combining the high efficiency of electric heating and cooling with a backup natural gas furnace for extremely cold days.
Chester Street Apartments Project
Chester Street Apartments is a forward-looking energy retrofit project aimed at preserving and improving affordable housing in one of Aurora’s longstanding neighborhoods. With support from the CCEF’s Energy PAL loan program and a grant from Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC), the project equips two apartment buildings with high-efficiency boiler systems—ensuring reliable, cost-effective space heating and hot water for 34 apartment units.
Harvest Hill Development Project
Harvest Hill is a transformative new construction development in Broomfield, Colorado that addresses one of the region’s most pressing needs: affordable housing for families. CCEF provided $1,800,000 in financing to support various energy efficiency installations such as EV charging sites and EV-Ready parking stalls, a rooftop solar PV system, and electrification-ready construction.
RENU Project Spotlight: Air Source Heat Pump for Justin
In December, Justin took a big step toward making his home more energy efficient by replacing his aging furnace and AC condenser system with a new air source heat pump system. After years of fixing things here and there, it became clear that a full upgrade would not only save on long-term costs but also improve the comfort and efficiency of his home.
RENU Project Spotlight: Rooftop Solar System for Matthew
In 2024, Matthew made the decision to install a 13.12 kilowatt rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system on his home. The system’s performance over the first year has exceeded his expectations, demonstrating the financial and environmental benefits of solar as well as home electrification.
Morning Fresh Dairy Farm
CCEF identified this project as an excellent opportunity to deploy DOH AHIF funds, making it a priority in their portfolio due to its potential for transformational affordable housing. By providing critical gap financing, CCEF is helping to ensure the project’s success.
Rifle Apartments Development Project
CCEF identified this project as an excellent opportunity to deploy DOH AHIF funds, making it a priority in their portfolio due to its potential for transformational affordable housing. By providing critical gap financing, CCEF is helping to ensure the project’s success.
RENU Project Spotlight: Heat Pump Water Heater for Ann Marie with My Electric Home
When Ann Marie’s old water heater broke unexpectedly, she needed a replacement as soon as possible. Luckily, she was able to get a new heat pump water heater with My Electric Home in a timely manner while also taking advantage of rebates and financing through the Residential Energy Upgrade (RENU) program.
RENU: Air Source Heat Pump for Emily and Bryan
Emily and Bryan wanted a more comfortable home with stable temperatures year-round. They knew their aging HVAC system wasn’t cutting it anymore. That’s when they decided to explore their options for upgrading their home’s energy efficiency and improving indoor comfort.
Silo Adventure Center
After connecting with a few solar companies, Joe was recommended to consider CCEF for financing support. He was approved for CCEF’s Energy Project Accelerator Loan, which helped him bridge the financing gap to implement the renewable energy project while also avoiding financing the entire project with the loan.
All Inn Hotel
The building owner recognized that the All Inn’s mission aligned perfectly with CCEF’s by filling a financial gap for a clean energy project. The 15-year Clean Conversion Loan, with its fixed, below-market interest rate and payments amortized over the loan term, provided the financial flexibility needed to move forward with the project.
Fitch Ranch Artisan Meat Co
Fitch Ranch Artisan Meat Co. is implementing a new 151.2 kWp roof-mounted solar array system to its meat processing plant facility. The business received an Energy PAL loan from CCEF for the entire project cost and they were awarded a USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant for 40% of the project cost.
Globeville Project Spotlight Update
This spotlight provides an update on the transformative Globeville Redevelopment Project, a city-sponsored initiative on the north side of Denver that is set to bring much needed affordable housing to a community in Colorado.
Foothills Art Center
This project includes major renovations to two inefficient historic buildings with multiple clean energy measures, including clean energy generation through solar, insulation, new windows, LED lighting, and heat pump HVAC units.
RENU: Cold Climate Heat Pump for Diwakar
While reading up about his utility company’s latest programs, Diwakar “Walker” came across the Residential Energy Upgrade Loan Program (RENU) program. He saw this as an opportunity to improve his home’s energy efficiency and comfort levels, especially in rooms with high traffic.
RENU: Solar for James Home Away from Home
James Ladtkow hadn’t paid for electricity on his primary home in three years. In time, he realized he was getting a lot of solar radiation on his family’s winter vacation home, too. “I thought, ‘Why not generate [electricity] in the summer and use that credit in the winter?’”
Cañon City Lanes
The owners of Cañon City Lanes secured a Clean Conversion Loan through CCEF for a 140-panel rooftop solar array system, which will produce 110% of current electricity usage and has projected bill savings of $18,703 in the first year of operation.
RENU: Solar System for Vincent
Vincent financed with CCEF’s Residential Energy Upgrade loan program (RENU) to install a massive 18.3 kW Tesla solar system, with a large Tesla Powerwall 2 battery system at his home in Thornton, Colorado.
RENU: Geothermal Heat Pump for Elisabeth
The furnace in Elisabeth “Liz” Evans’ home was over 20 years old; she had no air conditioning unit installed and summers were becoming increasingly hot. After many consultations with contractors and extensive research, Liz decided to have a ground source heat pump installed in her Denver, CO home
Ancient Echoes
CCEF helped finance a 28 kW solar PV system for Ancient Echoes at Kelly Place, a southwestern sanctuary in the McElmo canyon of Colorado.
Carbonate Street Apartments
The Carbonate Street Apartments is a 60-unit all-electric affordable housing development in Buena Vista, CO. CCEF provided $1.7 million in bridge financing to make these all-electric apartment units possible.
Studio Arts Boulder
With financing from CCEF, Studio Arts Boulder was able to implement clean energy measures including solar PV; EV charging; geothermal piping and drilling; ground source heat pumps; and energy recovery ventilation on a new 12,000 square foot community art education center.
The Loveland Housing Authority Project
Loveland Housing Authority saved approximately $300,000 upfront by financing their all-electric units with help from CCEF. By playing to LHA’s tradition of efficiency and environmental protection, going all-electric means creating units that are more efficient and economically friendly than the current market rate.
The Rocky Mountain Cabins of Buena Vista
After consulting with Colorado Solar Energy, the owners of the Rocky Mountain Cabins of Buena Vista moved forward with an Energy PAL loan from CCEF to install a solar array and remove their diesel generator.
Price Farms Solar Array
With the mission to become more energy efficient, Price Farms is producing quality crops with the use of solar arrays to run the farm’s systems and lower the cost of electricity.
C-PACE: Highlands Place II
Highlands Place II is a three-story, mixed-use office building built in 1984, consisting of almost 150,000 square feet. The project was a great candidate for C-PACE and consisted of LED lighting upgrades and HVAC system controls.
Fuel & Iron Food Hall
CCEF funded the development of Fuel Kitchens, an incubator commissary kitchen in Pueblo, CO that includes a mass release cold/dry storage warehouse members can rent out. The project includes solar energy and electric kitchen equipment.
Norwood Ace Hardware
Small business loans are not always easy to secure. For Tom Mortell, owner of Ace Hardware in Norwood, Colorado, this rang true when it came to financing a solar array for the hardware store’s new location on Grand Avenue.
Ute Mountain Micro-Hydro Power Plant
CCEF funded an agricultural irrigation project for the Ute Mountain Ute Farm & Ranch Enterprise, utilizing renewable energy-producing, micro-hydro technology that will offset a material amount of operating costs for the tribe.
Globeville Project Spotlight
CCEF is providing $1 million in predevelopment funds for a proposed redevelopment site at 4995 Washington, creating energy efficiency for a 200-unit Affordable Housing building and two inward-focused oases from the area’s legacy of environmental burdens.
