Article: `Green mortgages' taking root ; Loans that push energy efficiency could make homes more affordable

First came green homes. Now comes a mortgage to match.

So-called green mortgages are the latest innovation in the push to promote more energy-efficient houses, whose owners enjoy lower utility costs thanks to solar panels, improved insulation, thermopane windows, and other money-saving products. Also called energy-efficient mortgages, they allow home buyers to qualify for larger loans on the premise that they can afford higher monthly payments due to what they save on heat, water, and other utilities.

In effect, the mortgages pass energy savings on to homeowners in the form of increased buying power.

"It's the most efficient way to allow people to capitalize on the value that green homes ...

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