SunRise Program Solar and HVAC Financing for Texas Homeowners
In Texas, summer cooling bills can run $300 or more a month. When your HVAC system is 15 years old and struggling to keep up, that number only goes higher. For a lot of homeowners, the solution is obvious: replace the system, add insulation, maybe look into solar. The problem is the upfront cost.
That is exactly the gap the SunRise program was built to fill.
SunRise is a home improvement loan program from Clean Energy Fund of Texas (CEFTX). It helps Texas homeowners pay for solar panels, HVAC upgrades, weatherization, and other energy improvements without requiring good credit or a large down payment. If high utility bills are stretching your budget, it is worth knowing this program exists.
What SunRise Is
SunRise is CEFTX’s homeowner-facing program under the Texas Energy Relief and Resilience Fund (TERRF). It provides non-credit-based, low-cost financing for residential energy efficiency and resilience upgrades.
Non-credit-based means your credit score is not the barrier. The program is designed for households that may not qualify for a traditional home improvement loan but still need a working HVAC system, a weatherized home, or access to solar energy.
If you want a broader look at what TERRF covers, including commercial and rental property financing, How Texas Families Access Affordable Home Upgrades provides an overview of the program. SunRise specifically focuses on homeowners.
What SunRise Covers?
SunRise financing can be used for nine categories of home upgrades:
- Solar panel installation
- HVAC system upgrades
- Weatherization and insulation
- Roof repairs
- Battery storage systems
- Sewer and water efficiency upgrades
- Energy-efficient lighting
- Storm resilience modifications
- Accessibility and disability retrofits
That last category matters. SunRise is not only for homeowners looking to cut their electric bills. It also helps people make safety and accessibility improvements that improve daily life at home.
For most households, the biggest impact comes from the first two or three categories on that list. An HVAC upgrade combined with weatherization and insulation can make a real difference in both comfort and monthly costs. CEFTX’s target for every SunRise project is a 20 percent reduction in household energy costs.
Who is Eligible?
Any Texas homeowner can apply. The program prioritizes low- and moderate-income (LMI) households, particularly those where utility bills take up a large share of monthly income. But eligibility is not limited to that group.
Renters may also qualify with the participation of their landlord. If you rent and your landlord is open to making improvements, it is worth starting that conversation and reaching out to CEFTX for guidance on how the process works.
How it Works
Once you apply and are approved, the work is handled by a contractor from CEFTX’s Trusted Texas Contractor Network. These are licensed, insured professionals who have been vetted for quality and customer service. There are currently more than 125 Trusted Texas Contractors operating across the state.
Your contractor will assess your home, recommend the upgrades that make the most sense for your situation, and handle the installation. The financing is structured so that monthly payments are manageable, and the energy savings the upgrades generate help offset the cost over time.
You do not need to figure out which contractor to call on your own. CEFTX and its community partner organizations can help connect you with the right person for your project.
How to Apply
The first step is checking your eligibility. You can do that at SunRise program page.
If you have questions or want help getting started, community-based organizations (CBOs) work alongside CEFTX to assist homeowners through the process. You can also contact the CEFTX team directly.
Ready to Get Started?
Check your eligibility or learn more at SunRise Program for Homeowners. A Trusted Texas Contractor can walk you through what upgrades make the most sense for your home.