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Maryland BeSMART and Clean Energy Advantage home energy loans open

Administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (BeSMART) and the Maryland Clean Energy Center with Montgomery County Green Bank (Clean Energy Advantage).

Two state-backed loans pay for efficiency work in Maryland homes. DHCD's BeSMART lends $5,000 to $30,000 at 6.99% APR for up to ten years, and the Clean Energy Center's Clean Energy Advantage lends $3,000 to $50,000 at 0% for the first 24 months, for projects done through a utility rebate program.

source · verified 3 October 2026 · amounts in US dollars

What it pays

Two loans
TermBeSMART (DHCD)Clean Energy Advantage (MCEC)
Amount$5,000 to $30,000$3,000 to $50,000
Rate6.99% APR0% for 24 months, then market rates with a 0.5% reduction
LengthUp to 10 years3, 5, 7 or 10 years
CreditDebt-to-income up to 50%Scores as low as 580 may qualify
UsesHeating and cooling, insulation, appliances, windows; up to 25% for health and safety workAir conditioning, heating, insulation, windows and more, through a utility rebate program

Clean Energy Advantage has no dealer fees and must be combined with utility rebates; up to $50,000 per installation address while program funds last.

Who is eligible

BeSMART
Maryland homeowners; email income documents to be pre-approved.
Clean Energy Advantage
Customers of BGE, SMECO, Potomac Edison, Delmarva Power, Pepco outside Montgomery County, or Washington Gas, with an approved contractor and the utility's Home Performance, Home Energy Improvement or HVAC rebate program.

Where the application goes

Apply to DHCD for BeSMART; apply for Clean Energy Advantage through your utility's participating contractor and the Clean Energy Center.

Where the application goes
If this is youApply here
BeSMARTdhcd.maryland.gov
Clean Energy Advantagemdcleanenergy.org

The thing most pages get wrong

BGE's Home Performance page lists BeSMART at a 4.99% fixed rate. DHCD's BeSMART page says 'Rate is 6.99% APR', and Pepco and Delmarva also show 6.99%.

Still open

BGE says the Clean Energy Advantage loan was 'extended through December 31, 2025'. The Maryland Clean Energy Center's page still offers it while program funds last, and says it has provided over $5.1 million in financing and approved more than 460 loans.

Montgomery County

Clean Energy Advantage excludes Pepco customers in Montgomery County, which has its own county green bank.