The energy audit is the heart and soul of the Efficiency Kansas loan program, identifying where energy-efficiency improvements can be made in existing homes and small businesses. Auditors prioritize the improvements that will deliver the biggest bang for the buck.

In a nutshell, here's how the program works:

Step 1: Financing

1. Contact a Partner Lender or Partner Utility to get pre-qualified for loan.

Step 2: The Energy Audit

1. Customer selects from the list of Efficiency Kansas qualified auditors
2. Customer is responsible for paying auditor
   • Audit cost can be rolled into loan
   • First 1,000 participants eligible for $350 energy audit rebate
3. Auditor provides customer with Energy Conservation Plan, including forms for the customer to provide contractors

Step 3: Selecting Contractors

1. Customer submits specifications to contractor for bids
   • Customers should seek final bids from contractors
   • Total amount approved for financing is based on these bids. Any costs in excess of the approved amount are the customer's responsibility
2. Customer submits Energy Conservation Plan and signed forms from contractors to partner lender or utility, with final pricing from contractors

Step 4: Approval

1. Lender or utility submits Energy Conservation Plan to the State Energy Office for review and approval
2. For projects to be approved, the estimated savings must cover the costs of the improvements over the lifetime of the loan
3. State Energy Office notifies partner lender or utility of approval and they finalize financing arrangements with customer

Step 5: Implementation

1. Customer contacts contractors and work begins
2. Energy auditor conducts post-retrofit audit when all the work is completed
   • Customer and auditor sign Certificate of Project Completion and submit to partner lender or utility to be forwarded to the State Energy Office

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