SURE empowers CDFIs and other lenders to offer energy financing products swiftly and reliably. We have the tools and experience to make the process easy and approachable.
SURE enables financial institutions to analyze and manage risks confidently, when accessing or deploying sustainability capital. We have the expertise and partnerships to deliver scalable solutions.
About Sure
SURE - Sustainable Underwriting for Resilience and Efficiency - provides lenders the standards and technology for sustainable buildings.
IPC is a not-for-profit organization focused on scaling energy financing solutions in communities that need it most.
Launched by Inclusive Prosperity Capital, Inc. (IPC) and Housing Partnership Network (HPN), SURE is an expert partner to financial institutions, real estate developers, CDFIs, governments, community lenders, and the affordable housing industry.
HPN is an award-winning business collaborative of over 100+ of the nation’s leading housing and community development organizations.
Why Now?
The EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund is investing $27 billion to enhance energy efficiency and achieve net-zero buildings, with 70% of the funds supporting low-income and disadvantaged communities.
Improving existing infrastructure is crucial, as 80% of buildings expected to be in use by 2050 are already built today.
2,600 state and local incentive programs are already available to reduce the cost of sustainability upgrades. With insurance and operating costs rising, sustainability is a "shovel ready" opportunity for building owners to reduce costs and improve Net Operating Income (NOI).
Addressing Industry Challenges
Energy-related funding presents a significant opportunity for reinvesting in affordable housing, but the sector faces substantial challenges. Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) require tailored loan programs, refined underwriting methods, advanced technology, and comprehensive training to deploy energy-related financing effectively. Additionally, the industry lacks standardized loan products, reliable risk-rating data, universal underwriting standards, and transparent disclosure frameworks necessary to access secondary markets and scale up operations.
Benefits
SURE enables lenders to access and deploy sustainability capital by offering standardized financial products and leveraging advanced technologies.
With SURE standards and tech-enabled services, financial institutions and CDFIs can promote economic opportunity while advancing community resilience
-
New or enhanced loan products, creating value for borrowers, lenders and investors
-
Access to new capital sources, improving the balance sheet and growth opportunities
-
Rapid, expert-informed entry and growth in housing sustainability finance
-
User-friendly, tech-enabled financing of potentially complex sustainability projects
-
More financially stable properties, with lower repayment risk
-
Lower energy costs for tenants, maintaining affordability with better quality of living
See how
it works
Program Development
Access expertise in housing sustainability finance, customized to your organization's unique needs, to launch or grow your program
- Custom Solutions.
Augment existing lending programs or create a new program.
- Clear Directions.
Navigate compliance and procedural requirements with confidence.
Portfolio Analytics and Pipeline
- Portfolio Analysis.
Identify good candidate properties for sustainability lending.
- Risk Management
Leverage sustainability to manage portfolio risks.
- Pipeline Strategies
Develop immediate and long-term project and capital sources.
Tech-enabled Underwriting
Access specialized underwriting capabilities specific to sustainability loans.
- User-Friendly Portal and Intake Checklist.
Streamline the borrower experience and customer service.
- Underwriting and Credit Memo.
Assess risks with robust analytics for housing sustainability projects and capital stacks.
Education and Capacity Building
Develop skills and organizational capacity with training tailored to each skill level and role.
- Investment Committee Education.
Equip decision makers with knowledge for sustainability investments.
- Holistic Approach
Assess organizational readiness for sustainability finance and develop a prioritized action plan.
Standardized Products
Initiate, enhance, and scale sustainability finance program swith products tailored to market needs.
- Sustainability Incentive Bridge Loan.
Subordinate product for project with significant rates of rebate or incentive, designed to keep cash on hand during construction or as a facility for portfolios with multiple projects.
- Sustainability Term Loan.
Subordinate, alternatively secured product for wide range of sustainability scopes, designed to preserve properties and support future recapitalization.
- Loan Documents.
Closing riders to augment existing processes and attestations to expedite closing.
