Our team at Invest in Our Future believes the strongest case for clean energy comes from the communities and places already seeing its benefits.
One of those places is the state of Utah, where some of our Builders Network members are finding ways to make clean energy work for their communities: Building Power Resource Center and UndauntedK12 are helping install solar and modernize cooling systems in schools across Salt Lake City and beyond. United Today, Stronger Tomorrow is organizing rural and small-town communities around clean energy and other issues, recently helping highlight some of their priorities with Governor Cox’s office. And SustainEnergyFinance is helping Utahns lower their utility bills by weatherizing their homes using innovative financing models.
Today, we’re virtually sitting down with SustainEnergyFinance’s CEO and co-founder, Shawna Cuan, who is proud to call Utah home. She is helping households and developers across the state finance cost-saving home improvements, including solar panels, water heaters, weatherization, insulation, and energy-efficient HVAC systems. She was also one of more than 50 local clean energy champions who joined us in Washington for our Builders Network Fly-In.
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Builders Network: Hi Shawna, welcome. Thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with how you got involved in Utah’s clean energy space. Tell us about that.
Shawna: Utah is my home, and you take care of your home.
When I was working in the Utah Governor’s Office of Energy Development, I noticed a major gap between all these exciting energy solutions that the state had to offer and the ability of most families to access them. We have tools and incentives for small upgrades that make a big difference — like window upgrades, or adding insulation to attic spaces, or replacing an old water heater — but it felt like the families who needed it most were being left out. We had a great tax credit and financing program that we thought was well designed, but we found out it was hard to access, as consumers were reaching out asking for help applying or to ask if they were even eligible.
I kept seeing people wanting to make upgrades to their home, but not knowing where and how to get financing for it. And it can be hard to keep up with which federal and state policies are in effect or expiring. I wanted to build something that would last - not something flashy and quick, but something that would be around for generations.
Green banks are an elegant solution. So, with a personal investment from my cofounder, I helped start SustainEnergyFinance to be a local nonprofit lender, connecting families with financing for clean energy projects and the builders who can get it done. We work all over the state, mostly with homeowners, but also with developers and business owners. They know that energy efficiency is smart for their business.
Our goal is to help lower monthly living costs while building long-term community resilience across Utah, so people can stay in their homes and power them affordably. I’m really proud of the momentum we’ve built: We have a dedicated board of directors, an investment committee, and an incredible team who all believe deeply in our mission of helping others. It’s really rewarding to feel like I’m helping my community, my neighbors, my home.
Builders Network: Families across the U.S. are feeling the squeeze from higher utility bills. What are you hearing in Utah right now?
Shawna: Utah families are feeling a double squeeze: not only are electricity rates climbing, but housing and insurance costs are also rising rapidly across our state. People really want control and predictability over their monthly budgets, but they feel stuck between these rising rates and having to keep their air conditioners on nonstop because of the extreme summer heat.
Imagine you’re living with an aging furnace and drafty windows. You’re not only fearing winter heating bills, but also summer heatwaves. Through a home loan, we can help families seal those windows, upgrade to efficient heat pumps, or install solar on their rooftops. Beyond saving money on utility bills, it helps homes feel comfortable to live in. And these new efficient appliances are really appealing; you feel the difference right away.
Builders Network: Are these dynamics changing the way Utahns think about clean energy?
Shawna: Utahns have always prided themselves on being self-reliant and practical, whether it’s in business or at home. But paying close attention to energy costs has typically not been a high priority for most people here, because utility costs have historically been very low. Now we have more summer days topping 100 degrees and our persistent winter inversions affecting air quality, so Utahns increasingly view home energy upgrades — like insulation, heat pumps, and rooftop power — not as luxuries, but as necessary tools to protect their family’s health and comfort. It gives them a little bit more control over their bills and finances. It’s more of a conversation now than it’s ever been.
Builders Network: SustainEnergyFinance has invested more than $2 million in Utah communities and helped more than 400 families finance these kinds of upgrades. What have you learned from working directly with homeowners?
Shawna: Utah homeowners are deeply pragmatic and careful stewards of their family resources. It’s part of our DNA. But navigating home improvements can feel overwhelming. People do not want complex jargon or hidden fees. They want support that is straightforward and that they can trust.
Part of our services include sitting down with homeowners to find out their most pressing needs, to talk about what they can afford, and to go over options that can make their homes more comfortable and efficient. We also carefully vet contractors and evaluate each quote or estimate they provide to make sure it is reasonable and in line with the going rates. Anything from roof repairs to more efficient cooling and heating to a home solar system: we can give advice, recommend a contractor, and provide affordable financing to get it done.
We partner with a big network of foundations, public agencies, and community lenders to work within the real-world realities of home maintenance and budgets. When you treat homeowners as partners and keep the process simple, it makes it easier for people to take advantage of clean energy and energy efficiency.
Builders Network: One of the biggest barriers to making home improvements is the upfront cost. How do home energy loans help solve that problem?
Shawna: Yes. We know most families are not able to take on a huge home repair bill, even if it saves money in the long run. We try to solve this problem by looking at a borrower’s full picture, taking into account income and payment history rather than just a credit score as most banks would. We work with the borrower to create a loan with little to no down payment up front, and to spread a large investment into manageable monthly payments. This helps expand access for more people to upgrade their homes.
Builders Network: What do you wish policymakers and local leaders understood better about clean energy?
Shawna: We all have bills. We all know how it feels to get a surprise bill or a higher-than-usual bill when we haven’t done anything out of the ordinary and we’re still too cold or too hot in our own homes! And sadly, that is happening more and more often. Energy affordability is a shared experience for most of us, and I wish policymakers invested in clean energy, which not only brings down costs, but also strengthens the energy grid we all rely on. Nonprofits, banks, contractors, and Utahns alike all would benefit if there was consistent, reliable access to affordable clean energy solutions so people could plan for their future easier.
This is not some out-of-touch debate. It’s about lower bills, healthier living spaces, and self-reliance for families to make their own decisions on how to spend their money.
Builders Network: If you could give homeowners one piece of advice about taking more control of their energy costs, what would it be?
Shawna: Always start with energy efficiency and weatherization before jumping into major equipment purchases! Fixing air leaks, upgrading insulation, and modernizing inefficient appliances are small things that have a big return and you will notice the benefits immediately. Addressing these changes first has the bonus benefit of lowering your home’s energy demand and cost, so any future investments like solar panels and/or battery storage can be smaller and far more affordable.
Builders Network: Shawna, thanks for your time and insights, and keep up the great work in Utah! We really appreciate it.
Shawna: Thank you for the opportunity!
Shawna Cuan is the CEO and Co-Founder of SustainEnergyFinance. Shawna has 15+ years of experience in renewable energy and energy efficiency, with roles in the Utah Governor’s Office of Energy Development, commercial solar lending, state governments, and utilities.
To learn more about Shawna’s work and SustainEnergyFinance, click here.
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Other BUILDERS in Action
[Building Power Resource Center] Utah Public Radio: Utah schools get reimbursed for student-led clean energy project
[UndauntedK12] TIME: As Students Return, America’s Classrooms Are Dangerously Hot
[Collective Energy] KGUN TV (ABC): Chiricahua Community Health Centers in Douglas goes solar with micro-grids to ensure reliable patient care
[Collective Energy] Herald Review: Chiricahua Celebrates Four New Solar Microgrids in Douglas to Protect Healthcare During Power Outages
[Solar United Neighbors] KTSM TV (NBC): New program offers El Paso homeowners solar savings; also covered by KVIA TV (ABC) and KFOX TV (Fox)
[Solar United Neighbors] FFX Now: As solar program expands, Fairfax County leads Virginia in installations
[Energy for All Y’all/Greenlight America] WHRO: Will a new Virginia law boost energy storage?
[Energy for All Y’all] WJCL: As hurricane season nears, Savannah leaders call for stronger preparedness