Southcentral Alaska
Opportunities and programs abound to save energy along the railbelt – find them here.
ABSN Technicial Assistance Programs
Each year ABSN provides technical assistance to dozens of individuals and entities on a variety of building science topics. Sample topics include boiler sizing, vapor retarders, green building products, XPS foam, ice dams, AkWarm, non VOC paint, energy savings, lighting, tax credits and Outside Insulation Techniques.
Technical assistance can range from simply answering an email or phone call, to proofing building plans and energy systems, to providing hands-on technical training or inspection of the building envelope or mechanical systems.
Look for building science education or technical assistance here: www.absn.com
Commercial Energy Efficiency Audits
AEA is initiating an energy efficiency audit program to assess electrical load, equipment, lighting, thermal, HVAC and other conservation methods in commercial and institutional establishments. Once designed, AEA will contract with selected service providers to conduct these audits on a cost-share basis with interested workplaces.
Energy Efficiency Education and Workshops
Energy raters, weatherization assessors, crews, contractors, do-it-yourself homeowners, and the general public are being trained in weatherization-installation techniques, building science, building auditing, energy modeling, combustion safety, moisture control and ventilation, and more. Training programs such as these are essential to ramp up for large program expansion.
Energy Efficiency Interest Rate Reduction Program (EEIRR)
AHFC offers interest-rate reductions on loans made by AHFC to homebuyers purchasing new homes with 5 Star and 5 Star Plus energy ratings, which exceed the Building Energy Efficiency Standard (BEES). AHFC also offers rate reductions for energy improvements to older, existing home purchases. AHFC has issued more than 10,000 loans under this program, with a total value of nearly $1.8 billion.
Energy Wise Program
Through 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, RurAL CAP is employing 120 rural Alaskans in 12 villages to provide low-cost, energy efficiency upgrades and education in over 1,000 homes. Communities not receiving weatherization services recently or in the near future are targeted. In the summer of 2010, 40 youth from 20 VISTA Energy or RAVEN AmeriCorps communities will be employed and trained to conduct community-wide energy efficiency education and distribute residential energy-saving supplies to 1,400 homes.
Free Commercial Energy Audits for Kenai Peninsula Small Businesses
FREE Commercial Energy Audits for Kenai Peninsula Small Businesses
Green Star
Enroll for your office, school or building in the Green Star Award program. This is the step-by-step process for achieving a Green Star Award.
Home Energy Rebate Program
This program is designed to rebate homeowners some of the costs of making energy-efficiency improvements to their home, regardless of income. Depending on the rating increase and actual receipts, a rebate of up to $10,000 is available. A $7,500 rebate is available for newly constructed 5 Star Plus homes.
Home Weatherization Program- Southcentral
AHFC Weatherization Program
The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) administers a home weatherization program that offers free energy efficiency improvements to low-income houses statewide.
Several Program Providers operate the program throughout the state by region, and residents interested in taking advantage of the program should contact the provider nearest to them. Providers for Southcentral are:
For outside of Anchorage
Alaska Community Development Corporation
1517 S Industrial Way STE 8
Palmer, AK 99645-6791
907-746-5680
800-478-8080 (Toll Free)
907-746-5681/800-478-1530 Fax
E-mail: Itice@alaskacdc.org
Web Site: www.alaskacdc.org
For Anchorage
Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc (RurAL CAP)
557 E. Fireweed Lane, Suite DAnchorage, Alaska 99503
907-771-7800
Email: info@weatherizeme.org
Website: http://www.weatherizeme.org
A full list of regional providers can be found here:http://www.ahfc.state.ak.us/grants/weatherization.cfm.
Income limits for participation in the program can be found here:http://www.ahfc.state.ak.us/iceimages/reference/income_limits.pdf,
A program fact sheet with more information can be found here: http://www.ahfc.state.ak.us/iceimages/energy/weatherization_program_factsheet.pdf
Regional Housing Authorities
Regional Housing Authorities help administer and are excellent points of contact for the state-wide weatherization and rebate programs funded by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. Contact and other information about the Regional Housing Authorities in your region are below.
Kodiak Island Housing Authority
The Kodiak Island Housing authority administers its own home weatherization program, supplemental to those funded by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC). A Downloadable application can be found here : http://www.kodiakislandhousing.org/weatherization.pdf
Contact Information:
http://www.kodiakislandhousing.org/
(907) 486-8111
3137 Mill Bay Road
Kodiak, AK 99615
North Pacific Rim Housing Authority
Contact information: (Main office, 7 other offices available in served communities) http://www.nprha.com/index.htm
Anchorage, AK 99518
(888) 274-1444
Rural Energy Enterprises
As a wholly-owned subsidiary of RurAL CAP, Rural Energy Enterprises (REE) is a wholesale distributor of energy efficient and money saving products, such as Toyostoves, boilers, woodstoves and water heaters. REE maintains business relationships with 242 small entrepreneur dealerships in rural Alaska.
Rural Weatherization
RurAL CAP's weatherization and rehabilitation programs refurbish older homes to make them warmer and more energy efficient. The program serves one community at a time, rather than many houses in scattered communities. Each community project takes one to three years to complete; the 2009 weatherization communities are Alakanuk, Emmonak, Juneau, Kipnuk, Kivalina, Kwethluk, Nome, Nunam Iqua, St. Michael and Tununak.
Second Mortgage Program for Energy Conservation
Second Mortgage for Energy Conservation Program
Homeowners may obtain financing to make energy efficiency improvements in their homes through AHFC's Second Mortgage for Energy Conservation Program. Loans are limited to a maximum of $30,000 and 15 years.
For borrowers simultaneously participating in the Home Energy Rebate Program (recommended); the rebate received will be applied toward the outstanding balance of the mortgage program.
For program forms and more information, go here http://www.ahfc.state.ak.us/loans/second_energy_conserv.cfm
Small Building Material Loan
AHFC provides direct financing for the renovation or completion of residential properties located in designated "small communities." However, the project may include energy-efficient upgrades and renewable-energy systems.
Small-group foundation grants
The RurAL CAP Foundation has a focus on low-income people and rural communities. A limited number of small grants are provided for educational and charitable purposes. Grants up to $1,500 are made to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit and governmental organizations in rural Alaska that do not have an open Foundation grant. These can be used to provide support to low-income people to expand their capabilities through training and educational opportunities.
The Chugach Electric Watt-Busters
90 Chugach Electric members are participating in Watt Buster, a research project to determine whether on-site energy monitors help people lower their energy consumption and electric bills. Watt Buster is a collaborative program, funded in part by a grant from the Alaska Energy Authority.
Tool Loan Kits
Alaska Energy Authority offers the following tools for check-out by Alaskans seeking to assess opportunities for improved efficiency in their homes or workplaces:
Watt Meters - Plug these meters into an outlet, then plug an appliance into them and read how much electricity they are using. Watt meters are good at assessing relative energy load of appliances, phantom energy load of appliances, and can give you a better picture of how you can cut electrical bills!
Light Meters - These meters help auditors assess the light levels of a room to prepare for energy efficient lighting upgrades. They can assess the levels of natural light, and help you decide what and when artificial lights are appropriate.
Ballast Checker - Point these checkers at your fluorescent light fixtures, and quickly read the type of ballasts they have. This tool is great for easily assessing the ballast type in order to more accurately calculate the energy savings potential of efficiency improvements. Occupancy light sensors and data loggers - These occupancy sensors record whether the lights are turned on, and whether anyone is in the room using them! These tools are great for assessing light wastage, as well as feasibility of an occupancy sensor tied to the light switch.
For Rental Information Contact:
Energy Efficiency and Conservation program staff,
Alaska Energy Authority
(907) 771-3000 Phone
USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
This program is designed for small businesses and agriculture producers (this includes loggers and fishermen), and can help fund energy efficiency projects. It applies anywhere in the state except for the Municipality of Anchorage. Under REAP, USDA can fund up to 25% of a project with grant funds (the maximum grant is $500,000). If applicants later decide to include loans, USDA can cover up to 75% (25% grant, 50% guaranteed loan) under the REAP.
USDA’s Rural Development program can combine any state grant funds with the federal grant funds, but not with other federal grants. If projects have already obtained federal grant funds then they can still be supported with USDA RD’s guaranteed loans.
Village Energy Efficiency Project (VEEP)
website
The Village Energy Efficiency Project (VEEP) is designed to perform upgrades to rural Alaskan community buildings. Similar to the Village End Use Efficiency Measures (VEUEM) program, VEEP aims to help villages achieve energy savings by replacing or installing energy-efficient lighting, lighting controls, set back thermostats, building thermal envelope improvements, weather stripping and low mass boilers. The program’s application process has not yet been opened.
VISTA Energy Program
Since 2007, 12 national service Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) members are recruited each year from their villages in rural Alaska to educate, train and build the capacity of their community to address local energy priorities. VISTA Members receive training and support from RurAL CAP and partners, and serve full-time for one to two years based at their local tribal or city councils. VISTA Energy members have worked with local leaders, youth and volunteers to assess and prioritize energy needs, research renewable energy options, create community energy plans, generate grants and donations, conduct home/community building energy assessments and efficiency upgrades, and organize community-wide energy efficiency education, student-led projects, school events, energy fairs and community gardens.
Whole Village Energy Retrofit project
This program is designed to be a comprehensive look at an individual community's energy needs and a partnership with different agencies to capitalize on a broad range of energy efficiency opportunities within the community. In the first round of this project, AEA partnered with AHFC, AVEC, AVCP-Housing, the community of Nightmute, Denali Commission, and Rural Cap to perform a "whole village" retrofit in the community of Nightmute. A report on Nightmute will be available in 2010. AEA seeks to repeat the process of Nightmute with other communities, to make them broadly more efficient and to assess the effect large-scale changes to reduce energy use.