HOME STAR is proposed new legislation to create jobs in existing industries by providing strong short-term incentives for energy efficiency improvements in residential buildings. The program will move quickly, with a minimum of red tape, and will act as a bridge to long-term market development of existing industries. This initiative establishes a $6 billion rebate program to encourage immediate investment in energy-efficient appliances, building mechanical systems and insulation, and whole-home energy efficiency retrofits. HOME STAR will rapidly create jobs in both construction and manufacturing, while saving families money on their energy bills. It will build on current state programs and existing industry capacity for performing both retrofits and quality assurance, using federal standards and incentives as a common platform to lower program costs and increase consumer awareness.

Click here for more information on how you can help to make Home Star a reality.

An Anchorage lawmaker says he’ll file a bill offering middle class homeowners — strapped for cash and still reeling from high energy costs — a back door into energy efficiency upgrades.

We reported recently on the lack of follow through by thousands of Alaskans who started a home energy efficiency rebate program, funded by the Legislature and managed by Alaska Housing Finance Corp. Those who start with a baseline efficiency audit have 18 months to fund repairs, schedule an audit of efficiency gains, and apply for up to $10,000 in state reimbursements. That window is running out for many folks.

Rep. Chris Tuck, an Anchorage Democrat, talked with people in his district and discovered some who have been hit pretty hard by the 2009 economic collapse. The families make too much too qualify for a low-income state weatherization program, but are dealing with high credit card debt, receding retirement accounts and investments, and, at times, negative equity in their homes.

Those circumstances can make it pretty tough to pay several thousand dollars up front for efficiency upgrades, even with a state reimbursement likely down the road, Tuck acknowledged.

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Massive initial interest in a state program to help people make their homes more energy efficient could be tapering off, even as some areas of the state face the likelihood of increased home heating costs in coming years.

As of Dec. 16, nearly 19,000 Alaskans have started the multi-step Home Energy Rebate Program funded by Gov. Sarah Palin and the Legislature and managed by the Alaska Housing Finance Corp.

They’ve paid for certified technicians to rate their current home energy efficiency and recommend upgrades that would be eligible for a state refund, up to $10,000. But only about 200 people have followed through with improvements and filed their claims, and the window to do so is closing daily for the flood of folks who jumped at the chance.

If this trend continues during the next several months, the program will end up with a financial cushion of funds set aside for improvements that weren’t cashed in on. But it’s leaving some to wonder: In a state with some of the highest energy costs in the nation, where homeowners stood to benefit significantly — exactly what happened?

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The following workshops will be held from 6-8 pm at the Cold Climate Housing Research Center, 1000 Fairbanks Street, near West Valley High School and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Call 907-457-3454 for directions.

February 1, 2010: Building Science Basics

February 2, 2010: Air Tightness

February 3, 2010: Ice Dams

February 4, 2010: Lighting & Appliances

February 8, 2010: Heating & Hot Water

February 9, 2010: Doors & Windows

February 10, 2010: Insulation

February 11, 2010: Ventilation

A statewide weatherization program with the potential of reducing energy costs in thousands of Alaskan residences will improve some 1,740 homes in 2009 alone, and Alaska Housing Finance Corp. expects to more than quadruple that number by 2011. The goal is to weatherize 4,000 homes in 2010 and 7,500 homes in 2011, said Bryan Butcher, public affairs director for the state agency, whose mission is to provide Alaskans with quality affordable housing.

“We can show there are average savings of 25 percent on energy right now, and we are hoping it goes up,” Butcher said.

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The workshop will focus on insulating homes and will cover options for retrofit, ventilation, indoor air quality and permafrost and foundations. It is also designed to help homeowners who plan to participate in the state’s home energy rebate program.

Call 907-474-7201 or 907-474-6366 to register.

CONTACT: Cooperative Extension energy and housing specialist Rich Seifert at 907-474-7201. Debbie Carter, CES public information officer, at 907-474-5406 or dscarter@alaska.edu.

The Alaska Housing Finance Corp. is preparing to divvy out Alaska’s comparatively small share of $300 million in federal stimulus money to cover rebates on energy-efficient appliances.Because Alaska got only about a dollar per person — $658,000 — and officials wanted to make it count, AHFC’s proposal limits eligibility to disabled individuals — those who qualify for Supplemental Security Income, said AHFC public affairs director Bryan Butcher. AHFC estimates there are 10,000 such individuals in Alaska.

People living in rural areas would get more to account for higher shipping costs, he said.

Under the plan, which is awaiting approval by the U.S. Department of Energy, qualified individuals in rural areas could get rebates of $500 on refrigerators and freezers and $300 for washers and dryers. Those in urban areas would get $300 for refrigerators and freezers and $150 for washers and dryers.

Energy Star appliances qualify for the rebate, and participants will be encouraged to destroy their old machines, Butcher said.

AHFC is hoping to get DOE approval in time to begin offering the rebate in December, Butcher said.

Meeting a contractor for the first time can be more nerve racking than going on a blind date. What habits does he or she have? Will you agree on the work that needs to be done? And, most importantly, will they take into account your needs? Plus, with so many Alaskans weatherizing their homes and lining up home improvement projects for the spring, will you even get a second date?

Fortunately, if you’re among the thousands of Alaskans who’ve received an energy rating through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) and the Fairbanks Portal on Retrofits Training and Loans (PORTAL), you are already one step ahead. Every rating comes with an itemized list of recommended work customized to increase the energy efficiency of your home. This serves as an excellent guide going forward. You perform as many or as few of these improvements as you want. You can perform the work yourself or hire a contractor. AHFC will reimburse you for material costs and, if you hire out to do the work, for labor, too – up to $10,000 if you achieve a post-rating that scores high enough.

The keys to a successful contractor relationship include knowing what you want done, doing your research, and planning ahead. Contractors have begun to line up their business for the warmer months. Plan now to avoid longer waits and higher prices. When you avoid the rush, you’ll have more time to compare estimates, understand your options, and budget for costs. Contractors should be licensed and insured, and provide references. But remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

The best source of information about your energy rating is the energy rater him- or herself and, of course, the PORTAL (455-4328). Don’t assume anything. Ask questions. The improvements your rater recommends aren’t guaranteed to result in a certain rebate amount, but they are reliable estimates. If you are unsure about how to perform any of the recommended work, the right materials for the job, or possible alternative ways to get the work done, ask your rater first. You won’t be reimbursed for any work that is not listed on your energy rating form.

The more you understand the work outlined by your rater, the better you will be able to shop for the best material prices and compare quotes from competing contractors. You have 18 months from the time you receive your energy rating to when you must complete work and request the rebate. Keeping all your paperwork straight is essential – receipts for, well, everything related to your improvements. If you hire a contractor, keep the bills you pay. Save cancelled checks. Make sure you keep a copy of your original energy rating, too.

Home improvement, like dating, is hard work. There exist hidden dangers, drama, and just maybe a sizable reward. The importance of good communication and reasonable expectations cannot be overstated. In the end, you must take responsibility for the outcome you want to achieve. The folks at the PORTAL are ready to help, though. If you haven’t gotten your initial energy rating, call for one today.

Adam Wasch promotes energy awareness for the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) and the Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC). For questions or comments please contact CCHRC at (907) 457-3454

In Fairbanks, CCHRC has been funded by AHFC to create the PORTAL (Portal On Retrofits Training And Loans) to help make the statewide weatherization and rebate programs more accessible to the public. The PORTAL office maintains and updates a centralized client sign up list for certified energy raters, provides program applications, and answers questions about energy ratings and weatherization. The Portal is located at 326 Driveway Street Suite 100 and can reached by phone at 455-4328. Their hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. This is the first of two articles about AHFC programs, and outlines the steps in the rebate program.

Visit the PORTAL to obtain the rebate program application package (also available online, www.cchrc.org/portal). Once an appointment has been made with an energy rater, s/he will visit your home and perform the initial “as-is” assessment. This is a detailed walk-thru inspection of your home and a blower door depressurization test which generates solid data on the home’s air tightness. The rater will measure and record all aspects of the home relevant to the retrofit program, including house size and volume, window and door information, mechanical systems analysis, and insulation types and values in all areas. These results are later entered into AHFC’s AkWarm computer program which uses a point system to rate the home on a scale of 1 to 5 stars plus and calculates where the biggest improvements can be made. Generally the rater will need the owner who is responsible for doing the upgrades to be present. This initial site visit is a good time to share any information you have about the house that will help the rater in his analysis. It is also your opportunity to learn about your home and the rating process.

Raters will require payment at the time the service is given. They are private contractors so the fee is variable depending on the size of the house or if the rating requires extra time. The rater will tell you the amount of the fee before starting. He will contact you when the paperwork and calculations have been completed. Once you have the initial rating, you should apply for reimbursement right away. Use the PORTAL staff as a resource to answer any questions. AHFC will reimburse $325.00 of the rater’s fee upon receiving the completed rating papers. At that time AHFC will also set aside your home’s maximum rebate amount for 18 months.

The rating is a valuable document that lets you prioritize your work according to the AkWarm point scale. Choose what and how many improvements you wish to make, but they MUST be listed on the rating. You can perform the work yourself, or hire a contractor. The PORTAL cannot recommend a specific contractor, but staff there can offer general information and advice about completing the work.

If you complete your desired upgrades within the allotted 18-month window, and are applying for the rebate, you will be required to get a Post Energy Rating. A certified energy rater will perform an inspection similar to the initial “as is” assessment to verify the new energy efficiency rating of your home. When you have your new rating package, attach it to the receipts for the work you have completed and send it to AHFC. It can take up to 60 days receive the rebate.

Keep in mind there is a back log in the rebate program, but more raters are being trained to meet the demand. The good news is right now there are still plenty of opportunities to apply and start the process.

Ilya Benesch is the Building Educator at the Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC). For questions or comments please contact CCHRC at (907) 457-3454