Lawmakers are weighing a huge expansion of construction work to improve the energy-efficiency of public buildings across the state.

The Legislature two years ago set aside an unprecedented $360 million for household-level energy efficiency projects.

A comparable figure could go toward contractors to cut energy consumption at public buildings — schools, state and city offices and other facilities — under a plan moving through Juneau.

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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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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.

Doors represent choices in our lives. Lovers threaten each other with dire consequences if one or the other walks out “that door.” We’re promised the door will open if we knock. People wait at death’s door. Others swing wide the door to opportunity, which we are told doesn’t knock twice. Then, there are literal doors. These stick, jam, and warp – especially in Alaska, where outside and inside winter temperatures often vary by 100 degrees or more.

It used to be that exterior doors were custom made. Door hanging was an expert skill for craftsmen, who built the jambs, mortised the hinges, and hung doors complete with latching hardware and locks. Most doors were wood, designed with a multitude of panel styles and elaborate trim. Doors were made by hand or in local millwork shops. Brass interlocking seals kept the elements out.

Today, doors come “pre-hung” in their own frames. Doors are mass produced in standardized sizes, typically clad in metal, and made with vinyl seals. Unique doors – the kind you see in picture calendars – are mostly an abandoned art. This loss might indicate a depreciation in the significance we ascribe to doors. Value is measured primarily in terms of function, price, and conformity of style.

Nevertheless, contemporary exterior doors can perform an excellent job of keeping us warm in the winter. Because they come preinstalled in their own frames, newer doors often fit and insulate better than older doors. All-wood doors may have the most impressive appearance, but they provide the least insulation and require regular upkeep to remain in good condition. All doors will contract and expand with the temperature, but wood doors are the most dynamic and can react to humidity levels, too, which can make them difficult to open and close at times. For the most part, people prefer wood doors for reasons of aesthetics, not function.

The better insulting doors are made with polyurethane foam insulation cores encased in metal. This method can provide R values up to R-6 – several times the insulating value of a solid wood door. Heavier gauge steel will provide more resistance to denting or other damage. Rust-free aluminum cladding is often used, but can easily be dinged. Fiberglass doors are also available. These doors can simulate the appearance of wood, but provide good insulation while also being maintenance free.

Some quality doors come with magnetic stripping like the kind you find on your refrigerator to provide a tight seal with the door frame. Interlocking seals, especially in the threshold, are effective at keeping the elements out. Vinyl or rubber seals tend to crack and fail in Alaska’s extreme cold temperatures. When installing a pre-hung door, expanding insulating foam is typically used to fill any gaps between the door frame and the rough opening. Generally speaking, the quality of a pre-hung door will be determined by the quality of the wood framing used, hardware, and how well the door fits inside of the frame.

Windows in doors are a source of significant heat loss. If you choose a door with a window, look for at least double pane construction and warranties that cover the window seals and any hardware used to open or close the windows. Fixed windows that do not open will seal better than windows with sliding panes. Sliding glass doors, which are popular on decks and for the views they provide, are major sources of heat loss. Good seals, hardware, and warranties that guarantee proper operation of these doors are critical. Doors that swing open and close will generally seal better and be easier to maintain than sliding doors. If you buy a sliding door, try to find one that allows you to replace its weather stripping when it wears out.

Whatever type you choose, multiple panes and “low-e” coatings that help reduce heat loss are important. Look for glass doors that employ a thermal break – a non-conducting central frame member – to prevent heat loss from the inside portion of the frame to the outside.

Finally, installing storm doors over your existing exterior doors can be a cost-effective way to increase the energy efficiency of your home, especially if you’re adding to an older, under-insulated door. Storm doors offer you the same material and insulating choices that regular doors do, but can be fitted with screens for the summer months. Be mindful of direct sunlight in the summer – a lot of heat can build up between the storm door and your exterior door, possibly warping the latter.

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

The stimulus bill has finally been passed and signed into law—and now it’s time to help put the thing into action. Which shouldn’t be tough to do: tucked into the thousands of pages of confounding language, there are tons of fantastic new tax credits you can get simply for buying great green stuff. Here’s what our government’s blowout sale’s got in the catalog.

Click here to see the list.

President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on February 17, and the tax section of the act provides greater tax credits for clean energy projects at homes and businesses and for the manufacturers of clean energy technologies. For homeowners, the act increases a 10% tax credit for energy efficiency improvements to a 30% tax credit, eliminates caps for specific improvements (such as windows and furnaces), and instead establishes an aggregate cap of $1,500 for all improvements placed in service in 2009 and 2010 (except biomass systems, which must be placed in service after the act is enacted). The act also tightens the energy efficiency requirements to meet current standards. For residential renewable energy systems, the act removes all caps on the tax credits, which equal 30% of the cost of qualified solar energy systems, geothermal heat pumps, small wind turbines, and fuel cell systems. The act also eliminates a reduction in credits for installations with subsidized financing.

Click  here to read the whole posting, and to link to additional Federal documents.

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

Last month, Senator Barack Obama became — as far as we know — the first nominee to urge Americans to “weatherize your home” in a presidential debate.

With winter coming and Mr. Obama headed to the White House, it may be a good time to do just that.

The low-hanging fruit in weatherization, experts say, is sealing and caulking air outlets — especially on old homes. “The biggest bang for the buck, as people say, is really aggressively and rigorously plugging all those holes,” said Richard Renner, founder of Richard Renner Architects, a New England firm.

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With a fresh infusion of $60 million into the state’s Home Energy Rebate Program, thousands of Alaska homeowners are clamoring to receive home-improvement rebate checks worth as much as $10,000, creating an unprecedented backlog and leaving many people frustrated and stressed with the process to get a piece of the big state giveaway.

In response, the state’s Alaska Housing Finance Corp. has hired more staff and plans to step in to help with the scramble, while local contractors continue to work overtime.

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