Anchorage Daily News

Energy auditor Geoff Feiler pointed to a teal boiler in Mimi Burbage's West Anchorage home.

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It was the home's original boiler, meaning it still had six years of its 30-year service life left, but it had long ago stopped working well.

"Its efficiency is pretty low," Feiler said. "Just by replacing the boiler, she could reduce fuel costs by 40 percent."

It could also cost Burbage $8,000 to get a brand-new shiny boiler.

But maybe not.

In May, Gov. Sarah Palin signed legislation funding two programs through the Alaska Housing Finance Corp. The appropriation provides $300 million to reimburse Alaskans who make energy-efficient changes in their homes -- from replacing water heaters and windows to sealing air leaks in walls.

A resurrected Home Energy Rebate program -- without funding since 1996 -- provides $100 million for rebates up to $10,000 for improvements in owner-occupied homes.

There are no income restrictions for the program.

WEATHERIZING YOUR HOME

The expanded Weatherization Program gets $200 million. Renters or homeowners with low-to-moderate incomes -- no more than $78,700 for a family of four in Anchorage -- can get free improvements.

The only major difference between the programs is that one is income-based and one is not, said Cary Bolling, an AHFC energy specialist.

"This isn't about what people make -- it's about how much energy they use," said Dan Fauske, chief executive of AHFC, a state housing agency.

For the Weatherization Program, the homeowner or renter must contact one of five listed providers, who will perform an "energy audit" -- lasting about two hours -- on their house.

Each home's needs are different, depending on location, quality of the construction and when it was built, said Sherrie Simmonds of AHFC.

Residents are put on a wait list, which right now stretches into the fall.

In the past, the home's location and amount of money available meant the wait could last as long as several years, Simmonds said. The providers, including community development corporations and local municipalities, are hiring more contractors, so the wait shouldn't be that long.

"Right now, the money's there to keep gearing up the program," she said. "It's just a matter of getting enough people in training and getting them to the places to help those people."

ENERGY REBATES

For the Home Energy Rebate program, homeowners must hire an approved energy rater to do the audit. This can cost a few hundred dollars for the initial rating alone, but home owners can receive up to a $325 rebate for that outlay.

Raters put information about each house into a computer program that spits out a customized report on what steps to take to save energy. The processing period lasts three to four days, Feiler said.

Different changes around the house are given points, which then add up to steps, and the more steps you take, the more money you get reimbursed.

At the end, homeowners hire another rater to do a post-rating and receive up to $175 to cover that expense.

Homeowners have one year from when they receive a reimbursement form from AHFC to make the changes on their homes, but officials are discussing whether to extend that, Fauske said.

There are 40 raters across the state, six in Anchorage, and more than a dozen in training -- most of whom will rate homes in Anchorage.

The energy raters are swamped.

Feiler said he's backed up until October and has a waiting list of people he hasn't called yet.

"There's always been a call for energy raters, but not to this extent," Simmonds said.

Find Monique Newton online at adn.com/contact/mnewton or call 907-257-4469.

Home Energy Rebate Program

Who is eligible? Homeowners of any income level

How do you get it? Hire an approved energy rater from a provided list who will examine your house and make recommendations, hire a contractor or do the improvements yourself, get a post-rating and mail all receipts to AHFC

How much money is going into this? $100 million

How big is the rebate? It can range from $4,000 to $10,000, depending on how many improvements you make on your home

Weatherization Program

Who is eligible? Homeowners or renters who are at or below 100 percent of the median household income level. For example, for a family of four in Anchorage, this is no more than $78,700.

What do you get? Free assistance from weatherization providers to make home more energy efficient

How do you get it? Call a weatherization provider to come do an "energy audit" on your home. You will then go on a wait list and once you reach the top of the list, the provider will come out and make the necessary changes for your home

How much money is going into this? $200 million For more information: www.ahfc.state.ak.us/energy/energy.cfm

WEATHERIZATION: Approved providers at www.ahfc.state.ak. us/grants/weatherization.cfm

HOME ENERGY: Approved raters at www.ahfc.state.ak.us/iceimages/reference/icboraters.pdf

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