Why are state energy conservation rebates so hard to get?

Posted by Matt Zencey, editorial page editor

Posted: August 28, 2008 - 2:48 pm

Friday's paper includes this Compass commentary from a local energy conservation specialist, explaining why it's so hard for Alaskans to tap the energy conservation rebate (up to $10,000) offered by the state.

- Matt Zencey, editorial page editor

BY GEOFF FEILER

I can understand Alaskans’ frustration at not being able to get an energy rating for Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s (AHFC) Home Energy Rebate. This program came on in a rush and all of the raters, myself included, have been swamped.

This year, the Alaska Legislature appropriated $300 million dollars for residential energy conservation programs. To put this in perspective, $300 million is several times more than Alaska has put in to energy conservation programs over the last 30 years combined.

Two hundred million dollars of the money will go to weatherization for low and moderate income Alaska homes. That $200 million is almost as much as the Federal government is putting into its low-income weatherization program for the whole country this year ($227 million).

Still, this is not enough. AHFC has estimated that to provide weatherization or energy conservation rebates covering all Alaska homes would cost somewhere over $3 billion. The legislature (even with the extra $60 million from the special session) appropriated only a bit over 10% of this amount.

My state legislator indicated that, while there are no guarantees, the intent is to continue supporting these programs in the future. But, clearly, there is no way everyone is going to be able to participate in this initial round of funding.

To be fair to all Alaskans, AHFC has allocated the rebate program funds regionally and sub-regionally. Anchorage was favored with enough money for about 2400 homes. This will certainly increase as the actual value of the rebates becomes clear – not everyone will be eligible for $10,000.

With this number of ratings available, the existing corps of Anchorage raters would be able to complete them all by about the end of 2008.

Since the program launched, AHFC and its contractor, the Alaska Building Science Network (ABSN), put 45 applicants through the initial stages of Energy Rater training. Once the training is complete, the number of energy raters will roughly double.
More training sessions are planned over the next few months.

But rater training takes time. Applicants must have a minimum of two years experience in residential construction. They must complete courses in cold climate homebuilding and building diagnostics before even being considered. Then, after the initial rater training course, they go through an apprenticeship period that can last up to two months.

All of this is to ensure that the people inspecting your homes know how buildings work and know what specific improvements are appropriate, safe, and healthy. So far the fifteen people who have completed their training are in areas other than Anchorage. Here there are thirteen candidates in the process, some of whom should be out on the streets within the next month.

But the perceived shortage of energy raters is minor compared to what comes next. While some homeowners are capable of doing work themselves, most will need a contractor to install windows, add insulation, or replace space and water heating systems. The big bottleneck will be when the homeowners try to find capable contractors to do this work.

Other than Low-Income Weatherization crews, there has really never been a contractor training program for energy retrofits in Alaska. These programs are in the works, but like the rater training, they will take time.

AHFC, its weatherization providers, and all of its training contractors have been working overtime to build these programs and get the services out to the public. The task is enormous and the ramp-up time has been short. And for those of you who are upset about being unable to get an energy rating – I can’t get one either.

Geoff Feiler is a state-certified energy rater in Anchorage.

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