PORTAL opens for Alaska homeowners seeking advice on energy issues
Borough Assembly OKed $200,000 toward first year of operation
Published Tuesday, July 8, 2008
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — With little hope that the price of heating oil will go down before winter sets in, several entities have jointly opened an office to help residents be more energy-efficient.
The Portal on Retrofits, Training and Loans, dubbed PORTAL, is staffed with three pros who can help homeowners navigate through the sometimes-complicated government programs offering rebates and other incentives for energy efficiency upgrades.
“Even though it’s July and it’s warm, winter is only 90 days away — maybe less,” borough Mayor Jim Whitaker said. The Borough Assembly approved $200,000 toward PORTAL’s first-year operating costs. The state, through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, contributed $500,000. Other partners are University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Cooperative Extension Service, which will develop low-cost or free classes on do-it-yourself upgrades, Interior building materials and other topics; Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation; and Cold Climate Housing Research Center.
“We think the rising cost of energy starts at home,” said Ryan Colgan, energy program development specialist with the Cold Climate Housing Research Center, one of the partners in PORTAL. The home efficiency programs give individuals a way to impact prices, maybe even in time for this winter — and PORTAL will help individuals make the link to those resources.
Although money has only been secured for one year’s operation, Colgan expects PORTAL to stay open indefinitely.
“We envision that the price of energy will stay high,” he said, adding that the center could add resources on renewable and alternative energy in the future.
But for now, the focus is on ways to lower home heating bills in the coming winter.
Among other things, people visiting PORTAL can:
• Talk with a trained staff member about their home energy use and conservation needs;
• Get help identifying which government programs they qualify for;
• Develop specific plans and timeframes for completing work; and
• Find out how to learn skills to make improvements on your own.
Plus, in-person service might take the edge off frustrations some homeowners felt after learning that raters were booked into September.
The influx of new money for rebate and weatherization programs this spring created a “bottleneck” as homeowners wanting energy ratings outnumbered qualified raters, said James Wright, program manager for AHFC.
In order to qualify for rebates, homeowners must have their dwelling professionally rated for energy efficiency prior to starting any improvements. The home is rated again after the work is complete, and rebates are based in part on how much efficiency was gained.
However, about a dozen newly trained energy raters will be ready for business in Fairbanks in the next few weeks, Colgan said. Contact information for those energy raters will be available at PORTAL.
In addition, AHFC will mail information about the rebate and weatherization programs to Alaskans in the coming weeks, Wright said.
Meanwhile, he asked that people be patient making inquiries of AHFC, which is somewhat overwhelmed by training new people to manage the inflated programs.
The corporation has managed rebate and weatherization programs for 20 years with an annual budget of $10 million, Wright said. But this spring, the Legislature appropriated a staggering increase to $300 million, with $100 million toward rebates and $200 million toward weatherization. That’s drawing fresh demand, with more than 300 calls coming in each day from homeowners around the state.
“We anticipate that probably doubling in the next month or so,” Wright said. “We’re trying to keep up.”
AHFC’s Web site, http://www.ahfc.state.ak.us, offers online resources, application forms and a list of qualified raters that is updated weekly.
The center is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 12-5 p.m. on Saturdays at 326 Driveway St., behind the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Or call 455-HEAT (4328) for more information.
Community Discussion
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Hello!! where is the portal located, any phone numbers to call or web sit.
Really great work the FDN, a whole article and no reference to the website... oh I guess you were too busy working on the Hartman story?
I suspect this is the website http://www.akenergy.net/
More government money down the toilet, cant you see that every time there is money avaialble there comes a new "we are from the government and we are here to help you", yea but wait I have to fill my pockets first. Lets say some of these "plans" do work and I save 25% on my heating oil bill, if oil goes up 25% my bill stays the same , except I spent more money on an "energy rater", so where is the savings??
Bugger, Here's the savings: 25% savings today is 25% at any price. If the price goes up the net savings go up if it goes down the net savings go down. If you are paying $100 per month today and fuel doubles, you will pay $200. If you were to upgrade to 25% savings, you would be paying $75 and $150 respectfully. It does reduce what your bill would be if the price goes up. The direct benefit is not realized though and filtering our tax money with new programs doesn't affect our bottom lines as prices continue to rise.
Official Website: http://www.cchrc.org/portal
Location: 326 Driveway Street, Suite 100, Fairbanks AK (behind the Newsminer building)
Phone: 455-HEAT
The road to hell is paved with good intentions, too little, too late. Do these sayings ring a bell? You must take care of this problem yourself, and not expect the anyone or anything to do it for you. Life is hard!
This is something a lot of people are about to find out in the near future. Quit complaining and do it for yourself. Or accept the fact that you're going to roll over and move or die. It's your choice.
Not everyone is dumb as a box of rocks, insulation, new doors, and windows, caulking, sealing of any kind will improve the efficiency of your home, those dollars going to the rater are wasted in some cases, when the know how is already there. Receipts for materials should be enough; cheaters will find a way no matter how many heat cheat cops you hire. It's our money anyway or did it come out of the magic pot again?
I have added the center's phone number and hours of operation to the story.
I agree with most and isn't it pitiful that you now have paid bureaucrats telling you where to go get the free money. They will themselves consume a good portion of the $$ ..lol. Brilliant!
Energy raters ... yep, fresh off the press so to speak and they don't know much, if anything. Almost like a new hatch of mosquitoes. Just another program to feed the programs.
ONAPA you would probably have to live in a cardboard box to realize a 25% energy savings with some "new science". To think you can really save 25% on average construction we see in about 98% of the housing is silly.
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