The Home Energy Rebate Grant Program will rebate up to $10,000 to a homeowner who improves the energy efficiency of his or her home. A qualified homeowner must improve the energy efficiency of the home at least 1 step using the energy rating system. (See additional requirements and the energy rating and rating points section below.)
A final rating of a 1 Star plus (1 +), or greater must be achieved to qualify for a rebate. This is a one time rebate for any one family or home.
To participate in the program:
- Select an AkWarm energy rater and schedule an As-is AkWarm energy rating. AkWarm energy raters can be found on the AHFC web site by going to: http://www.ahfc.state.ak.us/iceimages/reference/icboraters.pdf
- The As-is energy rating generates an Improvement Options Report that serves as a guideline for AHFC and the homeowner as to the energy savings, cost of the improvement & return on the energy improvement investment. Use this report as your guide to choose the improvements you wish to make to increase your home’s energy efficiency.
- Make the improvements you selected from the Improvement Options Report within one year (see additional requirements below). You may do the work yourself or hire a contractor. Only those items relating to energy efficiency and recommended in the Improvement Options Report are eligible for a rebate.
- After the work is completed, request your rater do a Post Improvement AkWarm energy rating. The rater will verify the work completed and provide you with a new energy rating certificate. The rebate amount is determined by the increase in the rating from the As-Is rating. (For example, if the As-is rating was 3 Star+ and the Post Improvement rating is 4 Star = 1 step = $4,000.00).
Maximum Rebate Amounts:
One step – up to $4,000
Two steps – up to $5,500
Three Steps up to $7,000
Four steps up to $8,500
Five or more up to $10,000
- A homeowner is only eligible to receive a rebate of actual expenses, no matter how many points or steps have occurred. For example, if a homeowner spends $3,500 on energy efficient improvements, and moves two steps, he or she will only receive a rebate of $3,500, not $5,500. April 2008
- You have one year from the date of the As-is energy rating to complete the energy efficiency work, acquire the Post Improvement energy rating, and submit the completed application & required documents to Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.
You are not eligible for the Home Energy Rebate if:
- You have participated in the Weatherization Assistance Program after May 1, 2008.
- You have received a Home Energy Rebate after May 1, 2008.
- Your As-is rating was done before April 5, 2008* or is more than one year old.
- You fail to provide the requested information.
*A rating done between April 5, 2008, and May 15, 2008 will be eligible for rebate purposes. These ratings are paid by the homeowner, and will not be reimbursed by AHFC. The cost of ratings done after May 15, 2008 will be reimbursed by AHFC directly to the rater, up to $500 for the As-is and Post Improvement ratings combined.
The energy rater will be paid 65% of the reimbursable cost of the rating ($325) for the pre-, or As-is rating, and 35% ($175) for the Post Improvement rating. The rater must have the homeowner sign the rater application form for rater reimbursement.
Energy rating and rating points
The amount of the rebate is determined by the number of steps increased between the Asis and the Post Improvement energy ratings.
This chart can help you understand the correlation between your energy rating points and the energy rating stars for your home’s energy rating. There are 10 steps between rating levels:
Points Rating
0-39 1 Star
40-49 1 Star+
50-59 2 Star
60-67 2 Star +
68-72 3 Star
73-77 3 Star +
78-82 4 Star
83-87 4 Star+
88-91 5 Star
92-100 5 Star+
For example: A rating of 2 Star plus (60-67 points), to 3 Star (68-72 points), would be one step. A rating of 2 Star (2 ), to 3 Star (3 ), would be two steps.
Additional Requirements:
To be eligible for a rebate, the final energy rating must be at least 1 Star plus (1 +), and have increased one step and at least five points. This is applicable to all homes with a final rating of 3 Stars (3 +) or more, an increase of at least one step and three points is required.
Submit your home energy rebate application with copies of the As-is and Post Improvement energy rating, receipts, and a property tax assessment or other proof of ownership within one year of the date of the As-is rating to the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation at:
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
Energy Efficiency Rebate
PO Box 101020
Anchorage, AK 99510-1020
To be eligible for a rebate, the homeowner must be the year-round occupant of the upgraded home and submit the rebate application & required documents within one year of the date on the As-is rating. Each family and property is eligible for one rebate only. The person to whom the rebate is paid will be required to submit a Social Security number, and the amount of the rebate will be reported to the United States Internal Revenue Service. An IRS form 1099 will be mailed to you at the end of the year in which the homeowner received the rebate.
Rebate funds are subject to appropriation by the Alaska Legislature, and are subject to funding availability. If or when funding becomes limited, the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation may terminate the program. Public notice shall be provided on the AHFC website www.ahfc.us .
For more information contact:
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
PO Box 101020
Anchorage, AK 99510-1020
907-338-6100 (Anchorage)
1-800-478-2432 (toll free statewide)
www.ahfc.us
Tom and Wendy Hogan currently live in Fairbanks, and have been in Alaska “off and on” for over 30 years. Tom has been involved in worship ministry for most of that time and has served as Worship Pastor at Door of Hope Church for the past 9 years.
The winner of last week’s mystery photo is 
The Serve Alaska Youth Corps (SAYC) is a conservation corps committed to serving, educating, and providing job skills to Alaskan youth.
You never know where our mystery photographer will strike next. Seems like he is being sneaky this year.