Expanded program
offers a wealth
of warmth

By Jessica Edwards

Resident Diana Kelm is warmer and safer this year, and she’s looking forward to lower energy bills after nearly $11,000 in upgrades to her Beach Road home – that didn’t cost her a dime.

Kelm qualified for the state’s weatherization program under new, expanded income requirements. In April 2008, the state raised the maximum income for a single-resident household from $23,887 to $47,700.

A separate state program, the Home Energy Rebate, is available to households exceeding the program’s income limits.

Workmen came to Kelm’s house in December to replace the aging woodstove in her living room with an airtight, efficient one. They installed a new oil stove in the arctic entry that will keep her pipes from freezing and refurbished an oil stove in the living room to keep it operating efficiently.

In March, carpenters insulated skirting and replaced the plastic lining under the house. They weather-stripped around doors, installed ventilation fans in the bathroom and kitchen, and put in a new smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector.

And Kelm has a new, energy-efficient refrigerator on the way, as well as compact fluorescent bulbs for all the light fixtures.

Looking through the tightly locked glass door of her new cast iron woodstove, Kelm remarked how little wood she uses now to keep the house warm. “The new stove will cook all night and be warm in the morning.”

The door to her old stove, made of thin metal, didn’t seal and the stack wasn’t airtight. “The old stove burned wood so fast… I couldn’t use it to heat the house.”

When representatives from Alaska Community Development Corporation, the state’s weatherization contractor for communities in Southeast and Southcentral Alaska, came to survey Kelm’s house in October, they spent about four hours checking air leaks and ventilation, insulation, assessing the home’s heating systems, and examining appliances.

Actual upgrades, performed by local contractors, began in November.

“It’s nice to get things convenient, not just making do,” said Kelm. She said because the weatherization program took care of pressing heating and safety needs, she was more likely to use last year’s permanent fund dividend to make other needed home upgrades.

“The goal is to make people more comfortable and bring the cost of living down,” said ACDC weatherization coordinator Mike Carr.

The increased income guidelines meant home energy upgrades like the ones at Kelm’s house are available to nearly half of Alaskans, Carr said.

The weatherization program, funded through the U.S. Department of Energy since the mid-1970s, was able to increase income maximums after the Alaska Legislature last year contributed $200 million.

“Last year, we did 192 homes. This year, we’re looking at 357 and next year about 490,” said Carr. ACDC worked on 14 homes in Haines this year, he said, and expected to survey more next year depending on the number of applicants and the amount allocated by the state.

Carr said the weatherization program provided work for a few local contractors, who purchased most of their supplies locally.

Building supply store manager Glenda Gilbert said some weatherization purchases have come through her store, although she noticed some products were shipped from Anchorage.

Energy efficiency has been on people’s minds since fuel prices soared last year, and residents had purchased doors, windows, and “stuff for tightening up the whole house,” she said.

Gilbert said the weatherization and energy rebate programs were very beneficial. “With weatherization, the income limits are up, which is good. It’s incredible what the income limits are.”

Contractors working on state weatherization projects receive building science training, adding to local knowledge about safe and efficient building practices, Carr said.

Contractor Ira Henry said the state had accepted his company’s bid for Haines weatherization jobs, which have been a nice supplement to his regular building work, he said.

Work on homes already assessed by ACDC is nearly completed, though, and Henry said he hoped residents were aware of the state’s new liberal eligibility requirements. “Hopefully they’re getting the word out and have gotten more applications.”

The state had paid Henry’s way to attend courses in the newest building science for cold climates and combustion safety. “I’ve definitely been learning a lot through it,” said Henry.

Contractor David Ricky, who also was awarded a weatherization contract, said the work has been steady. “It’s been really good work for me. I’v actually been able to hire a couple people.”

He said he and co-workers have learned from the program, including how to make homes safe and airtight, properly ventilated and suited for cold climates.

The state has set aside more than $800,000 for weatherization work in Haines like Kelm’s.

For information about the state’s income-based Weatherization Program, call 1-800-478-AHFC or visit the website http://www.ahfc.state.ak.us/home/index.cfm, which also gives information about the Home Energy Rebate program.

Local home weatherization upgrades for Alaska Natives are also available through the Chilkoot Indian Association. For information, contact tribal administrator Greg Stuckey at 766-2323.

The state has set aside more than $800,000 for weatherization work like Kelm’s in Haines.