New residential energy efficiency resource for Alaska homebuyers

A free online checklist is available to help Alaska homebuyers ensure their new homes meet important energy efficiency standards, which will save them substantially on home energy bills.

The checklist, developed by the Building Codes Assistance Project and supported by Alaska Housing Finance Corp. and Cold Climate Housing Research Center, allows Alaska homebuyers to fully understand the energy efficiency of the homes they are purchasing. The tool also helps homeowners assess needed efficiency upgrades when renovating a home.

“You wouldn’t think something as simple as a checklist would be such a valuable resource,” said Dan Fauske, CEO of AHFC. “But this tool provides peace of mind and can identify energy savings that total in the thousands of dollars. Homeowners of an energy-efficient 5 Star Plus home, the highest energy rating, pay a fraction of what their neighbors pay for energy and gives them more discretionary funds.”

Coupling the use of the checklist with participation in the Home Energy Rebate Program offered by AHFC, homeowners can earn up to $10,000 in reimbursement for energy efficiency investments. A $7,500 incentive is available for 5 Star Plus new construction.

The checklist is available online at bit.ly/Np28IE, or attached to this story online at Frontiersman.com.