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State programs are available for people looking for financial help in making their abodes more energy efficient.

The Alaska Housing Finance Corp. has two programs, the Home Energy Rebate Program and the expanded Weatherization Program, funded by $300 million approved by the Alaska Legislature and Gov. Sarah Palin.

One, the AHFC Web site explains, makes rebates available to homeowners who would make their own improvements that would cover some, and perhaps all of their expenditures. The other is available to Alaskans meeting certain income and eligibility guidelines.

The Home Energy Rebate Program, funded with $100 million, requires a home energy rater to evaluate the energy use of the home before and after improvements. The size of the rebate depends on the difference. Rebates of up to $10,000 are available. The program also may cover the costs of the energy audits, up to a total of $500.

The AHFC says it is offering loans of up to $30,000 to qualified borrowers through the Second Mortgage for Energy Conservation if improvements exceed rebate amounts. The loan term would be 15 years. (For more on the Second Mortgage program, see below).

While the program focuses on owner-occupied homes, the AHFC Web site says the agency intends to make it available to a wider range of housing, including some condos and mobile homes.

The AHFC says the rebate program does not currently cover rentals or business operations such as bed and breakfast accommodations. A public hearing process to develop such guidelines is set to begin in June.

The Weatherization Program, funded with $200 million, provides weatherization work for free, but eligibility depends on income. Those requirements have recently changed. Previously, eligibility meant someone had to be below 60 percent of a median income level for a defined region.

That benchmark has been raised to 100 percent of the median income (about $77,700 for a family of four) allowing more people to qualify. Those at 60 percent will have a higher priority, however, the AHFC said. The weatherization program covers condos and rental properties.

Pat Shiflea, executive director of the Alaska Community Development Corp. said how fast the money can be distributed to various energy projects would depend on how fast the program can be ramped up. There is currently a five-year plan for the weatherization program in which the money is to be spent, but once procedures are in place, that schedule could accelerate, he said.

Also available through the AHFC are other existing programs:

* New Construction Energy Rebate: $7,500 to new homes meeting the 5-Star Plus rating.

* Interest Rate Reductions for New and Existing Homes: Interest rate cuts are available for those buying new energy efficient homes or for refinancing homes with energy renovations.

* Second Mortgage Program for Energy Conservation: A statewide loan program for specified energy-efficient retrofits and upgrades to existing homes. Loans of up to $30,000 through the AHFC can be used together with the new Home Energy Rebate Program.

For general information on all these programs call the Home Energy Rebate & Weatherization Hotline at 877-325-2508.

Hal Spence can be reached at hspence@ptialaska.net