AKWarm Modernization

CCHRC has reviewed the AKWarm software that is used during planning to determine a house’s energy usage. We will be reviewing additional features as needed and will include necessary modifications to rewrite BEES.

In 1996, the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) developed software to aid energy raters and mortgage loan officers in determining the energy efficiency of a home, including the heating and air handling systems, building envelope and foundation. In 2008, AHFC contracted with CCHRC to evaluate and update the software to better reflect today’s building standards, advances in technology and mortgage loan requirements. AKWarm is also used to establish a home’s energy rating in preparation for rebates from the AHFC Home Energy Rebate Program. AKWarm was originally written by Analysis North who is CCHRC's primary contractor on this project.

AHFC staff have collected hundreds of suggestions for improving AKWarm. This project will implement as many such improvements as can be afforded. Priority is being given to the most urgently needed changes, as determined by certified Energy Raters and other AKWarm users.

We are seeking comments from energy raters, members of the home building community and home owners. Please complete the comment form "AkWarm Modernization Comments Form" included in the sidebar. All comments will be included in the final report to AHFC.

Phase One
The first three major stages of AKWarm Modernization since CCHRC began the project are complete:

1. Available energy rating software was analyzed and in January 2008, the Energy Rating Program Evaluation was issued which helped AHFC determine that modernizing AKWarm was in Alaska’s best interest;
2. The “AKWarm Reporter” was created to transform the AKWarm results into a document tailored to home owners’ needs; and
3. AKWarm was rewritten using modern software engineering methods and tools so that future maintenance and the addition of new features will be efficient and affordable. The rewritten version, known as AKWarm 2, was released for general use on March 19, 2009. This marked the end of Phase One of this project.

Phase Two
Also funded by AHFC, Phase Two is on-going and will add significant new functionality to AKWarm with a new release approximately every six months. AKWarm version 2.0.5 was released on September 23, 2009. Version 2.0.6, which is expected in March 2010, will enable AKWarm users to once again meet homebuilder tax credit compliance requirements. Details about what is new in each AKWarm release can be found in the AKWarm 2.0 Change Log.

AKWarm Commercial Building Analysis
AKWarm was developed to analyze and rate the energy efficiency of residential buildings in Alaska.  It is particularly strong at assessing building envelope,heat-loss issues, and heating systems. CCHRC and AHFC recently identified key features that need to be added in order for AKWarm to become a valuable tool for light commercial building energy audits. Under this project CCHRC will expand AKWarm’s capability by enhancing its ability to address:

• Commercial envelope construction techniques and materials
• Electrical loads
• Commercial HVAC

Partners on this Project
		Alaska Map Science