Policy Research

Fairbanks Nonprofit Retrofit Pilot

The Cold Climate Housing Research Center is initiating a pilot project to help Alaska nonprofits save money by making their buildings more energy efficient. A cohort of nonprofits was selected in 2014.

The Fairbanks Nonprofit Retrofit Pilot provides energy audits and low-interest loans to nonprofit organizations and tribal building owners as well as guidance through the entire energy retrofit process including arranging an energy audit, helping to prioritize energy improvements, helping to arrange financing, and coordinating contractors to complete the retrofit.

In recent years, thousands of homeowners, small businesses and public buildings have taken advantage of energy efficiency programs to reduce operating costs. Homeowners have cut fuel use by an average 33% annually through AHFC’s Home Energy Rebate Program.

The goal of the retrofit program is to help the nonprofit sector substantially reduce its energy costs so that organizations can spend more on their mission and explore the cost-savings of retrofitting at a community-scale.

The pilot is made possible by $250,000 from the Denali Commission for technical assistance and energy audits. Financing will be provided by Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC), a nonprofit development organization serving communities in the western United States, under a $2.5 million loan from the Rasmuson Foundation.

If successful, the pilot project may pave the way for a statewide private financing model for small to medium sized energy efficiency projects.

CCHRC will evaluate the process and outcomes of this model to better understand several factors: the extent to which financing can replace grant funding for energy efficiency audits, the extent to which program delivery is enhanced through reduced energy costs, and the extent to which capacity partnerships with the nonprofit sector are necessary to advance energy efficiency retrofits from audit through construction.  A report on the project will be published at the end of 2015

Energy Auditor Preferred Providers List

CCHRC is developing a list of preferred energy auditors to perform audits as part of the Fairbanks Nonprofit Retrofit Pilot project.  Find application guidelines and forms below.

Resources

TitleTypeResource Link
Fairbanks Nonprofit Retrofit Pilot Full ReportReports

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Fairbanks Nonprofit Retrofit Pilot SnapshotSnapshots

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