The Cold Climate Housing Research Center is initiating a pilot project this month to help Alaska nonprofits save money by making their buildings more energy efficient. The application process is now open at http://cchrc.org/fnrp.
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, 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.
For more info, contact Danny Powers at CCHRC at 907-378.3623 or danny@cchrc.org.
http://cchrc.org/fnrp