Ameresco, Alaska Energy Authority work together: rural areas benefit from energy efficiency programs.

• Author: Orr, Vanessa
• Position: ENERGY

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No matter where you live in Alaska, energy efficiency is important. Not only are residents dealing with keeping buildings warm and well-lit during long, dark winters, but the cost of fuel can make a huge difference in a community's quality of life.

In 2010, two programs--the Village Energy Efficiency Program (VEEP) and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG)--began providing funds to make it possible for communities around the state to determine where energy is being lost and what can be done to improve efficiency. This funding supports energy efficiency and conservation improvements to public buildings and public facilities. Both grants are managed by the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) as directed through the Alaska Housing Finance Corp. and the U.S. Department of Energy.

"Money is short and expenses are high in small, rural communities, and the expertise for performing these projects may not be available within these communities," said Scan Skaling, project manager, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program, AEA. "Insulating a building is not just about putting up insulation and sealing the building with caulk; there is an entire building science that goes behind it to make sure the building has the right amount of air ventilation and movement. Cleaning or installing a boiler could mean bringing someone in from Anchorage, and a ticket from Anchorage to Emmonak costs $800 or more."

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To this end, AEA has hired two service providers to help eligible cities and villages take advantage of the grant programs. These include the Alaska Building Science Network and Ameresco Inc., a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company. Ameresco was assigned 22 cities under the EECBG program in three regions: Western Alaska, the Interior and the North Slope. They were also assigned 14 communities under the VEEP program, as well as the three Whole Village sites--Emmonak, Alakanuk and Fort Yukon.

"We began our energy audits last fall, and we've now finished with all of the village audits and are continuing with the EECBG audits," explained Michael Bartlett, business development manager, Ameresco. "In most cases, we travel to the site to perform an energy audit, after which we provide a written report that is given to the site and the AEA. Each city and village has different needs, so these are often very fluid reports; we may recommend anything from replacing lighting to commissioning new boilers, to...