The organization announced that through an infusion of federal grants, Juneau’s air source heat pump advocacy group Alaska Heat Smart will be able to provide energy efficiency upgrades to approximately 90 low-income households.
Members of Alaska Heat Smart are trying to promote the use of air-source heat pumps as a heating alternative in Juneau, and according to the organization’s president Steve Behnke, mostly in the past have offered free air-source heat pumps to homeowners interested in installing them. family assessment.But the group recently received $2 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Healthy Homes program, which funds various upgrades for low-income families.
An air source heat pump is similar to a wall-mounted air conditioner, but instead of cooling the air, it heats it to provide heat to individual rooms in the home.While a single air source heat pump may not be able to heat an entire home, they are powered by electricity, which is cheaper than heating fuel, Behnke said.Since Juneau’s electricity comes from hydroelectricity, installing an air-source heat pump in the home can also reduce carbon emissions, Behnke said.
“The point is that a heat pump can save you over 50 percent on your heating bill,” Behnke told Empire.”It reduces carbon emissions by roughly the same amount as taking a car off the road.”
Another group of Behnkes, members of Renewable Juneau, has a carbon offset program, the proceeds of which have been used to install air source heat pumps in low-income homes, but HUD funds will be used to pay for pump installations and other upgrades to the home , to improve energy efficiency and general home health.
Andy Romanoff, executive director of Alaska Heat Smart and member of Renewable Juneau, said the Healthy Homes program aims to provide low-income households with a range of upgrades, and the group has decided to spend the money on energy-efficient methods.
“The program isn’t just about installing a heat pump, it’s a complete home restoration program,” Romanoff said.”The heat pump is just one component that the home will receive.”
Romanoff said HUD caps the cost per home, in this case about $15,000, but because of the higher cost in Alaska, that means Alaska Heat Smart will be able to upgrade fewer homes than in the 48 states .Romanoff said Alaska Heat Smart hopes to provide upgrades to 90 homes.Other upgrades include installing certain insulation, removing mold and moisture, and removing toxic substances.
Romanoff said Renewable Juneau had installed a heat pump in Raymond Lindoff’s home in 2020, and the improvement brought a range of benefits.
“He’s a great example of the Healthy Homes program. He keeps the temperature in the house at 50 degrees because he can’t afford it,” Romanoff said.
These temperatures cause mold and mildew problems, and Lindoff’s fuel heating system is old and has fume leaks, but with the heat pump installed, fuel heating is no longer required.
“With the installation of the heat pump, all these problems disappeared, just one more,” Romanov said.They really are a piece of equipment that can clean the house.”
Romanoff said Alaska Heat Smart hopes to officially start the program in late July, but those who express interest can get on the waitlist by contacting the team.
Those interested in applying for Alaska Heat Smart’s Healthy Homes funding can email andy@akheatsmart.org or call (907) 500-5050.
• Contact reporter Peter Segall at psegall@juneauempire.com.Follow him on Twitter @SegallJnuEmpire.