Climate Connection: Home Energy Efficiency Choices
The Inflation Reduction Act provides ten years of federal income tax credits up to $1,200/year or 30% of the cost of projects that make a home less drafty or improve energy efficiency of devices in homes. Thus, consumers can get up to $150 for a home energy audit, $600 for energy efficient windows or skylights, $500 for exterior doors, and $600 for electrical panel upgrades. In addition to the up to $1,200/year tax credit, a further 30% tax credit up to $2,000 exists for an electric heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, or a highly rated stove or boiler burning wood or other biomass feedstocks. Electric heat pump hot water heaters generally cost less than $4,000. When existing fuel oil heaters also provide hot water, an electric heat pump hot water heater can ease the household transition to electric heat.
Many consumers do not have the cash to undertake high efficiency projects in advance of a tax credit. Rebates are an alternative to tax credits for those qualifying for them. Low-income individuals or families, whose annual incomes are less than 80% of the area median, will be able to obtain point-of-sale rebates covering the full cost of certain electrical appliances or efficiency projects. Moderate-income households, whose incomes are not greater than 150% of the area median, can get half-off rebates at the point-of-sale. The cumulative rebates available to each qualifying household are up to $14,000. The rebate cap for space heating and cooling heat pumps is $8,000. The rebate cap for heat pump water heaters is $1,750. The rebate cap for electric stoves is $840. Upgrading electric panels can be covered (all or half) up to a rebate of $4,000. Electrical work can be covered up to a rebate of $2,500. Insulation project rebates are capped at $1,600. These rebate programs will be administered by state agencies, such as the Alaska Energy Authority.
As fuel oil and propane prices increase, we can save money by weatherizing our homes and switching to electric stoves and electric heat pumps for space and water heating with federal tax credits or rebates. Households with baseboard electric heat can also save money with heat pumps which are three times more efficient. If you anticipate buying an electric car in the next ten years, upgrading your electric panels can be subsidized now through the rebate program so that you are ready to save money on gasoline and lower maintenance. All these options use our local hydropower in place of barged-in fossil fuels and keep energy money in Sitka. They also decrease our emissions of greenhouse gases that warm the earth, melt glaciers and permafrost, decrease ocean productivity, cause drought and flooding, and burn forests and grasslands. These tax credits and rebates make climate-protective choices in our homes easier as we save money and decrease our reliance on fossil fuels.
Kay Kreiss, Transition Sitka
Captains Meet for
Eight-Ball League
Greater Sitka Pool League will hold a final captains meeting for its eight-ball league 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, at the Moose Lodge.
The season begins on Sept. 27.
contact Jheryn Lewis, league secretary, at gspl.jheryn@gmail.com with questions.
Eating Disorders
Alliance Sets
Public Events
The Alaska Eating Disorder Alliance will host a free lunch and learn followed by a discussion with internationally renowned eating disorders expert Dr. Laura Hill, noon-2 p.m. on Sept. 23, at the SEARHC Community Health Services Building.
Community members and medical and mental health providers are invited to attend.
Hill’s “Brain Based Approach to Eating Disorders Treatment” presentation will be followed by a one-hour discussion and listening session focused on early signs of eating disorders, their relationship to other mental health challenges and what Sitka may need to identify and build upon existing awareness and treatment services.
Lunch is available for the first 20 people.
The session and one CEU/CME credit for professional development are free.
Learn more and RSVP at www.akeatingdisordersalliance.org. or contact Melissa Wentzel at 907-738-0462 or Krisanne Rice at 907-738-4932.
Sitka Fall Blood
Drive Canceled
Blood Bank of Alaska is unable to travel here Oct. 21-22 and has had to cancel its fall blood drive.
BBA is working on scheduling a replacement blood drive as soon as possible, local drive organizers said.
Jean Frank and Robert Hattle, Sitka drive coordinators, are looking ahead and hoping for a spring drive.
