Category Archives: Legislation and Policy

Alaska BEES; problems with wood burning

Alaska HomeWise: Ask a Builder

By Cold Climate Housing Research Center Staff

The “Ask a Builder” series is dedicated to answering some of the many questions Fairbanks residents have about building, energy and the many other parts of home life.

I have heard of the BEES regulations in Alaska, though I don’t know quite what they are. Is this something I should know about if I am a homeowner or want to build a home?

The BEES (Building Energy Efficiency Standard) regulations are part of the compliance requirements for any home built to Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s (AHFC) cold climate construction standards. More recently, AHFC has adopted the International Energy Conservation Code and amended specific portions of it for construction in Alaska. Because we are a colder climate, AHFC has set higher insulation values for windows, floors, roofs, walls, and other areas. There is also an energy credit for building a home that meets AHFC 5 star plus requirements. In addition, a mortgage rate reduction is possible through AHFC when purchasing a four or five-star home that meets current AHFC BEES standards. When considering this credit, make sure to start the paperwork and have a state certified inspector on board before breaking ground. Also, local contractors should be familiar with the AHFC requirements, so ask before you start building.

The BEES regulations can be found on the AHFC website and are arranged by region. For each area of the state, the minimum insulation requirements are listed for windows, walls and other parts of a home. The statewide recommendations for ventilation are also covered. What is important to remember, is that the BEES regulations are minimums and more insulation is still beneficial in many cases.

The current AHFC requirements can be found here: http://www.ahfc.state.ak.us/iceimages/reference/bees_amendments.pdf

A lot of the problems with burning wood have to do with moisture content. Tell me more about that.

The higher the moisture levels in the wood, the more heat energy is going to be required to turn that moisture into water vapor so it can exit the wood and allow it to burn. Essentially, burning wet wood, or fresh-cut “green” wood is wasting energy because the fire is not burning hot enough and creates more combustion byproducts while trying to get rid of moisture. The end result is creosote and ash that can build up in your stove and stovepipe. In addition, because the wood is not burning completely, the smoke it creates has a higher amount of fine particulate material known as PM 2.5, which can be hazardous to health.

To combat moisture, wood must be dried sufficiently. Wood should be split, stacked and covered in the summer months so that it is ready when needed. A woodpile should be protected from precipitation, but the sides should remain exposed to allow the stack to continue drying. A moisture content of 20% or less is ideal. Green birch and aspen can contain up to 80% moisture by weight. The inefficiency of burning anything over 20% moisture leads to progressive increases in creosote and particulates.

If you want the full story on wood-burning in the interior, along with a wealth of information regarding proper burning techniques, the Fairbanks North Star Borough is putting on two open houses on wood burning and PM 2.5 next week. The open houses take place Tuesday, April 13th at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor’s Center and Wednesday, April 14 at the North Pole Middle School cafeteria.

Alaska HomeWise articles promote home awareness for the Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC). If you have a question, e-mail us at akhomewise@cchrc.org. You can also call the CCHRC at (907) 457-3454.

Alaska legislators see big future for energy efficiency

From The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Thursday, February 25, 2010:

Lawmakers are weighing a huge expansion of construction work to improve the energy-efficiency of public buildings across the state.

The Legislature two years ago set aside an unprecedented $360 million for household-level energy efficiency projects.

A comparable figure could go toward contractors to cut energy consumption at public buildings — schools, state and city offices and other facilities — under a plan moving through Juneau.

Click here to read the full story.

Heavy stove smoke could net fines in Fairbanks

From The Associated Press, Saturday, February 20, 2010:

A proposed new rule in Fairbanks would fine people at least $300 for using wood- and-coal-fired stoves that belch out dense smoke, part of an attempt to curb air pollution in the area.

The Fairbanks News-Miner reports that Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins is sponsoring the measure, which is a response to federal pressure to bring down pollution levels.

Click here to read the full story.

Officials scrutinize Alaska Sustainable Energy Act

From The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Tuesday, February 16, 2010:

Public administrators and senators Monday steered what could be the start of much scrutiny of a major energy bill.

The bill, the proposed Alaska Sustainable Energy Act, addresses a broad slate of demand- and supply-side energy production and efficiency issues. It would, among other things, update outlines for a two-year-old public Renewable Energy Fund, force energy-efficiency improvements at state buildings and require an emphasis on energy efficiency when state government buys equipment and vehicles.

Click here for the full story.

Bills aim to foster geothermal power

From Alaska Dispatch, Thursday, February 11, 2010:

In terms of punctuation marks, Railbelt natural gas supplies are a bit of question mark, and fuel prices in the Bush are a big exclamation point. So, it’s safe to assume Alaska’s electricity producers and consumers would appreciate a little stability. At least one company wants to transform Alaska’s geothermal resource into a reliable source of electricity, and is hoping for a way around an oddball state law that taxes hot water pulled from state land.

Click here to read the full story.

Ventilation is key when fighting condensation around your home

ASK A BUILDER

By CCHRC Staff

The “Ask a Builder” series is dedicated to answering some of the many questions Fairbanks residents have about building, energy and the many other parts of home life.

Q: How can I keep condensation off my windows in the winter?

Condensation is a product of the relationship between humidity and temperature.

The warmer the indoor air is, the more water vapor it can hold. When the air moves next to a window it can no longer hold the same amount of water vapor because the temperature is colder close to the window. This is when you start seeing condensation forming. As an example, if your indoor temperature is 70 degrees and outdoor temperature is 0, then moisture will begin to condense on a single-pane window when there is roughly 15 percent relative humidity in the house. A double-pane will be subject to condensation at around 25 percent to 40 percent humidity, and a triple-pane will fall into a range of around 30 percent to 50 percent. These number ranges are based on average window insulation values.

A really good triple-pane window may be able to withstand significantly higher humidity levels before condensation occurs. The target humidity levels for occupant comfort in a home range from about 30 percent to 50 percent, however the lower end of this spectrum is considered safer in cold climates such as ours, due to concerns with condensation within walls and ceilings. When the humidity is really low, some people become prone to respiratory infections. Of course high humidity can cause similar problems with bacteria and mold growth in the building. As the winter air in Fairbanks is so cold and dry, it is usually difficult to attain anything close to 50 percent humidity in a properly ventilated house.

To keep condensation off windows, make sure your home is properly ventilated.

The presence of excess moisture around windows is a good indicator of the effectiveness of ventilation in your home. Shoot for the low end of the target humidity range, to keep both you and your home healthy.

Q: Can I face repercussions if my home is violating building code or it is out of date?

In Fairbanks, building inspectors primary focus is on new construction and remodels. When you are remodeling a home that is not built to code, inspectors only require that any new work meets current code.

Older parts of a building that are not involved in the remodel are not subject to same requirements, unless the inspector sees a situation that could jeopardize the life and safety of the occupants.

When it comes to code compliance, it is important to be aware that building codes are updated and revised on a regular basis. If your home is not up to date, do not panic.

Inspectors are not police that travel around town making sure residents bring their houses up to code. But remember, building codes exist to ensure the health and safety of the occupants, so a compliant house is a safe house. Furthermore, if you plan on selling your home, a buyer or lender may want an inspection before the sale is final. Any code violations will likely have to be corrected at that time. It would be better to deal with those issues before selling your home.

President Touts His Alternative Fuels Plan

From The New York Times, Wednesday, Februrary 3, 2010:

President Obama moved on Wednesday to bolster the nation’s production of corn-based ethanol and other alternative liquid fuels and ordered the rapid development of technology to capture carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of coal.

The president is trying to expand the portfolio of American energy sources to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, a factor in global warming, and spur advances in alternative technologies. Last week he expressed support in his State of the Union address for increased generation of nuclear power and offshore drilling for oil and gas.

Click here to read the full story.

Young: Alaska fuel tax freeze would undercut federal aid

From The Associated Press, Wednesday, January 27, 2010:

A proposal by Gov. Sean Parnell to suspend Alaska’s motor fuels tax may undermine federal transportation funding, U.S. Rep. Don Young said Tuesday.

In a statement, the Republican lawmaker commended Parnell, also a Republican, for trying to relieve Alaskans’ “pain at the pump.” But he added: “By suspending the state gas tax, the challenge will be greater in convincing other members that Congress should continue its investment in Alaska’s infrastructure.”

Click here to read the full story.

Phone survey seeks home heating information

From The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Tuesday, January 26, 2010:

A telephone survey aims to find out how residents of the Fairbanks North Star Borough go about heating their homes.

Borough officials want to use the information to help develop a pollution control plan for PM 2.5, tiny particulates known to embed in the lungs and cause health problems. Wood smoke is believed to be the biggest contributor to the PM 2.5 problem.

Click here to read the full story.

Tuck offers homeowners help with energy upgrades

From Alaska Dispatch, Sunday, January 17, 2010:

An Anchorage lawmaker says he’ll file a bill offering middle class homeowners — strapped for cash and still reeling from high energy costs — a back door into energy efficiency upgrades.

We reported recently on the lack of follow through by thousands of Alaskans who started a home energy efficiency rebate program, funded by the Legislature and managed by Alaska Housing Finance Corp. Those who start with a baseline efficiency audit have 18 months to fund repairs, schedule an audit of efficiency gains, and apply for up to $10,000 in state reimbursements. That window is running out for many folks.

Rep. Chris Tuck, an Anchorage Democrat, talked with people in his district and discovered some who have been hit pretty hard by the 2009 economic collapse. The families make too much too qualify for a low-income state weatherization program, but are dealing with high credit card debt, receding retirement accounts and investments, and, at times, negative equity in their homes.

Those circumstances can make it pretty tough to pay several thousand dollars up front for efficiency upgrades, even with a state reimbursement likely down the road, Tuck acknowledged.

Click here to read the full story.