Category Archives: Northern Living

Clean air and the cost of freedom

From Alaska Dispatch, Wednesday, October 20, 2010:

The people of Fairbanks spoke loudly and clearly at the polls this year: They didn’t want government dictating to them what could come out of the smokestacks atop their homes.

Enforcing standards for clean-air for everyone, voters decided, reeked of socialism — that policy of ensuring the needs of the many trump the desire of the individual. It is not a popular political philosophy in these tea-party days, especially in Alaska where it has never been a very popular philosophy.

Fairbanks is, after all, the home of the late Joe Vogler, founder of the Alaskan Independence Party, who thought the whole of America too socialist almost 40 years ago when the federal bureaucracy was but a shadow of what it is today. So it came as no big surprise when Fairbanks voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot initiative blocking a North Star Borough plan to fine people for polluting the air with woodsmoke.

Unfortunately, the end result of that vote is that people are likely to pollute the air with woodsmoke again this winter and borough officials are having a devil of a time trying to figure out what to do about it.

Continue reading: Clean air and the cost of freedom

Energy fair offers chance to learn about renewables

From The Tundra Drums, Wednesday, October 27, 2010:

There are plenty of reasons to visit the 2nd YK Delta Regional Alternative Energy and Energy Conservation Fair on Saturday, Oct. 30, at Bethel’s Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center.

Vendors greet attendees starting at 10 a.m. and presenters begin at 10:30 and continue until 4 p.m. Admission is free and tables are provided at no charge to vendors thanks to sponsorship by UAF’s Kuskokwim University Campus (KUC), the City of Bethel, Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC), and Yuut Elitnaurviat, The People’s Learning Center.

Sign up for a ride to visit two working residential wind turbines with Kirk Garoutte of Susitna Energy Systems who will answer your questions about feasibility for your location, cost recuperation, and shipping and installation logistics. The number in Anchorage is 877-485-1100 or 907-222-3992, email info@susitnaenergy.com, web site www.susitnaenergy.com.

Continue reading: Energy fair offers chance to learn about renewables

Greenhouse rises in Quinhagak, thanks to Jenny Jones, students

From The Tundra Drums, Wednesday, October 27, 2010:

Students recently built a greenhouse in Quinhagak, thanks to a $10,000 grant from former celebrity talk show host Jenny Jones. There are still some final touches to be done on the inside such as lighting, heat, shelving. Those jobs won’t be done until next February when the class is ready to start planting.

Teacher Sherry Pederson applied for the grant from Jenny’s Heroes. Learn more at www.jennysheroes.com [http://jennysheroes.com].

Pederson wanted to improve nutrition in the Western Alaska village by providing fresh, cheap veggies.

People in rural Alaska often buy their vegetables in cans because fresh ones in remote village stores are often wilted and costly, if they’re available at all.

School renovation is a lesson plan for Weller Elementary students

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

The students at Weller Elementary School initially had mixed emotions about the renewable energy project in their backyard because it caused some trees to be cleared outside their windows. But they seemed to have come around by last Thursday, when engineer Robbin Garber-Slaght gave an interactive presentation to about 100 fifth and sixth graders on the ins and outs of the ground source heat pump and solar thermal system installed in September.

“I learned that it was worth it to destroy the trees,” said fifth grader Chase Wagner. “It will help the school be green. I’m worried about the planet. It will cut down on oil and it will save money.”

Students showed their impressive knowledge of energy efficiency and power generation, as dozens of hands waved in the air to offer thoughts and ask questions in the school’s common area.

“That was a really fun group. They’re up on their science,” said Garber-Slaght of the Cold Climate Housing Research Center, which collaborated with the school district and other contractors on the experimental project.

Doyon Ltd. proposes hydroelectric project for Denali National Park

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

Doyon Ltd. wants to build a micro-hydroelectric project inside Denali National Park and Preserve to power Kantishna Roadhouse, a backcountry lodge the Fairbanks Native Corporation owns 100 miles inside the park.

The National Park Service supports the project, and Alaska’s two senators, Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski, introduced legislation last month — the Kantishna Hills Renewable Energy Act of 2010 — that directs the park service to issue a special-use permit to speed construction of the project and authorizes a 10-acre land exchange between Doyon and the NPS.

Doyon is proposing to build the hydro project on Eureka Creek, a small fishless creek near the roadhouse in the non-wilderness section of the 6 million-acre park. The project would include a 50-kilowatt power plant, a small impoundment dam and a small pipeline to carry water. Doyon currently uses a diesel generator to power the roadhouse.

Respiratory illness rates high in rural Alaska

From The Associated Press, Saturday, October 23, 2010:

Researchers say rural Alaskans and Alaska Natives are more likely to develop respiratory illnesses than anyone else in Alaska.

The Tundra Drums reports that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researcher Rosalyn Singleton says rural Alaskans contract respiratory illnesses in part because they live in crowded conditions through harsh winters that leave residents indoors for long stretches of time.

Singleton says many rural Alaska homes lack running water, making hand-washing difficult. She says wood-burning stoves and smoking indoors contributes to the level of respiratory illness, as do dusty clouds that sweep off roads.

Despite the difficult conditions, hospitalization rates for children suffering from respiratory illness on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta are falling.

Abnormally high Fairbanks gas prices not abating soon

From The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Sunday, October 24, 2010:

Gas prices aren’t cheap in Alaska. For many, expensive gas just comes with the territory of a high-cost-of-living area. For the past year, however, prices have been steadily 40-90 cents higher than the national average, according to alaskagasprices.com. As recently as mid-2009, they were almost equal. What happened?

One might think in an oil-rich state, the abundance might affect a supply-demand curve. The process to the market is not so simple.

Two oil refineries operate in the state — Tesoro Alaska and Flint Hills Resources. They both produce jet fuel, diesel and gasoline among other things, and only a portion of their crude oil supply comes from Alaska. When they look around, they don’t see many other competitors. In fact, they are considered an oligopoly in the state.

Since they have so much influence over prices, they have been accused of marking up the cost of their crude oil, which usually makes up about half the amount of gasoline prices. ­

In 2009, the State House of Representatives created House Bill 68 to prevent price gouging among Alaskan refineries. Fairbanks Rep. Scott Kawasaki sponsored the bill.

“I think they’re just making gross profits,” Rep. Kawasaki said about the two refineries. “They’re basically abusing consumers.”

Parents ask school board to address air pollution at Woodriver

From The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Wednesday, October 20, 2010:

Several parents, teachers and other school staff members testified before the Fairbanks school board Tuesday to ask that the school district deal with air pollution, especially outside and inside  Woodriver Elementary School.

Some said that the district needs to install air filters in the school because the smoke from two outdoor wood boilers close to the school is bad enough to create a cloud in the halls on many days. There have been dozens of complaints each of the past two winters to the borough because of the Woodriver smoke and on some days recess is canceled.

There were also concerns voiced about air quality in North Pole and in other parts of Fairbanks, such as near Randy Smith Middle School.

Other parents and grandparents said that the state Department of Environmental Conservation should be called upon to enforce state regulations to limit air pollution.

Continue reading: Parents ask school board to address air pollution at Woodriver

That plastic sheeting over the windows? It really can help keep your house warm

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: I am thinking of putting plastic film over my windows for the winter. Is there any value in this?

Yes, but mostly for windows that are old or are in bad condition. If installed well, using plastic heat shrink films can provide three key areas of benefit. Putting plastic film over a window is almost equivalent to adding an extra pane of glass on the window. This could mean up to a 50 percent decrease in heat loss through the glass of your window, but little to no reduction in heat loss through the window frame.

The better your windows, the less benefit you’ll get in using plastic films.

Applying a plastic layer can help limit condensation on window panes by helping to keep the interior window surfaces warmer.

If you can see a haze or droplets of water near the bottom of your windows, this is a sign that your windows could use an upgrade or that the humidity in your house is too high.

Finally, the plastic film can also help to reduce discomfort from cold window surfaces by reducing convective currents that form when air is cooled by the glass surface, causing it to fall and create a draft. If positioned well, plastic films can sometimes be used to help reduce cold air coming in past window edges and seals.

All of these benefits rely on a correct installation method. The common plastic films available at the grocery or hardware store do not insulate by themselves, but instead add insulation by trapping air between the glass and the plastic film. The optimal air gap to create with a plastic film is between 3/8 and 3/4 of an inch.

The seal of the double sticky tape and the window frame surface must be continuous and smooth to trap air effectively, otherwise air and water vapor will move between the glass surface and the plastic film. This will become apparent quickly, as condensation will build up behind the plastic film. This will eventually undermine the point of installing it.

Use plastic on widows that house pets and children can not get to, because puncturing the plastic will ruin it. Unfortunately, covering windows with plastic limits visibility somewhat, depending on the quality of the installation and the lighting. The finishing touches done with a hair dryer are crucial to achieving the best light transmittance, so take your time and work carefully.

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.

Future of Interior Alaska energy leads District 10 race between John Brown, Steve Thompson

From The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Tuesday, October 19, 2010:

There’s an obvious theme in the campaign for House District 10, and even the two candidates involved say it’s hard to overlook.

Both Democrat John Brown and Republican Steve Thompson say energy is the issue that contributes to most of the challenges that Fairbanks residents face. It costs too much to heat a home or business in the Interior, they agree, which in turn leads to barriers to job creation, employment and basic quality of life.

Brown and Thompson have heard it plenty when they talk to constituents in District 10, which includes east Fairbanks and Fort Wainwright.

“You’re knocking on doors, and people are saying ‘We’re moving, we can’t afford to live here anymore,’” Thompson said. “That’s not good.”