Category Archives: Uncategorized

UAF Announces Sustainable Village Design Competition

concept of cluster housing at UAF

UAF and CCHRC are working on designing a Sustainable Village at UAF—a cluster of small student housing units that are cost effective, resource responsible, energy efficient and community focused. The Sustainable Village Design competition includes UAF students in the process.

Teams of students will be given a set of site plans, arctic building science resources and competition guidelines. They will be asked to use these resources to design a living community with a target number of student housing units. CCHRC could incorporate any good ideas from the competition into the final design.

Registration opens on August 15. If you are a student interested in participating, make sure you identify your professional mentor and team members. If you would like to get credit, you will need to identify a faculty member in your academic home and attend the sustainable design seminar course. For more information visit http://www.uaf.edu/sustainability or contact Michele Hebert, Sustainability Director, at mahebert@alaska.edu.

 

Emergency Housing at Crooked Creek

CCHRC staff examine flooding damage at Crooked Creek homes

CCHRC is working on a housing project in the village of Crooked Creek that symbolizes a new way of responding to disasters in rural Alaska. The Kuskokwim River flooded the village in May, damaging or destroying half the homes in the town. The Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management asked us to quickly design nine new energy efficient homes that could be built before winter.

 

We’ve created a design that is simple—it can be built by the many volunteers involved—flexible—it can be applied to homes with different sizes and floor plans—and tight—it can be heated with far less fuel than existing homes. The entire structure-walls, floors, and roof-will consist of a single system of 2x4s, so the homes will be quick and easy to build. This project is a milestone for rural housing because it adds an energy efficiency focus to the emergency-response building process. It recognizes that even replacement housing needs to be efficient, climate-specific, and durable.

We’re adapting techniques from prototype houses that we’ve tested in other villages, like Anaktuvuk Pass and Quinhagak, such as spraying foam insulation against metal siding to create a complete thermal envelope. The building sites will be elevated above the floodplain on gravel pads.

This is part of a larger plan with the Alaska DHS&EM to create regionalized, grab-and-go models that can respond to different disasters all over the state.

Our project partners include the Alaska DHS&EM, the Village of Crooked Creek, the regional corporation Calista, AVCP Regional Housing Authority, and Samaritan’s Purse.

How to heat your home using the cold ground

Our new report shows that ground source heat pumps are an effective and affordable technology for parts of Alaska, including Fairbanks, Juneau and Seward.
In this video, CCHRC researcher Colin Craven discusses how heat pumps work and what you have to think about before installing one in Alaska.

Radon Reminder

With the construction season in full swing, don’t forget that radon exists in the Fairbanks area. Radon is a radioactive soil gas that is produced by the natural breakdown of uranium in the ground.  The Surgeon General’s office estimates that as many as 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year are caused by radon, ranking it second only to smoking.   The current minimum level of exposure is 4 pCi/l (picocuries per liter), however that shouldn’t be interpreted as a “safe” level of exposure.

Unfortunately for Fairbanks, many hillside sites have radon concentrations much higher than that and are particularly at risk – although radon can occasionally be a problem in low-lying areas too.   On the bright side, the issue can be dealt with relatively easily during the foundation stage.  As a general rule, if you are building in an area where radon is a concern, it is far cheaper to install a mitigation system than to run the risk and increased expense of having to deal with a potential problem later.

Typically a basement slab is poured over a non-frost susceptible (NFS) layer of gravel or crushed rock, which is imported to help with drainage and foundation leveling. To cope with radon, an interconnected series of 4-inch perforated drain pipes is run through this porous layer of fill. Depending on the size of the house, the pipes will skirt the inside perimeter of the foundation and possibly also run through the center of the slab.  The piping ties into a common exhaust point stubbed out at a predetermined location in the floor, such as under the stairs.  Once the slab is poured and the house is finished, an in-line exhaust fan is connected to the exhaust pipe.  The fan pulls the air from under the slab and exhausts it safely out of the house –typically through the roof.

Current building codes require plastic sheeting be installed over the ground before the slab is poured to control ground moisture.   This sheeting also serves as an effective air barrier for radon gas and should also extend under the footings and/or beneath any load-bearing pads before they are poured.  The sheeting should be well-sealed around all penetrations in the floor, such as plumbing drains and electrical service wires. In many cases, a properly installed ground vapor barrier will make enough of a difference that the depressurization fan doesn’t get turned on, however this can only be determined once the house is closed in and radon levels can be measured.

More information can be found on the UAF Cooperative Extension Service (CES) website: www.uaf.edu/ces.

Is a hot water heater blanket always more efficient?

Putting a blanket on your hot water heater saves heat that you would otherwise lose to the air, a process known as jacket loss. But in some cases, allowing your hot water heater to shed heat could be more efficient than space heating. It depends on the type of hot water system and heating systems you have, how efficient they are, how much water you use, and many other factors.

Our building science research team is studying the interaction of these systems to determine when a hot water blanket is helping, or hurting, your overall home efficiency.

“Our theory is that it depends on the circumstances, and you can’t make an absolute general statement of one over the other on any of these questions,” says CCHRC building energy economist Nathan Wiltse.

We will simulate a highly efficient home, where any difference in energy use could likely be attributed to appliances. We will use energy models to test various configurations—water tanks versus on-demand heaters, high versus low water usage, boilers versus furnaces, the temperature settings of these systems, etc.

For instance, what if you have a radiant floor system set at 110 degrees, and a hot water heater set at 140 degrees? You may assume you’re better off using a hot water heater blanket, because it requires more energy to maintain the hot water tank at 140 than the floor loop at 110.

But if you have a 65-percent efficiency boiler and a highly efficient water heat, it may actually be better to allow those jacket losses. We won’t know til we run the simulations.

We’re going to create a matrix of the scenario results to show a number of the factors at work. We plan to share it sometime in January, so you can compare your own home heating information and see what might be the most efficient for your house.

Press Release: Report shows heat pumps economically viable in Alaska

laying the ground loop at Weller Elementary School

Ground source heat pumps offer an economically viable heating option in some places in Alaska, according to a new report from UAF’s Alaska Center for Energy and Power and the Cold Climate Housing Research Center.

The study found that the systems, which extract heat from the earth, are technically and economically viable in areas with high heating costs and low electric costs. The report, funded by the Denali Commission, offers the first in-depth assessment of ground source heat pumps in Alaska.

“There recently has been quite a bit of excitement about ground source heat pumps, as people are seeking more affordable heating options. Our report helps explain the technology in the context of Alaska, and analyzes its potential throughout the state,” said co-author Colin Craven, head of product testing at CCHRC.

There are roughly 50 heat pumps in Alaska, including high-profile commercial installations at Weller Elementary School in Fairbanks and the Juneau Airport Terminal as well as several residential installations around the state. A heat pump transfers energy from the earth or water to use for heating or cooling. The system consists of underground tubing filled with heat-transfer fluid, an electric pump and a heat distribution system.

Researchers reviewed the industry in Alaska, interviewed ground source heat pump owners and assessed the performance and economic viability of the technology in five cities: Fairbanks, Anchorage, Juneau, Bethel and Seward. They compared the cost and performance of heat pumps with traditional heating systems in an average-sized new construction home in each city. They found that heat pumps could match or beat other heating systems in Fairbanks, Juneau and Seward.

“Even though the ground source heat pumps have high up-front capital costs, which is what deters people from installing them, they end up costing less over 15 years just because you save so much money on annual energy costs,” said Dominique Pride, graduate researcher at ACEP and co-author of the report.

The systems are most economical in Juneau and Seward, where heating oil is expensive and electricity costs are low. They also potentially make sense in Fairbanks, which has more expensive electricity than Southeast and Southcentral but also higher heating demand and costs, thus more room for energy savings.

The analysis found the pumps are not economical in Anchorage, which has low heating and power costs thanks to inexpensive natural gas. And they are not viable in Bethel and most of rural Alaska because of its extremely high electricity costs.

In addition to economics, researchers looked at cold climate considerations on system performance, including the impact of ground source heat pumps on soil, as extracting heat could create more permafrost if the ground temperature doesn’t recover in the summer. Researches plan to install a pump at the CCHRC next year to further study the effects and viability of the systems.

CONTACTS: Julie Estey, 907-590-0879. Molly Rettig, CCHRC communications coordinator, 907-450-1772, molly@cchrc.org. Marmian Grimes, UAF public information officer, at 907-474-7902 or via e-mail at marmian.grimes@alaska.edu.

In the Works: A Consumer Guide to Heating Systems

CCHRC is working on  a Consumer Guide to Heating Systems that will help Alaskans decide which system is best for their home.  Our product testing researchers will compare several heating systems, such as oil-fired boilers and natural gas furnaces, on factors like cost, technology, and efficiency. The guide will also cover distribution and control systems as well as domestic hot water.

“Consumers can find product literature out there but currently there is not a coherent description and comparison of the heating systems commonly used in Alaska. Our research will cover the strengths and weaknesses of each technology in an unbiased way,” said Ness Spencer, who will author the report

She will determine which systems to focus on over the next couple of weeks.

The study, funded by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, will include a literature review as well as interviews with industry experts and building scientists. The report, which will be published in September and available for free on our website and through AHFC, will empower homeowners looking for the most appropriate heating system.

Calculating: UAF takes stock of its carbon emissions

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is forming a Climate Action Plan in an effort to chop its carbon footprint. CCHRC listened in on a webinar Friday to see what it was all about. The session focused on how to inventory your emissions, calculate your footprint, set concrete goals to reduce it, and track your progress.

The UAF Office of Sustainability has partnered with Clean Air-Cool Planet, a group that helps business and campuses tackle their emissions. The group spoke to department leaders and students about building a Climate Action Plan that fits the UAF campus—for example, one that can account for unique circumstances like an on-campus coal plant and high travel expenses.

The group highlighted the benefits of this calculation; not only does it make campus more sustainable but it can also save money and attract students and grant funding. The process would also paint a clear picture of where your emissions are coming from—heat, transportation, agriculture, waste?

First you have to decide on the scope of the plan. Do you count only direct emissions, from fuel combustion and fleet vehicles, or also include indirect emissions like purchased electricity, business travel, wastewater disposal, and so on? Do you include every department and group on campus, which could take forever, or stick to a smaller core?

Then you form your plan of attack–will you convert vehicles to biodiesel, add geothermal heating in dorms, ramp up the recycling program?

UAF wants to have a plan ready by September 1. There are 667 universities that have signed on to the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, an agreement to work toward climate neutrality, including the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Which energy efficiency investments are best for my house?

foam insulation on the wall of CCHRC's Mobile Test Lab

That’s what an energy model will tell you.

How much insulation to use is one of the most common questions in the construction industry–among both contractors and homeowners. A steady increase in energy prices, along with growing material costs, makes it important to find the sweet spot between energy efficiency and affordability.

The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation provides standards, called Building Energy Efficiency Standards, or BEES, for different regions of Alaska to help guide these decisions. Home builders using AHFC mortgage loans must comply with these standards, but they also provide a good reference for anyone building in Alaska.

An energy model will tell you if you meet these standards. It’s a computer modeling program that runs a series of heat-loss and performance calculations for every single component of your house. You plug in the dimensions and construction details of all the exterior walls, roof, windows, foundation and floor, along with info about your heating and electrical systems, and you end up with a model of your home’s performance. The program also factors in climate data. You can change insulation values, construction types, heating appliances, and fuel prices to test a variety of conditions.

The best time to do the modeling is before you build, as it gives you the most flexibility to make changes. The best approach is to hire a state-certified energy rater to plug your house plans into the program, which should run between $350-$700 (but probably toward the lower end). You are required to get an energy rating anyway if you are using an AHFC funded mortgage loan to make sure you meet their standards. If you want to try energy modeling yourself, you can download a public copy of the AK Warm modeling program here (the one used in the state of Alaska).

Energy modeling is a powerful tool that can provide long-term savings and peace of mind with minimal up-front investment. Remember, though, that occupant behavior and awareness will also have a great impact on your home’s performance. A house bursting at the seams with teenagers will perform differently than the same one occupied by a retired couple.

State nears answers in North Pole sulfolane spill

From The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Wednesday, December 15, 2010:

The state’s environmental commissioner said Tuesday the state could know by February how deep a chemical solvent from a previous spill at the refinery in North Pole has permeated the ground in the surrounding community.

The Department of Environmental Conservation and other agencies have worked for a year with the Flint Hills Refinery to study the issue, which is focused on a decades-old spill that predates the refinery’s current owner.

The spill sent sulfolane, an industrial solvent used to refine oil, into the soil. It later seeped into groundwater.

DEC Commissioner Larry Hartig said the team also is talking to national experts as it weighs the prospect of a toxicology study of long-term exposure and its health implications. Existing scientific literature is thin.

“There’s a lot of people at the table trying to help with these issues, and they take it very seriously,” Hartig told the Fairbanks North Star Borough Economic Development Commission.

The state estimates about 200 wells in and near North Pole are contaminated, but state environmental specialists indicate the levels may generally not be high enough to make people sick. The levels found in most contaminated wells are lower than levels shown by existing studies to cause harm to animals, DEC specialists said Tuesday.