LED Lighting Analysis

LED Lighting Analysis Fluorescent lighting dominates in public facilities and commercial buildings because it is relatively efficient and widely available. Yet LED (light emitting diode) lighting is even more efficient: converting a T8 fluorescent lamp (pictured left) to an LED can save upwards of 40% on energy. With the rapid growth in LED products and…

vacuum insulated panels

Vacuum Insulated Panel Test

Vacuum Insulated Panel Test CCHRC is testing a new type of Vacuum Insulated Panel at the Research and Testing Facility. The high R-value panels are developed by Panasonic. By removing the air from the panels, they dramatically increased the insulation value without increasing the thickness. CCHRC will test handling and installation techniques for VIPs and…

Bath Fan Installation

Bath Fan Installation Best Practices CCHRC will test five Panasonic WhisperGreen Select bath fans at the Research and Testing Facility and evaluate runtime, relative humidity, and temperatures in the ducts. A final report will document best practices for installing bath fans in a cold climate. Resources TitleTypeResource LinkBathroom Fan Best PracticesSnapshotsDownload Partners Related Projects

Thermal Mass Study

Thermal Mass Study Thermal mass is the ability of a material to absorb and store heat energy, which can be useful when it comes to cold climate housing. This project clarifies the role of thermal mass in housing and includes a literature review and energy modeling with IDA Indoor Climate and Energy (ICE) software. The goal…

Combined Heat & Ventilation

BrHEAThe Development & Evaluation BrHEAThe is a combined heating and ventilation system designed at CCHRC for providing space heating, domestic hot water, and fresh air for small, airtight, and energy efficient homes. The main goal of BrHEAThe is to ensure adequate indoor air quality – by tying ventilation to the heating system, BrHEAThe ensures that…

Garage Wall Analysis

Garage Wall Analysis Roughly half the homes in Fairbanks and Anchorage have an attached garage. Many garages are filled with exhaust from vehicles and heating appliances as well as VOCs. The current building technique in Alaska is to build an exterior wall between the home and garage sealed with an air/vapor barrier, such as 6…

Little Ventilation Project

Little Ventilation Project This project looks at ventilation systems that can improve indoor air quality in small homes while limiting energy use. While the average home in much of rural Alaska is smaller than 1,500 square feet, current ventilation systems are not always well-suited for thise size homes. Because they sometimes deliver too much cold…