Building Science Projects | Cold Climate Housing Research Center

Celium: Cellulose-Mycelium Composites For Carbon Negative Buildings/Construction

Building Science ProjectsBy qmack January 25, 2023

Celium: Cellulose-Mycelium Composites For Carbon Negative Buildings/Construction This project seeks to develop and de-risk cost-effective, bio-based insulation by fabricating net CO2-negative cellulose-mycelium composites with high-performance thermal, acoustic and antimicrobial properties. We propose to do so by valorizing cellulosic fibers with mycelium, the root network of fungi, to create a new class of high-performing, carbon capturing…

Health & Safety Considerations in New Construction

Community Work, Building Science Projects, DesignBy Mindy O'Neall May 19, 2022

Health & Safety; New Construction; Reference Guide For new housing constructed in Alaska, there are a number of factors that can put occupant health, safety, and well-being at risk if not considered before and throughout the process. This document is intended to serve as a conceptual primer to some of the most commonly encountered health…

Indoor Agriculture, Energy, and Indoor Air Quality Research

Building Science ProjectsBy qmack May 7, 2021

CCHRC is collaborating with the Space Farming Institute in Anchorage to explore the relationship between indoor agriculture, energy, and indoor air quality. The Space Farming Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to training the agronauts of tomorrow while solving childhood hunger today. As such, their work lies at the intersection of food, soil, water, climate,…

Portable Arctic Sanitation System (PASS)

Building Science ProjectsBy Mindy O'Neall December 9, 2019

Portable Arctic Sanitation System This project was developed in response to major sanitation needs in rural Alaska, where more than 3,000 households lack running water and flushing toilets to meet basic hygiene standards. In over 33 communities, households still use a honey bucket in lieu of a toilet and haul water from an untreated source, often…

Insulation Monitoring in Tununak

Building Science ProjectsBy Mindy O'Neall December 2, 2019

Insulation Monitoring in Tununak This project looks at the moisture performance of a thick truss wall with blown-in fiberglass insulation over 2 years in a wet, windy climate. With cold winters and wind-driven rain and snow, the climate of southwest Alaska is harsh on houses. The most likely point of building failure is moisture-driven, as…

Engineering Research Center Planning

Building Science ProjectsBy Mindy O'Neall December 2, 2019

Engineering Research Center Planning The Alaska Center for Energy and Power initiated an effort to develop an Arctic Engineering Research Center (ERC) in Alaska that would work with communities facing challenges of a warming climate. The ERC would provide tools and resources to help communities decide whether or not to relocate. CCHRC advised on housing…

Arctic Dual Hood for Heat Recovery Ventilation

Building Science ProjectsBy Mindy O'Neall November 20, 2019

Arctic Dual Hood for Heat Recovery Ventilation This project aims to develop a new consumer product for ventilation systems: The Arctic Dual Hood. Dual hoods are vents that combine the ventilation intake and exhaust into a single wall penetration; they are intended for Heat Recovery Ventilation and Energy Recovery Ventilation (HRV/ERV) systems. Dual hoods make…

Secure and Resilient Power Generation in Cold Regions

Building Science Projects, Policy ResearchBy Mindy O'Neall November 13, 2019

Secure and Resilient Power Generation in Cold Regions Working in collaboration with Construction Engineering Research Laboratory and Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) staff, researchers with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and the Cold Climate Housing Research Center will carry out a techno-economic assessment of new energy options at Fort Wainwright. Researchers will…

Designs for Rural Alaska Walls

Building Science ProjectsBy Steve Vick October 6, 2019

Designs for Rural Alaska Walls CCHRC has used spray polyurethane foam insulation to build affordable demonstration homes in rural Alaska since 2009. While spray foam has a high insulation value and competitive shipping cost, it requires skill to install and any errors can result in a drastic drop in energy efficiency of the building. This…

Evaluating Window Insulation

Building Science ProjectsBy Steve Vick October 6, 2019

Evaluating Window Insulation Moveable Insulation Study CCHRC evaluated eight types of common window insulation methods, including interior and exterior types of moveable insulation. Windows are an expensive part of the building envelope to replace, so people in cold climates often resort to cheaper methods, such as shutters or curtains, to reduce heat loss. Others may…