CIHA – Mountain View Housing Study

We want to determine if new homes heated with boilers and built by the Cook Inlet Housing Authority (CIHA), as well as new homes heated with furnaces and built by a local CIHA contractor, meet expectations for energy efficiency, homeowner comfort, indoor air quality, and humidity control. Four to six homes of each type will be studied depending on their availability and funding. The project is jointly funded by CIHA and CCHRC. Some equipment is being provided by AHFC and CCHRC. CCHRC is contracting the project to Sunrise Energy Works with collaboration from Arctic Energy Systems, Analysis North, Flattop Technical Services, and Alaska Building Science Network.

The project includes commissioning mechanical systems (ventilation and heating); determining heating system efficiency, total cost to operate, measurement of IAQ, and thermal comfort parameters; measuring humidity and temperature in the attic and crawl spaces; and calculating an energy rating for each house that includes pressure testing and duct leakage measurements. The final report will summarize monitoring results and building performance, identify systems that are performing well, and provide recommendations on systems or strategies that could be improved. You can see results in the draft final report or snapshot.