Current Projects
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Denotes a project part of CCHRC's Product Testing Lab |
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Denotes a project part of CCHRC's Sustainable Northern Shelter |
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Denotes a project part of CCHRC's Hybrid Micro Energy Project |
21st Century Cements
CCHRC is performing a high level analysis of the local market potential for geopolymer cements. The analysis includes an assessment of available local materials, potential of local product manufacturing, and potential economic feasibility. This is a sister project to the Magnesium Phosphate Cement Testing and Application project funded by Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC).
6-Star Green
At the request of Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, CCHRC is working to develop a program outline for consideration that includes the basic elements of a 6th Star in the home rating system. The basic elements include attention to compatibility with AkWarm, incorporation of NAHB Green Home Building Guidelines, and consideration of an incentive structure.
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AHFC Technical Energy Advisory Committee (TEAC)
This project provides Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) with professional technical advice and consultation is needed for developing and implementing energy-related policies and programs. CCHRC is tasked with organizing, facilitating, and providing support for an ad-hoc committee of approximately seven technical professionals from the private sector and ensures that its work is not redundant, but instead well integrated with AHFC and CCHRC’s operations and
projects.
AKWarm Modernization
CCHRC has reviewed the AKWarm software that is used during planning to determine a house’s energy usage. We will be reviewing additional features as needed and will include necessary modifications to rewrite BEES.
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Alaska Retrofit Information System (ARIS) Development
CCHRC is managing the development of ARIS on behalf of Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC). The project goal is to create a means by which to collect, manage, access, and report on information relating to AHFC’s rebate and weatherization programs, as well as other official uses of AkWarm. Once development of the ARIS database is complete, AHFC has indicated they would like CCHRC to maintain and manage the database.
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BEES Revision
At their meeting on November 8, 2006, the AHFC Board of Directors adopted changes to the Alaska Building Energy Efficiency Standard (BEES) proposed by a CCHRC work group. These changes include Alaska Amendments to IECC 2006 and ASHRAE 62.2-2004.
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Green Infrastructure
CCHRC will be generating ten plans that home owners can implement to reduce rainwater and pollutant runoff from their property. Some of these plans will be demonstrated by local homeowners. CCHRC will photograph the progress and produce a manual, which will be distributed to local libraries and homeowners. We will also be coordinating outreach events to share the information with the public. In addition, CCHRC's green roof and rainwater catchment data will
analyzed and presented in a manual and other materials.
HMEP in Anaktuvuk Pass: Small Scale Solar PV and Wind with Highly Efficient Demand Load 
Solar PV and a wind generator were integrated with the prototype home in Anaktuvuk Pass. The PV panels and wind generator were installed by YRITWC, while the monitoring project is funded through the Denali Commission. CCHRC will collect data relating to power production and energy usage in the house. All data collected at the Anaktuvuk Prototype will be made available online.
HMEP at the Research and Testing Facility: Solar PV, Solar Thermal, and Wood Energy
CCHRC has installed four solar photovoltaic arrays, two solar thermal collectors, and a variety of wood heating devices. In the future, CCHRC intends to install a wood-fired combined heat and power (CHP) system. The goal is to provide year round heat and power to the RTF through combinations of renewable energy systems as a demonstration of
alternatives to providing energy to the residential markets at high latitudes. Performance analysis is ongoing, although key observations have been made with regard to solar PV, solar thermal, and wood energy.
HMEP at Weller School: Ground Source Heat Pump and Solar Thermal
CCHRC is monitoring a ground source heat pump and solar thermal system installation at Weller School. The key purposes of this project are to evaluate the performance of a ground source heat pump at the site conditions present at Weller School, and to evaluate the significance of recharging ground temperatures in the summer time using solar thermal collectors.
Magnesium Phosphate Cement Testing and Application
CCHRC is conducting applied research into the suitability of magnesium phosphate cements (MPC) as an element of the REMOTE Wall System and other building applications. MPCs have desirable qualities including being impervious to water, virtually no coefficient of expansion across wide temperature ranges, and is over twice the strength of Portland cement.
Masonry Heater Efficiency Study
CCHRC is developing a computer model that can compare different masonry heaters of the same overall design type, and which allows for expansion into a multi-design comparison model.
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Movable Window Insulation 
This project is being performed by the Product Testing Lab and will evaluate different interior and exterior strategies for
retrofitting windows with movable insulation. Work will begin in late 2009 and results will be available during summer 2010.
Reflective Insulation Study
CCHRC is quantifying how much the reflective face of EPS foam contributes to the effectiveness of the insulation. The CCHRC Product Testing Lab is running samples through its thermal conductivity analyzer and interpreting the results in addition to a literature review of reflective insulations.
Safe & Effective Exterior Insulation Retrofits
With the current push to retrofit homes, it is important to understand how moisture transfer is affected by common exterior insulation methods. Is there danger of moisture accumulation leading to rot or mold in the walls? This work will examine the potential for moisture accumulation as a function of exterior insulation R-value and the presence of “double vapor barriers”.
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