Oscarville Project

“Holistic Approach” Pilot Project in Oscarville

“Holistic Approach” Pilot Project in Oscarville In Fall 2014, a group of rural development professionals and agency leaders held the first roundtable on a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Northern Communities. The roundtable brought together federal, state, and local partners to develop a more collaborative approach to projects in rural Alaska. While issues like energy, housing,…

6-Star Green Program Development

6-Star Green Program Development At the request of Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, CCHRC  developed an outline of a program to add a 6th Star in the home rating system. There were two basic elements under consideration (1) an energy analysis using AkWarm and (2) a green building analysis using the NAHB Green Home Building Standard,…

Energy Efficiency Program & Policy Recommendations

Energy Efficiency Program & Policy Recommendations Alaska residents see the cost of energy as a major issue. As utility bills skyrocket, this issue escalates, affecting homeowners, renters, businesses and industry. Legislators are concerned and looking for the best strategy to provide some form of relief to residents. Recognizing the need to take action, the Alaska…

Fairbanks Nonprofit Retrofit Pilot

Fairbanks Nonprofit Retrofit Pilot The Cold Climate Housing Research Center is initiating a pilot project to help Alaska nonprofits save money by making their buildings more energy efficient. A cohort of nonprofits was selected in 2014. The Fairbanks Nonprofit Retrofit Pilot provides energy audits and low-interest loans to nonprofit organizations and tribal building owners as…

Alaska Housing Assessment

Alaska Housing Assessment CCHRC updates the Alaska Housing Assessment every few years to provide a current snapshot of the housing stock in Alaska, with data presented at local, regional, and statewide levels. The report shows the energy performance, cost, age and condition of housing across the state, helping guide the state’s housing and energy policy.…

Designs for Rural Alaska Walls

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

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…