Out of the wild: An energy retrofit prospective from the remote communities of Alaska

Panel: 5B. Cutting the energy use of buildings: Policy and programmes

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Author:
Daniel Berube, Fairwinds Energy, USA

Abstract

Out of the Wild-an energy retrofit prospective from the remote communities of Alaska. What has been learned from 30 years of applying energy efficiency to the existing building stock of Alaska? Insight with regard to government funded weatherization programs; as well as regard for project management and implementation.

Challenges: Alaska, has 640 sq. miles of land for every mile of paved road. ¾ of the state is accessible by only boat or airplane. It uses the most energy per capita of any state.

Landscape: Alaska's east-west span covers a distance of 2,000 miles, and from north to south a distance of 1,100 miles. The State’s coastline, 33,000 miles in length. Alaska contains 375 million acres of land and many thousands of lakes.

Climate: Average heating degree days vary from about 7000 in the southeast panhandle, to 10000 degree days in Anchorage in south central, 14000 in Fairbanks the Interior, up to 20000 in Barrow located in the Arctic region.

Resource Cost: Fuel oil is used to heat by a third of the population in Alaska, mostly in the road less and remote areas. Electricity in the remote areas is also expensive, mostly generated by diesel fuel.

Housing Stock: Dwellings in remote Alaska are mostly substandard and built without codes.

Culture: The majority of the residents in rural Alaska are Alaska Natives who live in villages with populations ranging between 25 and 5,000.

Milestones: Thermal efficiency and tightening the building shell, Blower door testing to determine airtightness of building, Pressure diagnostics, High efficiency heating systems, Combustion safety testing, Building standards for energy retrofits, Energy modeling, Health and safety

Successes and failures: Effectiveness of applied energy measures, Cause and effect of applied energy measures on the structure; Extreme climate effect on buildings; Instilling quality workmanship; Controlled ventilation effectiveness; Occupant behavior & client education.