It’s a smelly, messy job, but some of teacher Scott McKim’s students have decided they’re up to the task. Welcome to the world of composting 101.

The group of sixth, seventh and eighth graders are on a mission to reduce the amount of uneaten food and packaging waste accumulated at Begich Middle School. Developed by McKim’s after-school leadership class, the environmentally-minded group has launched a project that could, if all goes well, turn compostable trash into cash. But money isn’t the goal.

Click here to read the full story.

Lawmakers are weighing a huge expansion of construction work to improve the energy-efficiency of public buildings across the state.

The Legislature two years ago set aside an unprecedented $360 million for household-level energy efficiency projects.

A comparable figure could go toward contractors to cut energy consumption at public buildings — schools, state and city offices and other facilities — under a plan moving through Juneau.

Click here to read the full story.

On Tuesday, the village of Unalakleet, seated on Alaska’s northwest coast, celebrated the town’s newest energy force — turbine number six. The awakening of the high-tech wind catcher completes the installation of the town’s new wind farm, which has already saved the village tens of thousands of dollars since the first turbines powered up a few months ago.

Since November, Unalakleet has cut utility costs by nearly $55,000 and generated enough electricity to power 86 homes for an entire year, according the wind farm’s new Web site. The site also claims the wind energy has significantly reduced carbon dioxide emissions that would otherwise have been pumped into the atmosphere through more traditional, diesel-only power generation — the equivalent of more than 580,000 miles of driving in the family car. According to our calculations, that’s about 111 one-way trips between Anchorage and Key West, Florida.

Click here to read the full story.

What might be the only commercial farm in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta will expand this summer, despite early worries that the new potato field near the airport would increase the threat of bird strikes.

To prepare the field for farming, Bethel resident Tim Meyers scraped away two acres of frozen tundra near the airport on state-owned land last summer, tilling the earth underneath.

His handiwork lies prominently near the airport, visible from the main road into town as undulating rows beneath snow.

With a combination of fish-based fertilizer (the local jail donated mounds of salmon guts last summer), and a handmade potato planter and harvester, Meyers hopes to churn out 20,000 pounds of organic spuds this summer.

Click here to read the full story.

A proposed new rule in Fairbanks would fine people at least $300 for using wood- and-coal-fired stoves that belch out dense smoke, part of an attempt to curb air pollution in the area.

The Fairbanks News-Miner reports that Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins is sponsoring the measure, which is a response to federal pressure to bring down pollution levels.

Click here to read the full story.

Houses in Quinhagak battered by decades of fierce wet winds might soon be replaced by a new model that hearkens back to traditional Native sod houses.

At a meeting last week, village leaders in the Southwest Alaska community accepted a preliminary plan for an energy-efficient home that could be a prototype for other houses in the village.

Click here to read the full story.

By CCHRC Staff

Q: I’ve read LED lights perform well in cold temperatures. What about in Alaska?

Absolutely. LEDs are generally pretty tough. They are shock and cold resistant. In fact the colder it gets, the better they perform. When it comes to outdoor lighting at extreme temperatures, some fluorescents can suffer from performance losses when compared to their use inside. Currently, LEDs are popular in lowlight applications such as pathway lighting or for task lighting such as workbenches, nightlights, flashlights and other devices where incandescent bulbs have traditionally been used. Because small incandescent bulbs are the least efficient, they are perfect to be replaced by an LED.

When it comes to the lighting industry in general, changes are coming along quickly. Prices are coming down on LEDs and fluorescents, and they are being better designed to work in different environments. If you are looking at buying an LED light for outdoor use, get one with a good warranty. The bulbs may last a long time, but there are other components in the light that may not fare as well.

Q: What is the difference between EPS and XPS foam?

Both are similar chemically and both are made from polystyrene, but the manufacturing process is different. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, also called “bead board” is what you would find in coffee cups.

It is manufactured using small plastic beads that are expanded and fused together in a mold. Extruded polystyrene (XPS) is blue or pink, hence it is also called “blue board” or “pink board.” It is also made using polystyrene beads, but they are liquefied rather than expanded and then a blowing agent is added to force the liquid into a form. This process also creates a skin on the surface of the foam.

XPS is slightly more resistant to water vapor than EPS. EPS, generally has an R-value of 3 to 4 per inch, whereas XPS has an R-value of about 5 per inch. No matter what type, the R-value will be printed on the packaging or the board itself.

It is often assumed that the blue or the pink foams are the only ones you would want to use “below grade,” such as in your basement or a damp environment. The truth is both products will work as long as they are strong enough or dense enough to handle the stress in the place they are going to be installed. For example, many insulated concrete forms are made with EPS foam. These forms always go below grade. No matter the case, consult the product manufacturer information, which is usually available where you purchased the foam. Also, judge the prices in relation to the R-value you are getting, and get a product that is rated for your application.

Alaska HomeWise articles promote home awareness for the Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC). If you have a question, e-mail us at akhomewise@cchrc.org. You can also call the CCHRC at (907) 457-3454.

Public administrators and senators Monday steered what could be the start of much scrutiny of a major energy bill.

The bill, the proposed Alaska Sustainable Energy Act, addresses a broad slate of demand- and supply-side energy production and efficiency issues. It would, among other things, update outlines for a two-year-old public Renewable Energy Fund, force energy-efficiency improvements at state buildings and require an emphasis on energy efficiency when state government buys equipment and vehicles.

Click here for the full story.

In terms of punctuation marks, Railbelt natural gas supplies are a bit of question mark, and fuel prices in the Bush are a big exclamation point. So, it’s safe to assume Alaska’s electricity producers and consumers would appreciate a little stability. At least one company wants to transform Alaska’s geothermal resource into a reliable source of electricity, and is hoping for a way around an oddball state law that taxes hot water pulled from state land.

Click here to read the full story.

By CCHRC Staff

Q: How can I keep condensation off my windows in the winter?

Condensation is a product of the relationship between humidity and temperature.

The warmer the indoor air is, the more water vapor it can hold. When the air moves next to a window it can no longer hold the same amount of water vapor because the temperature is colder close to the window. This is when you start seeing condensation forming. As an example, if your indoor temperature is 70 degrees and outdoor temperature is 0, then moisture will begin to condense on a single-pane window when there is roughly 15 percent relative humidity in the house. A double-pane will be subject to condensation at around 25 percent to 40 percent humidity, and a triple-pane will fall into a range of around 30 percent to 50 percent. These number ranges are based on average window insulation values.

A really good triple-pane window may be able to withstand significantly higher humidity levels before condensation occurs. The target humidity levels for occupant comfort in a home range from about 30 percent to 50 percent, however the lower end of this spectrum is considered safer in cold climates such as ours, due to concerns with condensation within walls and ceilings. When the humidity is really low, some people become prone to respiratory infections. Of course high humidity can cause similar problems with bacteria and mold growth in the building. As the winter air in Fairbanks is so cold and dry, it is usually difficult to attain anything close to 50 percent humidity in a properly ventilated house.

To keep condensation off windows, make sure your home is properly ventilated.

The presence of excess moisture around windows is a good indicator of the effectiveness of ventilation in your home. Shoot for the low end of the target humidity range, to keep both you and your home healthy.

Q: Can I face repercussions if my home is violating building code or it is out of date?

In Fairbanks, building inspectors primary focus is on new construction and remodels. When you are remodeling a home that is not built to code, inspectors only require that any new work meets current code.

Older parts of a building that are not involved in the remodel are not subject to same requirements, unless the inspector sees a situation that could jeopardize the life and safety of the occupants.

When it comes to code compliance, it is important to be aware that building codes are updated and revised on a regular basis. If your home is not up to date, do not panic.

Inspectors are not police that travel around town making sure residents bring their houses up to code. But remember, building codes exist to ensure the health and safety of the occupants, so a compliant house is a safe house. Furthermore, if you plan on selling your home, a buyer or lender may want an inspection before the sale is final. Any code violations will likely have to be corrected at that time. It would be better to deal with those issues before selling your home.

Alaska HomeWise articles promote home awareness for the Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC). If you have a question, e-mail us at akhomewise@cchrc.org. You can also call the CCHRC at (907) 457-3454.