Celebrating World Environment Day Year-Round
Energy Efficiency.
Energy efficiency is top-of-mind for virtually every building owner or project manager we work with. Alaska’s harsh weather conditions, coupled with supply issues and remote locations, make optimizing a facility’s energy use both challenging and mandatory.
Reduced energy use not only lowers operational costs, it also directly and positively impacts greenhouse gas emissions. This is a key component of World Environment Day, which seeks to halt climate change “through collective, transformative action” and is observed globally this year on June 5. We aspire to celebrate World Environment Day year-round.
As our team integrates LEED, WELL, green building, and other sustainable design practices, we typically begin with energy efficiency. There are many tools we rely on to stay ahead of the requirements, codes, regulations, and emerging technologies and trends that shape our design of energy-efficient facilities.
Below are a few resources we’ve found particularly helpful.
- Renewable Energy Alaska Project. Details on renewable energy sources in Alaska (wind, solar, hydroelectric, etc.) along with clean energy initiatives and opportunities.
- Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s Building Monitoring System. A free open-source building monitoring system that measures real-time energy use and provides a complete summary of operating performance.
- Advanced Energy Design Guides. Developed by ASHRAE in collaboration with the American Institute of Architects, Illuminating Engineering Society, U.S. Green Building Council, and the U.S. Department of Energy to promote building energy efficiency.
- The Alaska Center, Alaska’s Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Program (C-PACE). Long-term, low-interest financing for energy improvement projects on privately owned commercial or industrial property.
- U.S. Green Building Council LEED Certification. An outline of the certification process for new buildings and existing buildings. Includes a library of resources and best practices.
- The Alaska Center, Solarize Anchorage/Fairbanks/Mat-Su. A program that brings businesses, neighbors, and community spaces together to purchase solar panels and installation at discounted rates.
- American Institute of Architects Blueprint for Better. This project includes tools architects can use to design a zero-carbon, resilient, equitable built environment.
- Cold Climate Housing Research Center. Facilitates the development, use, and testing of energy-efficient, durable, and cost-effective building technologies for people living in cold climates.
Let us know if you have resources to add to this list. And feel free to reach out to us if you have questions or want to chat about specific energy efficiency or other sustainable design issues. Happy World Environment Day!
