Wind Industries

Peninsula Clarion Sunday, April 19, 2009
http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/041909/new_288262845.shtml

With the construction season right around the corner, many peninsula residents are starting to make plans for what they'd like to build this summer, and what products and services they'd like to use to make it happen. And the Kenai Peninsula Builders Association 30th Annual Home Show has returned to provide answers to would-be builder's questions.

"May 1st is when the building season really kicks off, and it'll go strong through October 1st or later, depending on the weather," said Jeff Twait, KPBA president.

The purpose of the home show is to spotlight KPBA members, their products and their services, and to show spectators the latest trends and new innovative ideas in the building industry. This year that includes "green" technology. "Our theme this year is 'Building Green on the Kenai,"' which means being more environmentally conscious when building, being aware of how you orient your house on your property, trying to use materials natural to the area, and using products that reduce your carbon footprint," Twait said.

Nationally, there is a big push in the building industry toward green building, and Twait said Alaska is not out of the loop on this notion. "Alaska's been on the cutting edge of some of the materials and ideas for a long time because of the extreme climates we live in, but there is also a lot of new stuff coming out, too," he said.

The green theme ranged from simple ideas to massive undertakings. Some, such as Homer Electric Association, tied being green into using compact fluorescent light bulbs to replace less efficient incandescent bulbs. Others, such as Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, offered a more comprehensive approach through their energy rebate program. "There's a lot of cash set aside for it. The way it works is an energy audit is done on a home to see where it is deficient, such as poor insulation or inefficient doors or window. Next the homeowner gets contractors to do the work to make improvements. Then Alaska Housing will rebate the homeowner. It's up to $10,000 depending on the renovations done," Twait said.

Other booths also offered cutting-edge green technology, such as Alaska Wind Industries, which was selling all-inclusive wind generators with controls and inverters built-in. "It's a residential wind turbine to supplement energy needs. The average home needs 800 kilowatts a month. This generates 400 to 500 kilowatts," said Nadia Daggett, who along with her husband, James, owns the Nikiski-based company.

There's a 12 foot diameter to the blades of the turbine, and it is mounted on a pole ranging from 33 to 60 feet, with 45 feet being the average height. Currently, three of the devices are hooked up on the Kenai Peninsula, according to Daggett, but more are on the way.

"We've already got them in Nikiski, Seward and Homer, and we've got three more waiting to go in as soon as the ground thaws in Nikiski, Sterling and Homer. We're also looking at a commitment of 60 more for this summer," she said. While some of the green technology applies to homes already built, Precision Timberworks out of Moose Pass was offering technology for construction of homes.

"It doesn't get any more green than this," said owner Josh Leatherman in regard to custom timber framing, which he said is superior to traditional "stick-frame housing" which utilizes smaller timber and nails and screws to fasten building material together.

"Timber framing is a more practical and sustainable way to build. We use Alaskan yellow cedar or other Alaskan products, we use joinery and dowels to hold it together, and there are no chemicals," he said.

As a further example, he pointed out the timber frame he had built which served as his business' home show booth. "We used four 6-by-10 posts. If this had been stick framed, we would have used 40 2-by-6 (boards)," he said.

Visitors of the home show seemed to enjoy the green theme of the event. "It's a lot better than when we saw it a couple years ago. We had questions and got answers and there seemed to be more interest in going green this year," said Tom Anglin of Homer. The KPBA 30th Annual Home Show continues today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Soldotna Sports Center. Admission is $4, or $3 for students and seniors. Military personnel and children get in free.