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ENERGY AUDIT
&
RENEWABLE ENERGY
STRATEGY REPORT
FOR
14 Tribally-Owned Buildings
of the
Chickaloon Village
Traditional Council
Sutton, Alaska USA 99674
FINAL REPORT COMPLETED DECEMBER 3, 2010
BY: ANDY BAKER, P.E.
LEE BOLLING, E.I.T.
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1. SHOP & ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT BUILDING
BUILDING DESCRIPTION
The Shop & Environmental Department Building is a large, steel frame, warehouse type building that
houses CVTC's shop and Environmental Dept. The building, referred to in the rest of the report as the
Shop Building, was once only a shop space with no offices. Once the need for office space was required,
one-third of the eastern side of the shop was converted into two floors of office space, approximately 27' x
40' = 1,080 sq ft per floor. The office space was built within the shop's thermal envelope and the retrofit
did not alter any of the buildings original insulation.
The building has excellent solar exposure, with its long 80ft edge facing nearly true south. Unfortunately
there is only one window installed in the south facing wall to take advantage of the solar exposure.
However, a solar thermal system could be easily integrated into the building's south face to provide
building heat to the Shop Bldg's large radiant floor slab. This solar thermal system will be discussed in
the renewable energy section of the report.
HEATING OIL CONSUMPTION AND CO2 EMISSIONS
Compared to the other buildings in this energy audit, the Shop Bldg uses the most heating oil with an
average of 1,818 gallons per heating year, based on data from 2008 to 2010. Based on the current
heating oil price of $3.05/gal, it costs about $5,545 annually to heat the building. On average the Shop
Bldg generates 40,694 lbs of CO2 annually.
Shop Building - Heating Oil Usage
Heating Year Heating Oil (gal) Heating Oil Cost
2008-2009 2,107 gal $ 6,138.43
2009-2010 1,528 gal $ 4,411.57
Average Heating Oil Consumption 1,818 gal $5,545 @ $3.05/gal
Average CO2 Emissions 40,694 lbs CO2*
* Based on 22.384 lb of CO2 per gallon of heating oil.
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Heating oil is stored in a 1,000 gal fuel tank located behind the Shop Bldg, on the north side. Fuel is
routed from the tank to the Weil McLain oil boiler and Toyotomi Oil Miser water heater inside the Shop
Bldg. The fuel tank is topped off throughout the year by a heating oil distributer. The fuel tank fills are
charted below for the Shop Bldg.
ELECTRICAL CONSUMPTION - SHOP BLDG & ADMIN BLDG
The Shop Bldg and the Administration Building (Admin Bldg) are powered from the same electric meter
and therefore share one electric bill. Out of the 14 buildings in this energy audit, the Shop Bldg and
Admin Bldg are two of the larger users of electricity. The other two major consumers are the Ya Ne Dah
Ah School and Health & Social Services Bldg.
Shop and Admin Building - Electricity Usage
Heating Year Electricity (kWh) Electricity Cost
2008-2009 28,841 kWh N/A
2009-2010 25,104 kWh N/A
Combined average for Shop and
Admin buildings 26,973 kWh $4,046 @ $0.15/kWh
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1.1. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BUILDING ENVELOPE
Building Insulation: The Shop Bldg is significantly under insulated in the roof, walls, foundation walls
and floor slab, compared to the current BEES standards. The building was built when energy was much
cheaper than it is today, and it was not insulated to the current insulation standards. Due to its under
insulated roof, the building has been experiencing major ice damming issues t hat have caused water
damage on the southeast side of the building.
Shop Building - Building Insulation
Building Component R-Value and Description BEES minimum
standard
Ceiling R-11, over-the-purlin, foil-faced fiberglass insulation with 3/4" XPS
spacer blocks on purlins. Effective insulation value is R-9 due to the
purlins pinching the insulation.
R-38/49 a
Exterior Frame Wall R-11, over-the-purlin, foil-faced fiberglass insulation with 3/4" XPS
spacer blocks on purlins. Effective insulation value is R-9 due to the
purlins pinching the insulation.
R-20
Floor Slab-on-grade, concrete floor with radiant tubes. Slab thickness and
under floor insulation is unknown.
R-30
Below Grade Wall 2" EPS, Bead Board, rigid insulation on exterior sides of the
foundation wall. The top 2" of insulation is above grade and has been
degraded because there is no metal flashing protecting it from
weathering. Effective insulation value of this bead board is R-7.
R-15/19 b
Windows Double pane, vinyl frame, argon filled windows (R-3) R-3
a, b. Refer to Building Insulation section in Energy Audit Methodology.
Air Leakage and Blower Door Test: Due to the large size of the Shop Bldg, two separate blower door
tests were completed. The first test was done on the shop side of the building and the second test was
done on the office side of the building. The Shop Bldg was found to be a fairly tight building with only 3.6
ACH at -50 Pa. This was much better than expected, however there are some air sealing improvements
identified that can help tighten the building further.
Shop Building - Blower Door Test and Air Leakage
Building Area Air Leakage @
- 50 Pa Estimated Bldg Volume Air Changes per Hour @
- 50 PA
Shop side of building 2040 CFM - -
Office side of building 1815 CFM - -
Total Shop Building 3855 CFM 64,000 cu ft 3.6 ACH
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Building Envelope Recommendations: The largest improvement item for the Shop Bldg is to add
additional R-38 fiberglass insulation to the existing ceiling insulation and R-19 fiberglass insulation to the
existing wall insulation. A company in Colorado called Metal Building Outlet, is one that can provide
custom, pre-cut fiberglass insulation in white poly-bags for easy installation. The project would be a large
under taking but would result in significant energy savings. Increasing roof insulation will eliminate ice
damming and water leakage from ice damming. It will also stop falling ice damage on the sides of the
building.
Recommendations for Building Envelope
Description of Capital Investment Improvement
Number
Installed
Cost
Annual
Savings
Payback
The weather-stripping on the existing south facing
exterior door and north facing exterior door is old
and in need of replacement. Replace weather-
stripping on both doors to ensure a proper air seal
when door is closed.
Shop Bldg
1.1.1 $200 $100 2 yrs
Add bottom bulb seals to south exterior overhead
garage door to ensure tight seal with floor.
Shop Bldg
1.1.2 $150 $75 2 yrs
Add R-38 custom cut fiberglass insulation in white
poly-bags to underside of existing R9 roof
insulation. Also, add R-19 custom cut fiberglass
insulation in white poly-bags to existing R9 wall
insulation. Insulation comes pre-cut for the roof
and wall cavities along with metal banding, screws
and tape for installation.
$7,700 for materials shipped to Seattle. (Based on
preliminary price quote from Building Outlet)
$2,000 estimated for shipping from Seattle to
Sutton, AK.
Labor estimated at:
3 man crew x 3 weeks x 40 hrs/week x $30/hr =
$10,800
Shop Bldg
1.1.3 $20,500 $2,500 8.2 yrs
Replace existing 12'x12' and 14'x16' overhead
garage doors with new 2" thick Thermo Core (R-
17.5) doors, each with 3 double pane windows for
solar gain and natural light.
$7,900 = Quote from Pioneer Door Inc including
materials and labor to remove existing doors and
install new doors. Double pane windows cost $55
per window extra.
Shop Bldg
1.1.4 $8,230 $92 89 yrs
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1.2. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT
Mechanical Equipment: There are two oil boilers that provide heat to the shop building. The original
Weil-McLain Oil Boiler heats the large concrete radiant floor slab and also provides heat for the DHW in
the building. The Toyotomi Water Heater was installed when the office space was built and heats four
zones with baseboard registers. Both oil boilers have over 80% efficiency and appear to be working well.
Shop Building - Mechanical Equipment
Unit Input (BTU/hr) Output (BTU/hr) Efficiency Heating Loads
Weil-McLain Oil Boiler
Model: WTGO-5 182,000 158,000 84.8% AFUE Radiant Floor Slab
& DHW
Toyotomi Water Heater
Model: Oil Miser 180 148,000 Not disclosed on
nameplate 83% AFUE Baseboards in
Office Space
Mechanical System Recommendations: It should be noted there are several practices relating the
boiler room that do not comply with current codes. The International Mechanical Code, adopted by the
State of Alaska, requires that the air tight fire door to the boiler room must remain shut . Secondly, the
boiler room should not be used for storage of equipment and materials that clutter access in the room and
pose a fire hazard. Finally, the existing make up air vent in the mechanical room is closed off in the
winter time, requiring the Weil-McLain oil boiler to draw combustion air from inside the building. This is a
safety issue because the oil boiler could back draft, pulling exhaust gases into the building and creating
poor air quality for occupants. To solve this issue, a P trap style air intake duct is recommend ed, which
uses a cold air trap to limit heat loss in the winter while still providing the boiler with make-up air.
Recommendations for Mechanical Equipment
Description of Capital Investment Improvement
Number
Installed
Cost
Annual
Savings
Payback
Existing conduit that carries the fuel lines from the
fuel tank to the oil boilers is un-sealed and air is
leaking through. Seal conduit with spray foam to
stop air flow and heat loss.
Shop Bldg
1.2.1 $50 $25 2 yrs
Existing gravity damper on Weil McLain boiler
exhaust stack is leaky and sticks open. Replace
with inline automatic damper to reduce heat loss.
$150 material cost for Honeywell 10" Round
Automatic Damper.
$25 shipping cost
$100 labor cost
Shop Bldg
1.2.2 $275 $50 5.5 yrs
Existing make-up air vent is closed in the winter,
reducing required combustion air for boiler. Install
P trap style air intake duct, to efficiently bring in
make-up air.
$200 material cost
6 man hours x $30/hr = $180
Shop Bldg
1.2.3 $380 N/A N/A
Put zone valves on each of the four hydronic zone
loops with a thermostat for each zone.
4 zone valves x $100 each = $400
3 Thermostats x $100 each = $400
10 man hours x $30/hr = $300
Shop Bldg
1.2.4 $1,100 N/A N/A
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1.3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
There are significant energy savings available in upgrading the lighting in the Shop Bldg. Already, the
CVTC has made smart energy upgrades by replacing incandescent lights with CFLs and installing T -8
lighting. IT is recommended that CVTC replace all incandescent lights with CFLs and replace all T -12
lighting with energy efficient T-8 lighting. As can be seen from the lighting upgrade table below, these
improvements have paybacks of under 6 years. Replacing a 60W incandescent bulb with an equivalent
lumen output 13W CFL has a payback of 4 months.
Another potential improvement is to replace the 400W Metal Halide lights in the shop side with energy
efficient LED highbay lights. The payback for this item is around 12 years, based on 30 hours of use per
week. Because this item has the longest payback it should be completed last, with the shorter payback
items completed first. It should be noted that the payback is based on the hours the lights are on every
week. If in the future the shop lights are used more than 30 hours per week, then the payback will
become shorter and this option will have a higher priority.
Due to the fact that CVTC has staff in house that can install lighting, the labor costs for installing new light
fixtures was not taken into account in the paybacks below. The only exception is the LED highbay
lighting for the shop. This project may be more involved and a labor cost of $300 per fixture was used. If
in-house staff can complete this project, than the associated payback not including labor costs will be 8.5
years.
Shop Building - Lighting Upgrades
Improvement
Number Existing
Lights
Total
Existing
Fixtures
Replacement
Lights
Total
New
Fixtures
Hours/
Week
Annual
Savings
in
dollars*
Total
Installed
Cost
Payback
(yrs)
Shop Bldg
1.3.1
(In Office
Space)
2 bulb fixture
with 60W
incandescent
bulbs
4
2x13W CFL
with
equivalent
lumen output
as existing
lights
4 40 $116 $40 0.3
Shop Bldg
1.3.2
(In Office
Space)
4 tube T12
(40W/tube),
Magnetic
Ballast
17
3 tube T8
(28W/tube),
Electronic
Ballast
17 40 $495 $2,193 4.4
Shop Bldg
1.3.3
(In Shop and
Boiler Rm)
2 tube T12
(40w/tube),
Magnetic
Ballast
4
2 tube T8
(28W/tube),
Electronic
Ballast
4 40 $48 $288 6.0
Shop Bldg
1.3.4
(In Shop
Space)
400W Metal
Halide 6
Seesmart
LED highbay,
6 tube (4')
8 30 $597 $7,085 11.9
* Annual savings is the amortized annual savings of the lighting upgrade based on the current electric
rate of $0.15/kWh with 4% escalation annually.
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2. ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
BUILDING DESCRIPTION
The Administration Building, or Admin Bldg, is located next to the Shop Bldg and the Greenhouse. The
original brown building was built in 1990 off-site and was bought by CVTC and moved to its current
location in 2004. The small purple addition was built on the east side to expand the office space.
PROPANE CONSUMPTION AND CO2 EMISSIONS
The Admin Bldg is the only building included in this energy audit that utilizes propane for space heat.
Based on propane bills from 2007 to 2010, the bldg uses an average of 1,022 gallons of propane per
heating year. This costs approximately $4,087 per year, based on the current propane price of
$3.999/gal. On average the Admin Bldg generates 12,438 lbs of CO2 emissions every year.
Admin Building - Propane Usage
Heating Year Propane (Gal) Propane Cost
2007-2008 1,095 gal $3,925
2008-2009 1,128 gal $4,450
2009-2010 842 gal $3,354
Average 1,022 gal Propane $4,087 @ $3.999/gal
Average CO2 Emissions 12,438 lbs CO2*
* Based on 12.17 lbs of CO2 per gallon of propane.
Propane is stored in a large pressurized tank located behind the Admin Bldg, on the north side. Fuel is
routed from the tank to two propane space heaters. The fuel tank is topped off throughout the year by a
propane distributer. The fuel tank fills are charted below for the Admin Bldg.
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ELECTRICAL CONSUMPTION
The Admin Bldg and Shop Bldg are powered from the same electric meter and therefore share one
electric bill. This is discussed in the Shop Bldg section.
2.1. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BUILDING ENVELOPE
Building Insulation: The new addition of the Admin Bldg is significantly under insulated in the floor and
crawlspace. The addition is on blocks and sits above a raw gravel bed. Plywood siding was used to
enclose the crawlspace area below the addition, however, no insulation exists on the plywood siding, rim
joists, gravel bed, or floor frame. The existing insulation of the building is shown below.
Admin Building - Building Insulation
Building Component R-Value and Description BEES minimum
standard
Ceiling The ceiling insulation of the original building and the addition could
not be verified because no indoor ceiling hatches or outdoor attic
hatches were found. According to the CVTC builder, the addition has
R-44 blown cellulose in the ceiling.
R-38/49 a
Exterior Frame Wall R-19 fiberglass batt insulation in 2X6 stud walls, with sheetrock
interior and exterior wood siding. R-20 for entire wall system.
R-20
Floor The floor of the original building could not be verified because no
crawlspace hatches of outdoor hatches were found. The floor of the
addition was accessed by crawlspace hatch. The building is resting
on blocks with raw gravel bed below. No floor insulation or insulation
on gravel bed is present. No rim joist insulation is present as well. A
partial vapor barrier is present on floor.
R-30
Below Grade Wall The building has no below grade walls since it is on blocks. However,
the crawlspace is enclosed by plywood siding that extends down to
grade. This siding is un-insulated and significant air gaps exist on the
east side where the siding does not make contact with the gravel bed.
R-15/19 b
Windows 1) Double pane, vinyl frame, argon filled windows (R-3).
2) Wood frame, double pane window (R-2)
R-3
a, b. Refer to Building Insulation section in Energy Audit Methodology.
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Air Leakage and Blower Door Test: The blower door test was completed on the exterior door of the
addition of the Admin Bldg.
Admin Building - Blower Door Test and Air Leakage
Building Area Air Leakage @
- 50 Pa Estimated Bldg Volume Air Changes per Hour @
- 50 PA
Admin Bldg 845 CFM 10,944 cu ft 4.6 ACH
Building Envelope Recommendations: Major improvements can be made the building envelope of the
Admin Bldg, including both air sealing, window and door replacement, and adding insulation. The
crawlspace of the addition has no insulation on the crawlspace walls and large air gaps are present
between the gravel bed and the crawlspace siding. Insulating the crawlspace siding with 2" of XPS rigid
insulation, insulating the rim joists and sealing the air gaps will have a large impact on the building's
heating bills.
Recommendations for Building Envelope
Description of Capital Investment Improvement
Number
Installed
Cost
Annual
Savings
Payback
Air seal the following:
1) light sockets
2) wall hole penetration
3) leaky wood frame glass door
Items were marked with blue tape during blower
door test.
Admin Bldg
2.1.1 $200 $100 2 yrs
The weather-stripping on existing west facing
exterior door has leaky and in need of replacement.
Replace weather-stripping to ensure a proper air
seal when door is closed.
Admin Bldg
2.1.2 $100 $50 2 yrs
Add 2" XPS rigid insulation to plywood crawlspace
walls of addition (and original bldg if necessary)
and insulate rim joists. Properly seal the
crawlspace to stop air leakage. Costs and payback
for addition only. It is recommended that the
original building crawlspace be assessed. Payback
will be similar for both.
50 man hours x $30/hr = $1,500
100 sq ft x $5/sq ft for materials = $500
Admin Bldg
2.1.3 $2,000 $800 2.5 yrs
Existing bathroom fan is leaking air. Install a
gravity damper to stop heat loss. Admin Bldg
2.1.4 $200 $50 4 yrs
Replace existing:
1) 70"x50" wood frame double pane window and
2) 72"x80" wood frame door with double pane
glass
with a new vinyl frame, double pane, argon filled,
low-e window and door.
Admin Bldg
2.1.5 $2,250 $150 15 yrs
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2.2. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT
Mechanical Equipment: There are two propane heaters that provide space heat to the building; one
heater located in the original building and the other located in the addition. An electric hot water heater
provides DHW to the building's only bathroom. The nameplates of both propane heaters did not disclose
the unit's input, output or efficiency.
Admin Building - Mechanical Equipment
Unit Input (BTU/hr) Output (BTU/hr) Efficiency Heating Loads
Empire Comfort Systems
Propane Heater N/A N/A N/A Original Bldg
Windor Plus Propane
Heater N/A N/A N/A Addition
Electric Hot Water
Heater N/A N/A N/A DHW
Mechanical System Recommendations: The Windor propane heater in the addition was not working at
the time of the site visit. If mechanical problems with the Windor propane heater persist consider
installing with a new high efficiency direct-vent propane heater, that utilizes outside combustion air.
Refer to the "Price of heating with heating oil, propane, and electricity" section of the report for a
comparison of heating oil and propane heating.
2.3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
All of the lighting fixtures in the Admin Bldg are multi-bulb fixtures, with no T-12 or T-8 fixtures. The
CVTC has been doing a great job of replacing the incandescent lights in the Admin Bldg with CFLs. At
the time of the energy audit, the majority of the light fixtures had CFLs with just a few incandescent
remaining. It is recommended that the replacement strategy is continued so that all lighting is CFL.
Replacing a 60W bulb with an equivalent lumen output 13W CFL has a payback of 4 months.
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RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSESSMENT
In recent years, CVTC has been committed to using renewable energy systems. CVTC already has a
large 2,250 W, grid-tied, tracking solar PV array installed next to the Language Bldg. Additionally, CVTC
utilizes three 175W Solar PV panels and one Southwest Wind Power 1kW Whisper 200 wind turbine at
their Greenhouse. During the site visit additional possibilities of utilizing renewable energy systems were
identified and evaluated.
For the renewable energy assessment, five different possibilities were evaluated. The following report
contains the details to the five possibilities.
1. Wood Heating System for the Shop Building (Option 1)
2. Combined Wood Heating and Solar Thermal System for the Shop Building (Option 2)
3. Solar PV for the Shop Building
4. Solar PV for the H&SS Building
5. Wind Resource Data Monitoring through the AEA Anemometer Loan Program
Overall, it was determined that either a Wood Heating System (Option 1) or a combined Wood Heatin g
and Solar Thermal System (Option 2) would be a cost effective renewable energy project for the Shop
Building. A conceptual design for Option 2 was created and two drawing sheets are attached it the end of
the report.
The Solar PV systems for the Shop Bldg and H&SS building were not found to be cost effective at this
time due to the high cost of solar PV and relatively low electricity prices.
Currently, the CVTC does not have adequate wind data for an economic analysis of a larger wind turbine
system. The next step should be installing a meteorological tower, or MET Tower, to measure wind
speeds at 30m. There is an Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) program that loans these MET towers to
qualifying communities. Refer to this section in the report to sign up for the program.
DATA MONITORING EXISTING RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS
During the site visit it was determined that none of the CVTC's existing renewable energy systems are
being data monitored. This is unfortunate because it makes it nearly impossible to determine how well
the solar PV and wind systems are performing and how much energy they are producing.
It is recommended that all of CVTC's solar PV systems and wind turbine be data logged so that their
performance can be recorded and visualized. The village can use this data to show how much energy
their systems are producing. It would also be a great way to show potential granting agencies how the
village is actually performing when it comes to renewable energy.
Many of the current data logging units on the market allow data to be wirelessly uploaded to the internet
for easy access.
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WOOD & SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEM - SHOP BLDG
OVERVIEW
Of all the CVTC buildings, the Shop Bldg has by far the best solar exposure, and the greatest annual
heating load. The long southern face of the Shop faces due south with an un-interrupted view of the low
mountains ahead. The Shop also has a radiant concrete floor on the ground floor, which is a great asset
for either solar thermal or wood heating due to the fact that radiant floors require lower supply temps
(100F) as opposed to baseboard registers (140F). Finally, the Shop Bldg is used consistently by CVTC
for office space for the Environmental Department and storage/shop space for bldg maintenance.
Annually the Shop consumes an average of 1,818 gallons of heating oil annually ($5,545 @ $3.05/gal).
Due to these facts, the Shop would be a suitable place for successful wood heating and solar thermal
heating systems, that would provide space heat to the building. Two options were evaluated in this
report, each of which could displace all heating oil used at the building:
Option 1 - Wood Boiler System
Option 2 - Combined Wood Boiler + Solar Thermal System
Option 1- Wood Boiler System: This option includes the installation of one Garn WHS 2000,
wood heating system. The Garn WHS (Wood Heating System) was selected because Garn is a
reputable manufacturer of high efficiency cord wood boilers and many Garn boilers are currently in
operation in Alaska with successful track records. Additionally, cord wood is readily available in the local
Sutton area and can be either purchased from local providers or harvested by CVTC. The Garn WHS
2000 utilizes a built-in 1,825 gal water storage tank, so that wood can be burned in batches at high
temperatures and a large quantity of heat can be stored in the storage tank for use throughout the day.
This allows the Garn units to burn cord wood at an efficiency of 80% or better. This option could displace
all of the heating oil used by the building if cord wood were burned to meet all heating loads. It is
estimated that this option would require 14.3 cords of birch annually. At the current delivered cord wood
price of $250/cord in Sutton, this wood fuel would have an annual cost of $3,575.
Option 2- Combined Wood Boiler + Solar Thermal System: Option 2 is an extension of Option 1,
with the addition of an 8 panel array of solar thermal panels. The solar thermal panels would collect solar
energy and transfer the heat into a closed glycol loop (50% propylene glycol). The glycol loop would
transfer solar heat to the Garn WHS 2000's 1,825 gal water tank with a flat plate heat exchanger. This
process allows solar energy to be collected by the solar thermal panels and stored in the Garn's water
tank to be used for building heat. This option uses solar energy to offset a portion of the wood burn in the
summer and shoulder seasons, reducing the annual wood demand. In recent years, combined wood and
solar thermal systems have proven successful in Alaska. The Ionia Community in Kasilof, AK has been
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using a combined system since 2009 for heating their community building s. It is estimated that Option 2
would require 11.9 cords of birch annually ($2,971 annual cost at $250/cord).
ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF OPTION 1 & OPTION 2
At 30 year Net Present Worth economic analysis for both options was completed using the current price
of heating oil at $3.05/gal, escalating at 8% annually, and the current price of electricity at $0.15/kWh,
escalating at 4% annually. A 2% discount rate was used for the time value of money. The evaluation
assumes that the $250/cord wood price includes delivery to a storage area inside the shop building.
CVTC staff would then move this wood into the wood boiler room and load and fire 90 lb batches of birch
and/or spruce cord wood in the boiler. The recommended wood length for the Garn WHS 2000 is 24" to
32".
The evaluation also assumes that CVTC can internalize and use the available 30% Federal tax credit for
the solar thermal system and a $1,500 Federal tax credit for the wood boiler system. The 30% tax credit
can be applied only to the total installed cost of the solar thermal system.
Economic Analysis Option 1 Option 2
Shop Building Project Wood Boiler System Combined Wood Boiler &
Solar Thermal System
Estimated Project Cost $36,673 $67,111
Federal Tax Credit for Wood and Solar $1,500 $10,631
Net Project Cost with Tax Credit $35,173 $56,480
Annual Heating Oil Savings from Wood Boiler 1,818 gal 1,511 gal
Annual Heating Oil Savings from Solar Thermal 0 gal 307 gal
Annual Heating Oil Savings 1,818 gal 1,818 gal
Annual Heating Oil Savings @ $3.05/gal $5,545 $5,545
Annual Cord Wood Consumption (Birch) 14.3 cords 11.9 cords
Annual Cord Wood Delivered Cost @ $250/cord $3,575 $2,971
Annual O&M Costs $188 $332
30 yr Net Present Worth $237,930 $235,709
Payback 10.8 yrs 13.2 yrs
The economic analysis shows that both options will payback in less than 14 years; Option 1 in 10.8 years
and Option 2 in 13.2 years. The 30 yr Net Present Worth of both options is very close, with Option 1
having the higher value. Due to the fact that the payback is low on both options, either option would be
cost effective.
Although the combined wood and solar thermal system (Option 2) has a slightly longer payback than the
wood heating system only (Option 2), it may be the more attractive option if carbon emissions and labor
to fire the wood boiler are considered. By harnessing additional solar energy with the solar thermal
system and using it for space heating, the Shop Bldg would require less cord wood throughout the year,
approximately 2.4 cords of birch saved annually. This means that CVTC would burn less wood and thus
reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, burning less wood means that less labor by CVTC staff would be
needed to load and fire the wood boiler, especially in summer months when the solar resource is
greatest. Finally, because the escalation rate of cord wood prices is unknown in the future, using less
wood will result in a smaller economic impact if cord wood prices escalate rapidly.
EE & RE REPORT Chickaloon Village Traditional Council 12/3/10 PAGE 70 OF 77
“Celebrate the power of nature”TM …with YourCleanEnergy LLC
It is estimated that the solar thermal system in Option 2 will produce 17% of the Shop's heating
requirement throughout the year. The rest would be supplied by the wood boiler.
Option 2 - Combined Wood And Solar Thermal System
Million BTUs Heat Fraction
Annual Heat Produced by Solar 33 17%
Annual Heat Produced by Wood 162 83%
Annual Heating Load of Shop Bldg 195 100%
COST OF OPTION 1 & OPTION 2
The cost estimates for both options was based on price quotes from Alaska Heat Technologies (the
GARN rep in Alaska) and from Heliodyne (solar thermal equipment supplier). The labor cost for installing
the options was estimated to be 20% of total material costs. A 10% contingency on installation and
material costs was also included.
The costs for the Wood Heating System only is shown below.
Wood Heating System Costs for Option 1 and Option 2
Item Description Quantity Unit
Material Unit
Cost
Material Total
Cost
WHS 2000V Garn Wood Boiler 1 each $15,695 $15,695.00
WHS-IVF18 (6"x18 Internal Vertical Flue) 1 each $650 $650.00
Chemical Water Treatment Kit 1 each $295 $295.00
Enclosed Building Space 1 LS $2,000 $2,000.00
1" copper pipe from Garn to Heating Loads 210 Lin Ft $3.00 $630.00
1" pipe insulation 211 Lin Ft $2.50 $527.50
Valve And Fitting Allowance 1 LS $1,000 $1,000.00
Heat Exchanger 1 each $4,000 $4,000
Shipping to Sutton, AK 1 LS $2,985 $2,985.00
Total For Materials
$27,782.50
Installation at 20% of material cost
$5,557
10% Contingency
$3,334
Total investment of project
$36,673
Federal Tax Credit (Capped at $1,500 Maximum)
$1,500
Net Investment for wood
$35,173
A typical Garn WHS wood boiler is shown below.
EE & RE REPORT Chickaloon Village Traditional Council 12/3/10 PAGE 71 OF 77
“Celebrate the power of nature”TM …with YourCleanEnergy LLC
The additional cost of the solar thermal system included in Option 2 is shown below. For the system
components supplied by Heliodyne (excluding solar collectors) a 3% mark up on materials was added for
2011 prices. Heliodyne's prices for all components, except their solar collectors, will be marked up 3%
next year, according to Heliodyne's marketing personnel.
Additional Solar Thermal System Costs for Option 2
Item Description Quantity Unit
2011
Mark up
2010 Material
Unit Cost
Material Total
Cost
Gobi 410-001 8 Each 0% $1,359.00 $10,872.00
DYN-O-SEAL Unions 16 Each 3% $25.00 $412.00
DYN-O-SEAL Combo Fitting (includes temp
well and sensor) 1 Each 3% $61.00 $62.83
Air Vent Kit 1 Each 3% $28.00 $28.84
1" type L Copper 74 lin ft 0% $3.00 $222.00
1" inside insulation 70 lin ft 0% $2.50 $175.00
2" outside insulation + aluminum jacketing 4 lin ft 0% $15.00 $60.00
Insulated Union between collectors with
Aluminum Jacketing 14 Each 0% $20.00 $280.00
Rail 002 000B 4 Each 3% $204.00 $840.48
Rail 000 001 3 Each 3% $42.00 $129.78
FLSH 000 000 9 Each 3% $40.00 $370.80
Rack System To Wall Mount Collectors 1 LS 0% $2,000.00 $2,000.00
Controller, Pumps, Pressure Gauge, and
Valve Allowance 1 Each 3% $2,300.00 $2,369.00
Single Wall Flat Plate HX 1 Each 3% $3,000.00 $3,090.00
EXPT 005 000 (5 gal tank) 1 Each 3% $123.00 $126.69
Wall Mount Bracket for Tank 1 Each 3% $25.00 $25.75
Dyn-o-flow high temp Glycol (1 gallon) 9 Each 3% $49.00 $454.23
Sensor wire (100ft) 1 Each 3% $41.00 $42.23
FLOS 053 000 (Flow Sensor 1 Each 3% $284.00 $292.52
Mixing Valve 1 Each 3% $199.00 $204.97
Shipping 1 LS 0% $1,000.00 $1,000.00
Total For Materials
$23,059.12
Installation at 20% of material cost
$4,611.82
10% Contingency
$2,767.09
Total investment of project
$30,438.04
Net Investment After 30% Federal Tax Credit $21,306.63
EE & RE REPORT Chickaloon Village Traditional Council 12/3/10 PAGE 72 OF 77
“Celebrate the power of nature”TM …with YourCleanEnergy LLC
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
A conceptual design was created for the combined wood heating and solar thermal system (Option 2).
The system costs and economics are based off of this design. A Conceptual Piping Schematic (G1.0)
and a Conceptual Architectural Integration Plan (G2.0) were created and are attached in 11x17 format to
the end of this report.
The design calls for the Garn WHS 2000 to be located in a wood boiler room inside the Shop Bldg. The
wood boiler room would be made of metal studs and 5/8" drywall fire barrier, for f ire protection, and
located near the south side of the Shop's floor so piping can easily connect to the solar thermal system.
The room would also have fire rated double doors, which can be opened for easy wood loading. Inside
the wood boiler room would also be the solar thermal and wood controls, loop pumps and heat
exchangers. Additionally, a minimum of 12" thick fiberglass batt insulation (R-38) would surround the
wood boiler water tank to limit unwanted heat loss. The wood boiler would be placed on top of a
insulated floor which includes a minimum of 4" thick rigid ex truded polystyrene (blue board) insulation (R-
20). Across from the double doors of the wood boiler room is the cord wood storage area. Cord wood
can be conveniently stored in this location and be easily carried by CVTC staff through the double doors
to load the nearby wood boiler.
An array of eight Heliodyne GOBI 410 solar thermal panels would be mounted to a structural aluminum
rack on the south face of the Shop Building. The rack would have a snow visor (overhead roof) above the
panels to keep snow and frost off the upper face of the panels. The underside of the visor has a 18" wide
reflective surface used to increase solar gain of the collectors in the winter and shoulder seasons. The
structural rack would hold the solar thermal panels so that the bottom of the panel would be
approximately 6' above grade. Parking timber stops will ensure that vehicles will not back into the array.
A collector loop, filled with 50% propylene glycol and 50% water for freeze protection, would transfer heat
from the solar thermal array to a small flat plate heat exchanger located in the wood boiler room that
would deliver solar heat to the Garn wood boiler's water tank.
The Garn wood boiler would also be connected to a separate large flat plate heat exchanger that would
transfer heat into a pressurized water filled pipe loop that would deliver heat to the existing baseboard,
radiant floor, and DHW heating loads. In this design the existing Weil McClain oil boiler is connected in
parallel to the new wood/solar system as a backup and alternate heating source as needed.
Refer to the two conceptual design drawings at the end of the report for more information:
Conceptual Piping Schematic (G1.0)
Conceptual Architectural Integration Plan (G2.0)