Presenter:

Jack Hébert, President/CEO, Cold Climate Housing Research Center

The Arctic, perhaps the most severe climate in the world, has been home to a distinctive indigenous people for millennia. Today, despite its remoteness, the region is undergoing a rapid transformation—climate change, accelerated resource development, and a dramatic increase in energy prices are challenging the environmental and cultural sustainability of northern communities and cultures. This presentation will examine how the Cold Climate Housing Research Center of Fairbanks, Alaska is addressing the challenge of designing sustainable shelter for the far north and how what we are learning through this process can be applied to other locations. This session will examine how the use of community design charettes is an integral part of the design process, linking environmental and cultural sustainability as an essential aspect of the green building movement. The issues of climate change, low-income communities, blending traditional knowledge with new technology, and developing sustainable community growth strategies are all explored. The presentation will look at projects done throughout Alaska, in villages such as Anaktuvuk Pass, Mertarvik, and Quinhagak. In addition to highlighting the important cultural aspects of the design, the presentation will explore the technical considerations in each project, including materials and transportation, building envelope design, heating and ventilation, energy modeling and monitoring, and community workforce training. Following a 60 minute presentation, the speaker will moderate a discussion of how the process that CCHRC has used could be effective in other indigenous communities, as well as low-income urban and rural communities.


Session Format: BREAKOUT SESSION.

Presenter Bios

Jack Hébert

Jack founded CCHRC, of which he is currently President/CEO. As owner of Hébert Homes, LLC, he has been designing and building homes in Alaska for over thirty years. Jack is the NAHB National Vice President for Area 15. He has served as President of the Alaska State Home Building Association. He has been an invited speaker at several conferences, addressed the US Senate Subcommittee on Energy, and was moderator of the Circumpolar Forum on Sustainable Shelter.