Village Energy Efficiency Program (VEEP) upgrades are performed in rural Alaskan community buildings. From January 2005 through January 2007, the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA), with funding from the Denali Commission, worked with 17 villages to help them achieve energy savings by replacing or installing energy-efficient lighting, switch boxes, motion sensors, set back thermostats, weather stripping and low mass boilers.
Additional funding has been added to this program over the years (see color coded map on the left). There are currently three phases of funding with Phase II communities recently completed. Current work in Phase III villages of Arctic Village, Venetie, Fort Yukon, Beaver, Stevens Village, Alatna, Allalaket, Hughes, Huslia, Stebbins, Saint Michael, Unalakleet, Takotna, Kwethluk, Kipnuk, Ekwok, New Stoyahok, Levelock, and Chitna, is ongoing.
Community selection was based on the status of the respective village’s Rural Power System Upgrade (RPSU). The community either recently received or is slated to receive a new power system.
Alaska Building Science Network (ABSN-- www.absn.com) administered the grants on behalf of the communities. ABSN was able to leverage funds through in-kind contributions. As a result, significant progress toward community energy efficiency was achieved. Whenever possible, ABSN hired local labor and provided project-specific training along with boiler maintenance training.
Additionally, AEA partnered with AHFC, AVEC, AVCP-Housing, the community of Nightmute, Denali Commission, and Rural Cap to perform a "whole village" retrofit. This is a comprehensive look at the community's energy needs and capitalizing on opportunities available from different agencies. A full report on Nightmute will be posted in 2010. Whole Village Retrofit
