What is the TNHA Sustainable Northern Shelter (SNS) Project?

In order to address the critical need for affordable, sustainable, energy efficient, "green" shelter, the Cold Climate Housing Research Center in partnership with the Tagiugmiullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority (TNHA) has designed a prototype design, which:

• Partnered with an Alaska Native community (Anaktuvuk Pass) to develop a culture based design.  Meaningful to the North Slope Region, not a “cookie cutter” design for all Alaska.
• Incorporates in that design the use of lightweight or locally-available materials for construction.
• Uses an extremely energy efficient and durable building envelope, reducing energy costs by an estimated 40% or more.
• Demonstrates an advanced economical heating and passive ventilation system
• Implements innovative water distribution, usage, and self-contained sewage treatment strategies
• Integrates renewable energy systems that use available resources.
• Focuses efforts on the education of community members to create a local building force.
• Uses local labor to construct a practical and affordable home with a targeted construction cost (labor and materials) of 150,000 to $350,000 or less. 

The future of Sustainable Northern Shelter (SNS) on the North Slope

TNHA’s simple goal was to build a sustainable home with enhanced useful life, a home which used low cost construction materials that could be easily transported to remote locations.  Exceptional energy efficiency and near-passive ventilation were essential as was the construction of a structure which was essentially mold proof, and reflected community participation in the design of the home. The home was never intended to be a “cookie cutter” design and, in fact, there are good reasons that such application would result in abject failure. This particular home could, and should only be built in Anaktuvuk Pass. However, further application of the innovative construction methodologies in combination with practical experience gained from the prototype, and accommodation for the unique cultural and environmental factors inherent community will, we are confident, ultimately achieve amazing outcome on the North Slope of Alaska and elsewhere.

The prototype should not be seen as “the answer” but simply as one very promising approach to the challenges faced in our North Slope communities and, perhaps, elsewhere. The ultimate outcome may be reduced energy usage, sustainability, or improved useful life.  Reduced cost may be an outcome; but it is not the absolute goal. SNS is exciting and innovative, and to that end, TNHA is committed to the construction of forty-two (42) additional homes in the next three years. However, application of the SNS concept remains very much a work in process, constantly changing and evolving as a consequence of lessons learned along the way.

If you would like to learn much more about this award winning project, call 907-852-7150 and ask for a copy of our "SNS Whitepaper."