Provides an overview of the use of biomass in a remote Alaskan community. Presented at Arctic Frontiers in Tromsø, Norway on January 24, 2019. Funded as part of a National Science Foundation grant (NSF # 1518563)N

"Schmidt, Jennifer

Bond, Baxter "

Brinkman, Todd

Byrd, Amanda

Holdmann, Gwen

Vilagi, Alana

Schmidt, Jennifer

Bond, Baxter

ScholarWorks@UA

Fuel, Wood Use, and SubsistenceJennifer Schmidt, Amanda Byrd, Todd Brinkman, Gwen Holdmann, Alana Vilagi, and Baxter BondArctic FrontiersTromsø, NorwayJanuary 24, 2019NSF # 1518563jischmidt0@gmail.comMethods• Tanana, Alaska• Interior Alaska• Winter lows -50 °F or -46 °C• Summer highs 90 °F or 32°C• 61 household interviews in November 2017 on biomass, wood harvesting, and subsistence• 12 heat monitors on stoves within homesWhy are residents turning to biomass?$2.00$3.00$4.00$5.00$6.00$7.0020042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017Avreage Annual Cost of FuelNo 1 fuel oil price0.30.40.50.60.70.8$/KWhResidential Electrical Costssummerwinter$2,178 , 34%$1,978 , 30%$1,360 , 20%$435 , 7%ElectricityHeatingFuelGasFirewoodHow much of your income goes towards energy costs?-20-10010203040506070010203040506070Oct-17 Nov-17 Dec-17 Jan-18 Feb-18 Mar-18 Apr-18 May-18 Jun-18 Jul-18 Aug-18 Sep-18Outdoor TemperatureGallons ConsumedMonth and YearHousehold Fuel Use per MonthMinimum Average Maximum Average Outdoor TemperatureAnnual Costs (at $5.50/gal):Annual Cost Minimum: $236Annual Cost Average: $954Annual Cost Maximum:     $2,078What does heat look like in Tanana?Wood DepotMaking HeatWasheteriaPublic waterGreenhouseSchoolResidential houses, City & Tribal officesUsing HeatPublic worker buildings:  Firehouse, VPSO, Triplex, Teacher housingPhoto courtesy of Chas JonesHow do people in Tanana heat their homes?70%18%12%Wood stoveToyo or Monitor StoveFurnacePeople estimated they save $1,611 annually by using wood!34% of households have used less wood because of weatherization actionsHow much do people harvest?02468101214Total Firewood DriftwoodCords per person interviewedTotal in a year: 690 cordsCord = 3.6 cubic metersWhat other benefits do people get from harvesting wood?Reduce energy costs89%Fire is a nice heat source 87%Exercise 72%Fuel costs matter less 74%“Lost weight, easier to move around”Are Tanana Residents Satisfied with the Biomass Harvesting Program?69%6%24%SatisfiedNot satisfiedNeutral• Most people know about the program (82%)Wood harvest: participation, jobs, and income• 29% have participated in the biomass harvest program • 18% of people we interviewed made money harvesting wood.   11 people of 61 • On average each person made $2,568.Why are people satisfied or dissatisfied?0510152025More jobs Save money Use less fuel More peopleoutsideMore sharing Air pollution Hard to findwood nowNumber of householdsNegativeWho does the wood harvesting?• People who are also out doing subsistence• Households with slightly more incomeSubsistence and Wood harvestBerries75% of people say wood harvesting does not affect subsistence harvestHalf of people believe that the amount of wood harvested have not changed in the last 10 years (47%)Wood harvest overlaps nicely with subsistenceHunting 28%Come back empty from hunting or fishing ….. Grab wood!Fishing 31%Berries 18%Flexible schedule20% of people barter with their wood harvestWho does subsistence?• Wood harvesters• Wood vendors• Households with higher income• Households with more people• Those employed fulltime, followed by part-time, seasonal, etc. Conclusions• Wood harvest is very important to Tanana and without access or use of wood energy costs would be overwhelming• Wood harvest, biomass, and subsistence go together nicely• Wood harvest is often done as its own activity, but it is sometimes coupled with getting subsistence foods• People who do subsistence typically have the equipment needed to harvest wood• For now, wood harvest for the biomass program does compete with local harvest (i.e. plenty of wood available)Thank you to the residents of Tanana

Fuel, Wood Use, and Subsistence

https://scholarworks.alaska.edu/bitstream/11122/11938/1/Schmidt_Biomass_Arctic_Frontiers_Final.pdf

Fuel, Wood Use, and Subsistence

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