Cold Climate Housing Research Center

NREL's Far-North Campus

In 2020, the Cold Climate Housing Research Center in Fairbanks, Alaska, joined NREL to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy in extreme climates, address Arctic and climate-threatened communities, and expand NREL's wealth of experience in building technologies.

The CCHRC is the farthest-north LEED Platinum building in the world and showcases clean energy technologies such as solar, geothermal, air source heat pumps, biomass, and thermal storage. Alaska's extreme climate—combined with its remote communities, lack of infrastructure, and abundant renewable resources—offers tremendous opportunities to solve the sustainability challenges faced by the rest of the world.

CCHRC programs focus on the built environment and include building science research, sustainable home design, and social and economic research. Central to CCHRC's mission is engaging with local and Indigenous people to incorporate traditional knowledge into technology solutions.

Visitor Information and Security Procedures

To visit NREL's Cold Climate Housing Research Center, you must check in ahead of time and follow all security requirements and safety protocols. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, only pre-approved visitors are allowed at this time. Call 907-457-3454 to inquire about visiting.