Windows In cold climates, a large amount of heat is lost through windows during the winter. For instance, a double-pane window might allow as much as 10 times the amount of heat to leave a house compared to the same area of a typical 2×6 wall. It makes sense to upgrade or insulate windows in…
Weatherization Weatherization refers to the process of making your home more energy-efficient through taking simple measures like caulking windows and weather-stripping doors. Like any home retrofit, there are many steps you can take depending on the unique characteristics of your home. For example, if you have old, leaky windows, caulking around the edges may be…
Wall Retrofits Walls make up the greatest surface area of your home. Depending on how well-insulated your current walls are, a wall retrofit may be the best way to achieve deep energy savings. The key to efficient, durable walls is proper moisture management. Cold climate walls are especially susceptible to moisture damage, as moisture from…
Retrofits The video follows an energy rater as he physically locates typical air leakage points in a home using a blower door test. More than half the homes in Alaska were built during the pipeline construction boom of the 1970s and 80s and are now 25‐45 years old. Many of these homes are energy inefficient…
Solar The world’s northern latitudes offer a unique opportunity for solar energy. While we have little to no sunlight in the winter months, we have an abundance in the summer. With the high cost of electricity and the growing impacts of climate change, solar power offers a clean solution to providing energy to our homes.…
Permafrost Foundations The #1 piece of advice for building on permafrost: Don’t do it! That’s because homes are designed with the assumption that the foundation is both permanent and stable, and permafrost is neither. When permafrost thaws and settles, it causes foundations to move, which can create small problems like cracks in the drywall or…