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…
Boilers A boiler is an appliance that heats water for distribution to a hydronic heating system. They run on propane, natural gas, oil, electricity or another source. In a fuel-powered system, a pump pressurizes fuel, then a nozzle sprays and atomizes the fuel where it mixes with air. Electrodes ignite the fuel. The resulting flame…
Thermal Storage Thermal storage refers to technologies that store heat for later use. It can take many forms: water storage tanks that allow residents to increase the firing time on an outdoor wood boiler so it burns more efficiently; a storage tank for an electric heating system to enable off-peak power use; or storing heat…
Indoor Air Quality Indoor air quality refers to the quality of the atmosphere in a building, including temperature, humidity, and the amount of pollutants such as carbon dioxide, radon, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter. You hear about it more these days because homes are being built more airtight and better insulated than ever before.…
Electrical Power systems are important to any home, whether in the circumpolar north or elsewhere around the globe. As the technology surrounding electrical systems advances, appropriate and safe design practices must also keep the pace. Conserving power is even more important in cold climates because the cost of electricity tends to be significantly higher. CCHRC…
Plumbing Appropriately designed plumbing systems in climates that are subject to freezing temperatures are of utmost importance. All components of the water system must be evaluated carefully, including storage, supply, waste, vent, and septic systems. The more extreme the conditions, the more critical the need for a properly designed system. Proper plumbing design, materials, installation,…
