Foundations A building’s foundation must be carefully engineered to support the weight of the structure. In cold climates, foundations are susceptible to heat loss and damage related to surrounding soil conditions. With 80% of Alaska underlaid by permafrost, or permanently frozen ground, one of the greatest challenges is building foundations that can remain stable over…
Air Source Heat Pumps Air source heat pumps have traditionally been used in warmer climates than Alaska for both heating and air conditioning. However, recent models of ASHPs are able to provide space heating at lower temperatures, down to 0°F. ASHPs take heat from the ambient air and use electricity to “step up” the heat…
BrHEAThe System The BrHEAThe system is an integrated heating and ventilation system developed by CCHRC to improve energy efficiency in homes while maintaining healthy indoor air quality. The system marries together heating and ventilation so that incoming air is always warm and fresh. Once supply air is brought in through the heat recovery ventilator (HRV),…
Crawlspace Foundation A crawlspace foundation is a conventional option for building on stable soils. It consists of footings and walls (typically poured concrete) that elevate the home from the ground, creating a “crawlspace” area between the ground and the first floor of the home. While residents typically don’t spend much time down there, the crawlspace…
Exhaust-only Ventilation Exhaust-only ventilation is a one-sided system that typically relies on bathroom and kitchen fans to get rid of stale air but does not provide any dedicated source of fresh air. To make up for the lost air, the house draws outside air through leaks in the floors and walls (this is called “makeup…
On-grade Foundations On-grade foundations are a popular design in Interior Alaska because they are less expensive than crawlspace foundations without having the energy penalty of raised foundations. “Slab-on-grade” means the house rests on a concrete slab directly on the ground. The edges of the slab are thick to accommodate the weight of the walls and…
Biomass Biomass is a valuable resource in many parts of Alaska where firewood is rich and plentiful. For many, it’s a fuel you can harvest right from the backyard with nothing but a saw. Biomass is a key part of our energy strategy at the Cold Climate Housing Research Center as well. With the right…
Ground Source Heat Pumps Ground source heat pumps take heat from the ground and use electricity to “step up” the heat to a temperature that can be used for space heating. While they are most efficient in warmer ground, they are becoming more effective and more popular in cold climates like Interior Alaska. Significant amounts…
Heat Recovery Ventilators & Energy Recovery Ventilators Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) are becoming increasingly common in cold climate construction and are almost indispensable in today’s super-insulated, airtight homes. As older homes are getting retrofit and becoming tighter and more insulated, they are also facing indoor air quality issues. HRVs improve the IAQ of your home…
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…
