Buying a home in Interior Alaska can be a formidable task. Building codes only pertain to homes inside city limit, many of which are older and may not meet current energy standards. Outside city limits, there is a huge variation in construction type, age, and quality. This article covers a few important things to consider…
What is the role of thermal mass in passive solar design? There are ways to take advantage of long hot days and cut your heating bill, even without buying solar panels. Many homes in Alaska use passive solar design to provide heat during parts of the year. Passive solar design combines specific building features with…
The Foundation This is your best chance ever to get it right, so know your soils and build accordingly. Good site drainage and foundation waterproofing are crucial here. Ground moisture can be an ongoing problem if it isn’t dealt with initially and is extremely expensive to fix later. This should include a hard look at…
