Designs That Work
Very Cold Climate
Advanced Technologies for a Very Cold Climate
Base energy reductions strategies are for the most part easy to
incorporate into residential production building. The technologies are
very similar to many traditional construction practices, so training
construction crews to adopt slight variations to normal techniques, while
not always easy, is at least feasible. Usually a short learning curve is
required at the beginning, however, once the techniques are adopted,
savings can sometimes be made from less material handling and installation
time. These base techniques are also more easily justifiable from a cost
analysis point of view.
As we push for more and more energy efficient homes, the limits of some
of the base strategies begin to be stressed. Further increases in
insulation levels become less practical, achieving increased air tightness
becomes more difficult, and efficiencies of equipment begin to reach the
limit of current technology.
At this point, additional energy saving strategies should be examined.
Some of the more advanced strategies that are currently gaining in
popularity are the use of Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems, Solar
Hot Water Systems, and Photovoltaic Technologies.
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