Should I consider replacing my heating system? If you’re thinking about replacing your heating system, here are some questions to ask yourself. A “yes” to any of them may warrant a call to an energy rater or heating contractor. Have you recently upgraded the thermal...
I’ve heard stack effect can cause problems with indoor air quality. How is this possible? Stack effect (also called chimney effect) describes the way air flows through a building based on indoor and outdoor temperatures. It starts with the fact that warm air rises...
How do solar panels work in Alaska? As solar grows across Alaska, there are two different types of panels you may be seeing: solar photovoltaic (or PV), which generate electricity, and solar thermal, which generate heat. While they both turn sunlight into energy for...
I’ve heard a lot about radiant heat floors, but how do radiant heat walls and ceilings work? Radiant heat floors, or “hydronic radiant floors,” have been popular for most of the 21st century as a very energy efficient way to heat a home. Radiant heat creates a more...
Pellet stoves Pellet stoves offer another way to burn wood cleanly. While they’re similar in concept to wood stoves, they are automated and burn processed biomass, or “pellets.” Pellets are manufactured from compacted sawdust, wood chips, agricultural crop waste,...
