Dive Brief:
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The housing authority in Barrow, AK, is building super-insulated homes in an effort to prevent plumbing from freezing up—a common problem when the region’s temperatures turn frigid.
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The Tagiugmiullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority has finished seven of 24 highly energy-efficient homes it plans to build on the North Slope. The first, built in 2010, maintained an indoor temperature of 65 degrees while its residents were gone for a week, even though the outdoor air was 30 below zero.
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Although most homes in the region last for only about 20 years in the region’s rough weather, these structures have an expected lifespan of 40 years.
Dive Insight:
The housing authority has worked for years to improve the energy efficiency of the region’s homes in an effort to stop pipes from freezing and leaving plumbing inoperable. In the process, it has designed dwellings that use about 85% less heating oil each year, rendering the homes far more affordable to operate.