I was raised in Alaska and I've built a couple of my own homes here. The Idea being to retain the heat, 5* balloon and all that.
I would think keeping the heat OUT would be on the same line ???????
But, where should the vapor barrier be?
I bought the house next door to my wife's home.
Had it taken down and rebuilt the compound walls. Boy was it an effort to get the walls done the way I wanted.
2 & 1/2 inch briks are all I could find so I had my builder use two bricks about 4" apart and filled in-inbetween them with concrete and lots of iron. 3 meters high out of the ground and 1 meter down with pull backs because I wanted to raise the lot level. Figure they will stand 20 - 30 years.
Back filled about 1&1/2 meter of dirt to bring the lot above the annual flood line.
So there it sits and I'm thinking about what to do now.
Flash in the pan = Monolithic footer and slab with 2" high density foam form. I figure a 18" x 18" footer and an 3" floor (Lots of wire in the thing).
I also want to install PEX tubing in the slab for in floor cooling. I figure to have a well or two sunk in the back corners of the lot so I can do a standing open loop from each. The water 50' down was measured by a friend of mine in his well, it was 50oF. I believe "that" in itself would go along way to cool a home.
As I understand it (Ohy) One drills a deep well (Say 100' or 30Meter) and run the suction pipe to the bottom (or almost) and a return line to just below the standing water level with the pump running. The warmer return water is then cooled on its way back to the bottom to be pumped again.
I would think that after initial charging a circulation pump would be all thats needed??????? (Just got to keep that syphon)
I figure that lightweight white brick for the walls with the sheetrock that has a foam backing for the interior walls and ceiling.
Roof with double wall, vented between.
80oF would be fine. It's the 120oF days I can't take and when I've been there (other then Nov Dec Jan and Feb) thats what it was most days. Almost always at 100.
After noon about all I can do is sit in front or the fan till the sun goes down. Tnks for cold beer. I'm taking a mister system for my wife's patio with me this next time. My wife and daughter and her friend have had Air installed for half the living room. Now thats sweet aint it?
I digress!
****If it turns out to be not enough, the setup would be there to add a Heet-pump and maybe a dehumidifier into the system.
What do you all think?????
Questions;
1 Can I access high density foam boards (for under the concrete) around UBON and what do you think a 4'x8'x2" sheet (or their a bouts) would cost?
----Is it worth breaking ground contact or would I be loosing in this respect?
2 How about availability of PEX Supplies?
3 How about that fancy brick? And that brings to mind a double wall concept, insul brick on the outside and regular on the in side?
----With or without an air gap? Air? or would it be better to have that gap filled with foam?
----That would add allot to the cost - would it be worth it?
Any help the Group can give me would be greatly appreciated - Ill share what I do.
Hoping I have to wear slippers.
Alaska Skip
