Real Estate

Zero-carbon, infinitely cool: This Alaskan home is an eco-dream

Imagine this: there’s a house in Fairbanks, Alaska, that in the dead of winter even at minus 30, is heated using only renewable energy. Nary a fossil fuel in sight!

This architectural marvel is the home of Bruno and Judith Grunau. Bruno is an engineer at the Cold Climate Housing Research Centre, an organization that promotes energy-efficient and affordable housing in the north, and Judith is an architect. The wooden-clad home gets its eco cred from a super-insulated exterior, underground seasonal heat storage and solar panels. Making this home even more swoon-worthy is its cool modern design, complete with a boxy, sleek shape that eschews the traditional cabin look.