Building with the North, Not Against It

Look, we've spent years figuring out how to make buildings that don't just survive the arctic — they thrive there while being kinder to the planet than your average southern glass tower.

Real sustainability up north isn't about following some checklist from warmer climates. It's about understanding what -40 degrees actually does to materials, how snow accumulation can become thermal insulation, and why passive solar gain matters way more when you've got four hours of winter daylight.

Sustainable Arctic Architecture

Our Impact in Numbers

These aren't theoretical projections — this is data from buildings we've actually completed and monitored over multiple heating seasons.

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%

Average heating energy reduction compared to standard code-minimum construction

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%

Heat retention during extreme cold events (-35°C and below)

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Projects

Buildings completed with Passive House or equivalent certification

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Tonnes CO2

Annual carbon emissions prevented across our portfolio

How We Actually Do This

There's a lot of greenwashing in architecture. We're gonna be straight with you about what works and what's just marketing fluff in cold climates.

Building Envelope

Super-Insulated Building Envelopes

We're talking R-60 walls and R-80+ roofs. Yeah, it sounds excessive until you've paid a January heating bill up north. Triple-pane windows are the minimum — usually we're spec'ing quadruple-pane with krypton fill.

The key though? It's not just about thickness. It's about eliminating thermal bridges, getting that air barrier absolutely perfect, and understanding how moisture moves through assemblies when there's a massive temperature differential.

Every thermal bridge we eliminate saves roughly 15-20% on that section's heat loss. The math adds up fast.

Mechanical Systems

Smart Mechanical Systems

Heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) aren't optional here — they're essential. We're regularly seeing 85-92% heat recovery efficiency, which means you're not throwing your heating dollars out the ventilation ducts.

Ground-source heat pumps work brilliantly even in permafrost regions if you design 'em right. We've had systems running efficiently at -45°C ambient because the ground temp stays relatively stable.

And yeah, we still incorporate backup systems. Nothing fancy, just reliable redundancy because when it's -40 outside, your heating system going down isn't an inconvenience — it's life-threatening.

Passive Solar Design

Passive Solar Gain (When It Shows Up)

Solar orientation matters even more when you've got limited daylight. South-facing glazing can contribute serious heat gains during shoulder seasons, and even in winter, every bit helps.

But here's the thing — you can't just copy passive solar strategies from temperate climates. The sun angle's different, the duration's different, and you're balancing heat gain against heat loss through that same glass.

We run detailed solar modeling for every project. Sometimes the answer is more south glazing, sometimes it's less. There's no one-size-fits-all template, which is why those cookie-cutter sustainable design guides drive us nuts.

Certifications & Standards

We've worked with pretty much every green building standard that's relevant to cold climates. Here's what we actually recommend.

Passive House / Passivhaus

The gold standard for energy efficiency. Super rigorous, but it actually works in the arctic if you adapt it properly. We've got certified consultants on staff.

Projects certified: 23 buildings

LEED for Homes / BD+C

Good framework, though some criteria need tweaking for extreme climates. We've navigated the certification process enough times to make it relatively painless.

Projects certified: 31 buildings (Gold to Platinum)

Arctic Energy Alliance Standards

Specifically designed for northern construction. Less widely known, but honestly more practical for remote arctic communities than some international standards.

Projects certified: 18 buildings

Net Zero Energy Ready

Getting to true net zero in the arctic is tough, but net zero ready? That's achievable. We're designing buildings that can reach net zero once renewable energy infrastructure catches up.

Projects designed: 14 buildings

ENERGY STAR Certification

More mainstream, but a solid baseline for energy performance. Good for clients who want recognized credentials without the complexity of Passive House.

Projects certified: 42 buildings

Living Building Challenge

The most ambitious standard out there. We've done it once in a subarctic location. It's brutally hard but incredibly rewarding when you pull it off.

Projects certified: 1 building (with 2 in progress)

Sustainable Materials

Material Selection That Makes Sense

Up north, "sustainable" materials need to actually survive the climate. Here's what we've learned works.

Locally Sourced Timber

When you can get it, local wood makes total sense. Lower embodied carbon from transport, supports local economy, and it's a material that's proven itself in northern climates for centuries. Plus it's actually workable in cold weather, unlike concrete.

High-Performance Insulation

We use a lot of mineral wool — non-combustible, doesn't lose R-value when it gets cold (unlike some foam products), and handles moisture pretty well. For foundations, closed-cell spray foam or high-density EPS. Cellulose for walls when conditions allow.

Recycled & Reclaimed Content

Steel with high recycled content, reclaimed timber for interior finishes, recycled glass in concrete mixes. But we're pragmatic — if shipping recycled materials from 3000km away negates the environmental benefit, we'll use virgin materials from closer sources.

Durable Exteriors

Metal cladding, fiber cement, or properly detailed wood siding with good paint systems. Sustainability means longevity — a building that needs replacing in 20 years isn't sustainable no matter what it's made of.

Environmental Impact Over Time

A typical project we design compared to standard construction over 25 years

Energy Consumption Comparison

Standard Building 100%
Frosthali Onquinth Design 32%

Based on monitored performance data from 2018-2023 heating seasons in Yukon region

Lifetime Operating Costs

Standard Building $287,000
Frosthali Onquinth Design $94,000

25-year heating costs for average 2000 sq ft residential building at current energy rates

Real Talk About Payback Periods

Yeah, our buildings cost more upfront — usually 8-15% more than standard construction. But here's the thing: in cold climates with high energy costs, you're typically looking at 7-12 year payback periods.

After that? Pure savings. Plus, you've got a more comfortable building, better air quality, and resilience against energy price spikes. We've got clients who built with us in 2012 and their heating bills are still a fraction of their neighbors'.

7-12
Years to Payback
Average for our projects

Let's Design Something That Lasts

Whether you're planning a single home or an entire northern community, we'd love to talk about what sustainable actually means in your specific climate and context.

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