Just like you plug the bathtub drain before adding more water, reducing energy demand should be the starting point for any sustainability project. CCHRC prototype homes have slashed energy demand by more than 80%, saving homeowners thousands of dollars a year and approaching affordable net-zero energy construction in the world’s harshest climate. Single-family homes in the arctic; university housing in Fairbanks; teacher housing in the Yukon: in 2012, low- energy homes across the state demonstrated the far- reaching benefits of energy efficiency to communities. Each new project helps advance our understanding of building and mechanical systems and drive down construction and operating costs. The 1,400-squarefoot homes at the UAF Sustainable Village are on track to use less than 200 gallons of heating oil a year thanks to super-insulated envelopes and a combination of solar thermal, biomass, and efficient heat distribution. The research center also partners with industry innovators, recently completing a report on the energy and moisture performance of the Arctic Wall used by some Alaska builders, coming soon to our online Publications catalog. CCHRC advances techniques along with builders, innovators, students, and Alaskans across the state.