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1. Community Planning

Community Development and Design in the North

Evaluation of a Planned Community in Arctic Canada

Sustainable Residential Developments: Planning, Design and Construction (PDF 66KB) 

Three Studies on Municipal Infrastructure: Alternative Financing Methods (PDF 49KB) 

The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Producing Affordable Housing (PDF 145KB) 

Women on the Rough Edge: A Decade of Change for Long-Term Homeless (PDF 114KB) 

Municipal Planning for Affordable Housing (PDF 93KB) 

Guide to Affordable Housing Partnerships (PDF 119KB) 

Philanthropic Support for Affordable Housing (PDF 105KB) 

FlexHousing: Building Adaptable HousesStavanger accommodation (PDF 211KB) 

Implementing Sustainable Community Development: Charting a Federal Role (PDF 105KB) 

 

2. Services

Water Supply and Sewage Systems in the North

Assessment of the Takla Landing Contour Trench Wastewater Disposal System

Transportation in the North

Communications in the North

Projects in the North/ Water Conservation Case Studies Cape Dorset, Nunavut

Projects in the North/ Water Conservation Case Studies Yellowknife, NWT

 

3. Design

Space Requirements and Utilization in Northern Housing

Energy and Cost Considerations in the Design of Northern Housing

Designing Durable House Envelopes for the North

Earth-Sheltered Houses

Manufactured Housing in the North

 

4. Foundations

Permafrost and Foundation Types

A Three-Point Spaceframe Foundation for Houses in the North

Monocoque Structure for an Arctic House

 

5. Walls and Roofs

In-Situ Thermal Testing of Wall Sections in NWT

Residential Roofs in the North

Attics & Roofs For Northern Residential Construction

 

Attic Venting, Attic Moisture and Ice Dams
How do you deal with a leak in the ceiling? How should an attic be properly vented? How do you eliminate ice dams? This fact sheet will answer these and other attic related questions.
HTML | PDF (293KB)

 

Removing Ice from Roofs
ERROR MSGWhether you have a sloped or flat roof, learn techniques that will help you deal with extensive roof icing or ice dam problems.
HTML | PDF (113KB)

 

6. Windows and Doors

Problems with Windows and Doors in Northern Housing

New Window Technology for Northern Housing

 

7. Mechanical Systems

Ventilation and Air Tightness of Housing in the North

Hydronic Heating in the North

Forced Air Heating in the North

Domestic Hot Water Tanks as Space Heating Appliances

 

Maintaining Your Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV)
For a clean and healthy living environment, review the seven steps to maintaining the Heat Recovery Ventilator.
HTML | PDF (136KB)

 

Wood Heat Safety
Whether you often use a wood stove or fireplace, or are coping with an emergency loss of electricity, learn how to safely use wood to heat your home.
HTML | PDF (104KB)

 

The Importance of Bathroom and Kitchen Fans

Your Furnace Filter

Should You Get Your Heating Ducts Cleaned?

 

8. Case Studies

Design Assessment of Super-Insulated Houses in the Keewatin District of the Northwest Territories

Hay River Energy Efficient Housing Project

Evaluation of Homes Constructed Under the Homeownership Assistance Program

 

9. Construction Methods

Transportation and Logistics of Construction in the North

 

10. Indoor Air Quality and Moisture

Choosing a Dehumidifier
Air that is too damp can cause condensation on windows, water damage to materials, mold and even wood rot. Choose the right dehumidifier to regulate the humidity in your home.
HTML | PDF (178KB)

 

Carbon Monoxide
A list of questions and answers dealing with keeping Carbon Monoxide out of your home and to help you choose the right CO detector.
HTML | PDF (113KB)

 

Fighting Mold - The Homeowners Guide
Mold can cause allergies or respiratory disease. Learn how to identify and eliminate mold from your home.

 

Measuring Humidity in Your Home
Is there condensation on your windows? Are there wet stains on the walls or ceilings? Is there static or sparks whenever you touch something? Diagnose humidity problems in your house.
HTML | PDF (260KB)

 

Combustion Gases in Your Home
Do you have a gas or oil fired furnace, boiler or water heater? What about a woodstove or fireplace? Take the necessary steps to keep combustion gases out of your home.
HTML | PDF (320KB)

 

Asbestos
What is asbestos? Why is it so useful? What problems can asbestos cause and what options does the homeowner have in dealing with them?
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11. Renovating Existing Homes

Venecia HotelBefore You Start Your Renovation
This series will assist you in making informed decisions before you renovate. Each easy-to-read fact sheet helps you ask the key questions, reviews the available options and discusses the consequences if certain aspects of the renovation are overlooked.
Advance planning is the key to successful renovations. These fact sheets help you plan, assess and avoid suprises. Achieve the results you want by doing your renovation right the first time.

a) Assessing the Renovation Project
Before renovating, its important to assess your home's current condition to determine if there are significant problems that you must deal with before or during the renovation project.
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b) Renovating Your Basement - Structural Issues and Soil Conditions
Renovating a basement can add value and extra living space to a home. Fixing foundation problems before renovating is essential to preserve the durability and structure of the house.
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c) Renovating Your Basement - Moisture Problems
Is there condensation on the basement windows? Are there white chalky stains on the foundation? Do the carpets smell musty? Creating a clean, dry and healthy living space is a critical first step.
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d) Renovating Your Kitchen
The kitchen is often the most used room in the house and kitchen renovations typically have the highest financial payback. Conduct a pre-renovation inspection and prioritize the most desirable features for you new kitchen.
HTML | PDF (109KB)

 

e) Renovating Your Bathroom
Bathroom renovations offer the second highest financial payback rate and are one of the most common home improvement projects. Use this fact sheet to check for problems before you renovate.
HTML | PDF (111KB)

 

f) Window and Door Renovations
Do you want more natural light in your living area? Are you concerned about security? Before repairing or replacing windows and doors, consider all of the factos outlined in this fact sheet.
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g) Repairing or Replacing Roof Finishes
Regular maintenance and periodic roof inspections will identify problems before they cause costly damage to your home. Learn about the key factors that will determine whether you should repair or replace your roof.
HTML | PDF (114KB)

 

h) Repairing or Replacing Exterior Wall Materials
Exterior wall materials must prevent rain and snow from penetrating the building and causing moisture damage. Repairing or replacing exterior wall finishes will protect and preserve the durability and structure of the home.
HTML | PDF (85KB)

 

ERROR MSGi) Energy Efficient Upgrade - Mechanical Systems
Upgrading the heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) equipment is the best way to create a healthy, comfortable and less expensive home to operate. Before altering these, it is important to understand how the overall performance of the house will be affected.
HTML | PDF (125KB)

 

j) Energy Efficient Upgrade - The Building Envelope
The envelope, or outer layer, of your house separates living space from the outdoor elements. Improving it can result in a better insulated, more airtight home that is easier to heat.
HTML | PDF (93KB)

 

k) Assessing the Comfort and Safety of Mechanical Systems
The heating, ventilating and air condition (HVAC) systems are a vital part of your home. Ensure that your mechanical systems are operating safely and efficiently.
HTML | PDF (120KB)

 

l) A New Addition
Before building an addition, clearly identify the features you need and inspect the current structure and mechanical systems to be sure they can support the new addition.
HTML | PDF (127KB)