[spokeshave]

In the Greek islands during the reign of the islamics and various pirates in the Mediterranean......villagers would construct their stone houses in the side of hills with hidden chimney to dissipate the smoke......

The solution today is to install another layer of thermal insulation around the house, and in the attic.....

I read of a guy in Wisconsin that built a house with 9 inch insulation and in winter the heat from the kitchen gas stove and the water heater was sufficient to keep the house warm.

[spokeshave]

Double stud walls......or add another stud layer to an existing building

[snowtigger]

I read of a guy in Wisconsin that built a house with 9 inch insulation and in winter the heat from the kitchen gas stove and the water heater was sufficient to keep the house warm.

That's pretty much standard in interior Alaska now. That gives an R-30 rating for insulating value. R-40 plus for ceilings.

My sister and her husband retired in northern Arkansas. They built like it was Alaska, and people thought they were nuts. Their summer AC bills sure are impressive, though.