will you not be interested in desert living and the drylands competition mentioned on here? I realise insulation is the other way around, you want to keep heat in but, like everyone, you want cheap power. Surely there are many correlations. You may, however, want to think about reducing snow to water before the spring melt and, in a virgin area, saving and recycling water for there and elsewhere that may have a shortage as a cash crop. Potable water for cities is not all there is though, any conurbation needs food, preferably locally sourced and that needs water too.