I am replacing windows on my house and need advice

[Kaleva]

4. Depends on how much you are willing to spend

If money isn't a concern, triple pane would be the way to go. The extra cost won't be recovered by the savings in heating but people say they can tell the difference from standing inside near a triple pane window compared to a double pane window. An added measure of comfort but at a steep price.

As a general rule, the fewer the windows the better as no window can be as good as a solid wall in regards to insulation value.

Vinyl is cheaper but I've always heard that wood is better. Vinyl is also pretty much maintenance free unlike the wood framed windows which you will have to paint at some point.

Living where you do, you may want to consider adding good quality storm windows. Either exterior or interior.

Here's a link to a PDF file that gives information on windows for use in Alaska:

http://www.efficientwindows.org/factsheets/Alaska.pdf