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Old 08-15-2006, 11:41 AM   #1
m750
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Default High efficiency eco friendly homes...

Does anyone have any expierence owning, or more specifically building a home like this? Basically I want my next home to be cheap to run, and good for the enviroment. Has anyone built one of these?
AO
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Old 08-15-2006, 12:04 PM   #2
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I haven't had experience owning or building an energy efficient home, but I am very interested in green building. Here are some good places to gather information - www.greenbuildermag.com and www.usgbc.org

Hope this helps.

-Matt
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Old 08-15-2006, 12:06 PM   #3
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lousy hippie!
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Old 08-15-2006, 12:06 PM   #4
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Look into a "Dome Home"

They seem to be really cool. If I build my next home, I'll definitely build one of these.
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Old 08-15-2006, 12:08 PM   #5
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I is no math student, but I created this formula:

Cheap to run + environment-friendly = very high initial build cost
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Old 08-15-2006, 12:13 PM   #6
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Find a "Green" Architect. That would be your best bet... and from what I have read, very high initial cost is NOT necissarily the case. Designing it right is one of the most important things to begin with... things like taking advantage of natural light and sun exposure can reduce your electrical costs dramatically.
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Old 08-15-2006, 12:15 PM   #7
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Some terms to search:

Passive solar.

Heat pump.

Pellet stove.

Off the grid.

Straw bale construction.
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Old 08-15-2006, 12:15 PM   #8
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Here you go, yah dirty hippy!

http://www.earthship.org/

Actaully, the one of best thing you can do right now is to add extra insulation and go for tripple pane windows to cut down on heating and cooling costs.

EDIT: more sites:
http://www.earthpower1.com/
http://www.earthships.com/
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Old 08-15-2006, 12:18 PM   #9
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SIP: structural insulated panel

all the rage!
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Old 08-15-2006, 12:19 PM   #10
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I just read an article on concrete homes, and how the cost is coming down to within 5% of a traditional stick-built house. They require relatively little engergy to heat and cool.
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Old 08-15-2006, 12:20 PM   #11
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The current issue of DWELL magazine http://www.dwell.com/now/currentissue has a cover story on green going mainstream. Which is good for you, my research indicates mentioning eco-friendly just doubles the price of everything.
Good luck and let us know when you get started.
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Old 08-15-2006, 12:20 PM   #12
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Old 08-15-2006, 12:21 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dr_wheel
I is no math student, but I created this formula:

Cheap to run + environment-friendly = very high initial build cost
I agree and disagree. If built properly, and insulated properly, and done with recycled / resued materials, after the inital investment, the ROI would be high. You'd save every sunny day, and every cold night. I'm also considering buying reclaimed building materials and fixtures.
AO
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Old 08-15-2006, 12:22 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazdaz
Find a "Green" Architect. That would be your best bet... and from what I have read, very high initial cost is NOT necissarily the case. Designing it right is one of the most important things to begin with... things like taking advantage of natural light and sun exposure can reduce your electrical costs dramatically.
+1
Use an Architect whatever you do! (I work for a Green Architecture firm, so i may have some bias ) But find a good one and you can't go wrong.

Also check out the magazine "Dwell".. one of the recent issues is on Green/sustainable architecture.
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Old 08-15-2006, 12:22 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazdaz
Find a "Green" Architect. That would be your best bet... and from what I have read, very high initial cost is NOT necissarily the case. Designing it right is one of the most important things to begin with... things like taking advantage of natural light and sun exposure can reduce your electrical costs dramatically.
This is exactly what I'm talking about. Also things like bamboo flooring, which is a more renewable resource than wood, and it's similarly priced.
AO
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Old 08-15-2006, 12:24 PM   #16
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Got modular? Ex-shipping box...?
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Old 08-15-2006, 12:26 PM   #17
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www.sgnb.com

a friend teaches these workshops...

clay, straw bale, plaster construction.
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Old 08-15-2006, 12:27 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m750
This is exactly what I'm talking about. Also things like bamboo flooring, which is a more renewable resource than wood, and it's similarly priced.
AO
Good point, and here's a shameless plug: http://www.alter-e.com/ (sustainable products/materials retailer)

Check out the products and read up on costs and benefits. The stuff is getting cheaper, but it may still be way out of most people's range. Bamboo Flooring as well as recycled and reclaimed wood are great ways to start.
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Old 08-15-2006, 01:22 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doubledribble
www.sgnb.com

a friend teaches these workshops...

clay, straw bale, plaster construction.
I'm leaning more toward stick built, but with the terms that the fuzz posted

Passive solar.

Heat pump.

Pellet stove.

Off the grid.

etc... Something that's still marketable to normal people, but built with solid energy conservation and green in mind.
Thanks for the links guys.
AO
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Old 08-15-2006, 01:32 PM   #20
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One of my professors was the designer of a big mansion out in BFE somewhere in montana, and the guy would have had trouble getting power hookups and whatnot, so the house has a bunch of foam panels and straw bales in the walls and stuff, as well as using passive solar heating, and solar panels. He has a windmill too, but he is completely off the grid, has a battery array to store power during low usage times etc.

Obviously this is an extreme case, but the dude has a mansion that powers itself.
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Old 08-15-2006, 01:34 PM   #21
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Are you looking at starting a business or selling these to other people? If so, look at utility credits, payback and tax deductions to improve affordability. I work in the construction engineering world, and environmentally friendly and low operating cost can often loose out too low initial cost, even when the payback is measure in months.
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Old 08-15-2006, 01:35 PM   #22
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would stick-built be more marketable than concrete? how so?
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Old 08-15-2006, 02:03 PM   #23
m750
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gil_ong
would stick-built be more marketable than concrete? how so?
The more traditional the home is, ie the more conforming it is, the more it's mass marketable. Take for example me, I'm not even remotely interested in a concrete house.
AO
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Old 08-15-2006, 02:05 PM   #24
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i see.

the only i've had with concrete houses is that it's a PITA to run wiring, hang pictures etc. but again, i grew up in one............
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Old 08-15-2006, 02:21 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m750
The more traditional the home is, ie the more conforming it is, the more it's mass marketable. Take for example me, I'm not even remotely interested in a concrete house.
AO

Depending on your definition, concrete really isn't an environmentally friendly material anyways. It's a VERY energy dense material (meaning it a lot of fuel goes into making and transporting concrete).
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