Prefab Green Home: 1st Energy Audit Of The SIPs House Kit!

This is the FIRST of two energy audits.

Energy Audit #1, today's energy audit of the prefab modern house, is as we're at the "This is the modern house kit + cladding + the homeowner sealing around the windows stage", the second will be once we're "done, finished, kaput, as in done, done, done, done, don't ever want to think about anything construction related for at least another week DONE."


Our mission is to create tight, energy efficient, gorgeous passive solar house kits.  I admire rated, certified, even more stringent approaches, like Passive House standards, maybe we'll do this in the future, but we achieve what we want in an energy efficient home while incorporating great modern design on an average, reasonable budget.

Some highly energy efficient homes incorporate two door chambers to prevent temperature loss.
I picture the way I live, and it is just too chaotic and messy to make such an entrance successful.  Can you imagine a couple struggling with the stroller, dogs still on the leash, juggling a bag of groceries and a baby on one hip, getting the key in the door lock then screaming to the spouse...
"Quick honey, seal the chamber, we're losing LEED points!"
Obviously if you live in a severe climate, it makes sense. But we're in Normal Rest-o'-Tha-World here.

We're a muddy, raggedy bunch here... why do ya think we're bandits?
You can increase the thickness of the house kit panels, choose even more efficient doors and windows (our casa ti prefab green home is spec'd for Jeld-Wen and our, SIPs house kit with two stories, The R1 Residential, is spec'd for Marvin Integrity), seal it up even tighter... but my focus is on affordable energy efficiency in our prefab green homes, so we chose great solutions that fit within a moderate budget.

The average quote for the casa ti windows is currently about $9,000-$10,500. If you would like to spend more on windows to make 'em nano-crazy-efficient, go for it, we can adjust the shop drawings. But expect the added cost.

We hired energy rater Guy DuBois, of No Energy Loss, to come out and inspect the modern prefab house kit. 
These are the notes I jotted down during his cell phone call to me en route from the land. Mr. DuBois will guest blog later this week with more real data, but here are his initial verbal impressions of the still-under-construction, still-not-completely-sealed house kit:

"Well, we certainly smoked up your house quite a bit, there was nowhere for it to go!"

(Copeland's note: Ummmm, I assume he means it was some kind of smoke air test thingy? I hope he didn't mean he smoked in mah house?!?)

Ok, on to Mr. DuBois:

"Those windows - they are worth the money, they were very well sealed."

Copeland's note: Handsome Husband also sealed around the frames... OK FINE I will just stop commenting and just TYPE what he said!

"Your husband did a good job of sealing around the windows... there are two areas he also could look at if he wanted to seal further- along the south eave and that back door threshold.

It is surprisingly tight. I don't know why I say surprising, but I guess I didn't expect it to be so tight, even though I should have."

[Copeland's note: Um, yeah, thanks Mr. DuBois... ; ) OK, OK I'll stop commenting!]

"I'll go back at completion and run more tests.  This was a good time to go out there because if there were problems you could address them before everything was closed up.

As you know, it's so tight you really must have mechanical ventilation, which you will be installing (HRV), which is critical in these energy efficient homes. Most homes, most traditionally-built homes, leak willy-nilly so you don't ever have to worry about air quality, but in energy efficient homes like these they're so air-tight that air-exchange is imperative.

I saw very little air leakage... there is some thermal bridging you can address if you want but you certainly won't have a problem heating and maintaining good energy efficiency, that's for sure. How does it compare to a "normal" house? Superior!"

To continue to seal even further, concentrate on the areas where there is lumber vs. SIP (structural insulated panels)- the doorway header, add insulation around wooden framing, and if you're in really severe climates, you could add an exterior seal.

Mr. DuBois makes a good point:

"But you have to consider the climate- maybe if you're in Alaska or really south Florida you would want to consider that, but... we're in Virginia, how much gain will you really get by doing all that?!? You already know that with your off grid systems, comfort will never be an issue.

I will be punching in everything I did today and coming back with some data next week... you're not trying to get this house certified, so this is just more FYI info, but it will be cool to compare today with when you're done at the end of the project."

He also said that the amount of leakage currently (we're still not done sealing) in the prefab SIPs passive solar home is equivalent to about 6 x 6 inches, smaller than a basketball. Handsome Husband is chasing that number, with sealant in hand.


Later, Handsome Husband arrived home, and I had all these pictures and video to look at... and share with you now.

HOUSE KIT ENERGY AUDIT VIDEOS:
Mr. DuBois sets up...

SIPs House Kit Energy Audit #1 of 2

They start do to the smoke test and pressurize the modern house kit. SUDDENLY, a clerestory window pops wide open!  It had looked closed, but hadn't been closed totally, which certainly that had also contributed to our loss of temperature this winter at night!  It is securely locked now... : )

Smoke And Open Windows In The Affordable Prefab SIPs House

So, they pressurize again...

Energy-Audit-#1 of 2 In The Affordable Prefab Green Home

And then....they freakin' fill mah house up with SMOKE!
Note the comment about the south edge- later they discovered that when the door was installed they didn't put any sealant under that south door.  You as a home owner can seal that more if you live in a severe climate area. I knew the windows worked really well for our budget, but am pleased with how impressed he is! : )

Energy Audit 1 of 2: Smoke And Windows

Here Handsome Husband decides he's going to track down that durned elusive number.


Energy Audit 1 of 2: Husband Wants Passive Perfect

Then they go tramp around outside looking for leaks.
If there were gaps, you'd see the smoke drifting out.

Energy Audit #1 of 2 of the Prefab Net Zero Energy Green House

Check out what it looks like when they crack the door (and how hard it was to open because of the pressurization - because the house kit was so tight!).

Energy-Audit-Of-Green-House-Kit

...And then they start calculating...
Which Mr. DuBois will go into more in his guest post soon.

Energy-Audit-01-16-2010-36 from Copeland Casati on Vimeo.

And thaz it, the latest from our passive solar green home!

Here is Handsome Husband's summary:

"This wraps up the initial test of the house kit. We now know what simple steps we have left to optimize the envelope of the SIPs house, and we look forward to the final testing after construction is (finally) completed. The general goal and idea of the casa ti has passed Mr. DuBois's testing with flying colors, as we already suspected in the prefab house kit's performance over the last few weekends where the design and structure were able to give us relative comfort in a hostile climate.

The great thing about the delays in this project is that we're able to thoroughly test the house kit without further improvements, this allows us to confirm the performance a passive solar house kit built with SIPs."

 

Prefab Green Home Takes On The Wind Chill. And The Passive Solar Net Zero Prefab Fabulously Triumphs.

Wind chill of 14? Actually, I was corrected: The wind chill was FOUR. 
It's a windy day at the prefab green home.

As long term readers might notice, during extreme weather our favorite game in the net zero modern prefab (still with no heating / power systems installed) is to compare the outdoor temperature with the indoor temperature.

We have no heat. We have no electricity.
But we certainly have fun measuring the effectiveness of the structural insulated panels + passive solar design in the prefab house kit on a dinky (one arrow missing that's supposed to indicate humidity) thermometer.

A Lovely Lady From Leeds : )  asked,

Mel, I don't know. We certainly can (and should) have someone measure it, but because it is our private home despite my being the founder, well, I previously thought, "Eh. It's more fun doing the dial-y thermometer thang."

Your interest has prompted me to take it more seriously and add it to the "to do's."

[I have a similar attitude towards LEED accreditation. Don't kill me! (The firms are all LEED accredited; I just don't see the benefit for the consumer to certify a house they don't intend to sell, and am approaching this house as an "average" consumer of my own house kit. ]


This is all stuff we as professionals know, documented by passive haus, passive houses, SIPs manufacturers, etc., but when I (even though we intelligently know it) put it into practice by turning a thermometer into a family game... oh, it's so much more fun. : )

In summer, we marveled at 100° harsh heat in the fields, yet inside the off grid prefab green home, it was a comfortable 85°, and the cross breezes from the open windows made it even more pleasant.  Now we test the prefab house kit in icy, bitter temps with a few intermittent days of overcast skies.


Handsome Husband reports: "Windchill is 4°.  Last night it went down to 18°, today's highs will be 27°.  Yet the prefab green house kit is 45° on arrival."

Yes, that's cold.
But it has been overcast for days in temperatures in the teens and twenties. This proves that despite daily temperatures being such, the interior of the prefab green home will not freeze.  This is great news.


After spending a day researching modern supercoolio wood stoves after discovering the promised family wood stove was mine no longer, I admit defeat: Why would I spend $1,500-$3,500 on a modern, cool  wood stove we will use so little in the energy efficient, passive solar SIPs house?

Yet the wood stove is comforting as back up once our solar systems are installed, there to dry wet mittens and sopping snow clothes and to cook on if need be.

It's 11:00. Handsome Husband calls to say the prefab house is already 49-50° from him just moving around. Imagine how fast a big wood stove would heat that efficient, insulated space...and then overheat. If it's easily 50s inside when the temperature outside will not rise above freezing today, our original concern is correct - we would easily overheat the house with a big stove.

I researched battery-powered heaters, but they were either too small or not exactly safe for indoor use. [Understaaaaaatement!]


So... we bought a wood stove.
It's ugly. It's not a nostalgic family hand-me-down.

It's definitely not modern. 
Handsome Husband is consoling me with, "Well, you could kinda cook on it..."
*sob*

After spending the past 24 hours frantically researching what new products have come on the market since I last looked (a lot of nice modern wood stoves now), in the end I said, "Fine, solve the issue NOW, let's pay someone to install this NOW, so we can freaking enjoy our prefab modern house kit NOW."

Each dollar we spend on something unexpected (like the unexpected cost of a $1,000+ wood stove) is a dollar that should be going to off grid solar systems and hiring local labor to install them.

We will now bemusedly note how many years the original, "free" wood stove given to me will sit in my parent's basement until Mr. Wil "I Will Sue You For Everything You Own" Sakowski claims it... IF he ever does.


[Readers: Please bear with me in these last two posts as bitterness tinged these references... My life, and my dear, lifelong friends are an entirely happy different story. It's all good. : ) Besides, being a bandit is much more rewarding and adventurous. ]

Handsome Husband calls:
"I'm leaving! And in the prefab house kit it's 54 degrees." (3:40 p.m.)
Me: "What'd you do?"
[Understaaaaatement!]

He...

• Met with the roofers
  
• Unloaded the modern bed and put it together
• Installed the Danish mid-century daybed
  
• Drove to Appomattox and bought a wood stove
• Examined the scouting camera (Awwww, Bambi!)
• Sorted some of the VMI basketball wood
  

Y'know. That's all... ; )
Stay tuned...
The next post is where I rearrange all the furniture.

 

Prefab Modern Net Zero House Kit: The Temperature Drops

I just love this time of year here. During the drive to the modern passive solar prefab house kit, I look at each repeated scene, field, and farm we pass, over and over through the seasons and years, and I never tire of it, never fail to be amazed again and again by each moment of beauty.

In the pinks and golds of dusk, you really understand O Purple Mountain Majesty / Above The Fields Of Grain...

Ok so maybe I mangled our national anthem a bit, but that's what I see: the brown tinge of autumn, bales of hay still in some fields, the silvery wood of old barns in the slanted winter light... and in the distance, the blue ridge mountains, and they ARE purple.

Being here now means the temperature drops to 30, so we dragged in a propane heater from the shed to help the passive solar prefab during these bitter black nights. And yet, arriving as the last light waned, we found the prefab to be a comfortable 61 before we added the heat!

Oh the stars... the winter stars, so clear and gorgeous no pictures can show you so I don't even try.
When we awoke, the soil was ice.
Inside, it was 57/58. We fired up the heater and quickly it rose to 64.

Thanks to our solar cooker, I served a hot meal to friends without having to stand over a stove.

(Check it out! Passive solar house + passive solar cookin' = I can have more fun!)

It was a good thing we packed a lot of food (we served butternut squash soup made by Handsome Husband, a casserole I made the night before, and homemade bread/butter), because Mrs. Esh had her store closed, which led to lunchtime speculation over a possible Amish wedding this weekend... : ) (November is when Amish wedding season begins.)

Living like this makes you appreciate systems so much, but I admit I savor the edge it brings, just as I remember what it was like to camp here in our 1960s teardrop camper just a year ago.

Speaking of systems, Handsome Husband will guest blog for you technical people this week on Everything You Wondered About The Systems And How The Heck They Are Fitting In The Net Zero Off Grid Prefab. As for myself, I am off to take my first shower in three days.
Yes, I want my net zero prefab systems too. : )

 

Net Zero Prefab House Kit Open House! 1st Open House Of Our Modern Energy Efficient Home

(David Day, green building LEED AP architect,
in his prefab net zero passive solar casa ti.)

Did I mention it rained?

I will NEVER complain about rain.
But it's admittedly inconvenient for a Prefab Modern House Kit Open House.

We awoke, it was drizzling.
We arrived at the prefab house, it was raining.
The sun never emerged.
Actually, it's still raining, heavily. I think I just saw the Porta Potty float by, waving and gallantly saluting farewell like a Captain downed with the SIP, er, ship.

We were soaking wet at the prefab open house.

"Well," I looked on the bright side, "at least we'll be able to hang out and spend some quiet time together!"
The green building architect of our net zero off grid prefab, David Day, smiled, agreed.
Ron, Our Fabulous Contractor, stormed in, stomped the mud off his feet and stated with a scowl, "Rain."

I was sad because I really wanted for people to make "a weekend" of it- to enjoy the beautiful sights, the camaraderie of our friends, the bike ride past historic farms...

I knew other children and dogs would visit- and imagined the chases that would ensue!
I envisioned us walking the fields, wearing everyone out on a hike on the property, people relaxing in fold out chairs near the south tree line and contemplating the modern house kit for their own purposes...

I didn't want people to travel and not get to know all the kind people and wonderful, historic, fun things to do in our area. I mean, who are we kidding? - We have history throughout, and, heck: A WINERY minutes away!

But... it rained in buckets.
Oh well, people would just come to the next Prefab Open House and then really enjoy it in the spring, I could show them around...

Or so I thought.

It was 1:02.
"Well, we haven't seen you in *forever*," I started, turning to David, "we can at least have a nice, quiet day hanging out together!"
As the words came out of my mouth, a pair of headlights turned onto the field.
"Ohhhhhhh my gosh. "
As soon as I said that, the second set of lights rounded the bend.
And right behind them... it was a line! And one after another, they parked!

I just can't even start to talk about the day after that.
I hope that those whom attended will share their pictures, video, thoughts here.
(Yes, I lost my camera the night before at Richmond's InLight...)

I want those that came to know... thank you all so much for coming.
Just as you say you read MY voice, I have enjoyed following your own stories through email and our exchanges via the internet.

A lot of beautiful, honest, open faces.
Farmers, families, designers, international colleagues traveled SO far, and... we had rain.
Oh, not just rain: A MONSOON.

But on the SUNNY SIDE...


Heck yeah, we crammed people in, unstacked chairs (isn't that what we bought 'em for?) and it was still airy!

And, on a rainy, no sun at all, Almost October chilly day... inside in the prefab, thanks to the SIPs, it was HOT!

Speaking of outside in the rain... people were walking around in that muck taking gray wet pictures of the prefab house kit in the RAIN!
"No, don't worry, sweetie! I already took & blogged those pictures on a nice day! Don't get cold!!!!! I don't want you to get sick! Dontcha want to come in?"
Inside? 75 to 72-ish degrees.

I asked, "Now that y'all have noticed the difference of passive solar energy efficiency WITHOUT systems in the prefab, do ya mind if I crack a window now?"
They voted, "Aye!"

And talk about putting Small Footprint to the test - after seeing about forty people in that front room, I now know what Thanksgiving will be like with a bunch o' friends & family!!!

I enjoyed so much putting the emails to the faces. I want y'all to know I wanted this to be more than a Prefab House Kit Open House.

Thank you all for coming from far-flung states and cities.
It was a pleasure to meet you all, thank you for bringing all your fun moments I will always remember: a gifted child playing music, all of your kind eyes, a pair of basketball and bow enthusiasts (to whom I proudly showed the VMI basketball court and my Fred Bear recurve), European and Africa connections, sweet dogs I *wished* could have raced about and played across the field with our own dogs, all of your great questions...

I felt like we were wearing you out when we spoke but then the attendees had one question after another- well researched, it was a dialogue, not a lecture, which is what I had hoped.

Thank you all so much for driving so far on a miserable day to visit us in the prefab house kit.

--Copeland Casati

P.s. Sharing comments from visitors:
(I will be adding comments, photos, etc. as they send them in here.)

"It was a pleasure to meet you and your family, Mary Beth and I enjoyed another adventure...the weather didn't bother us but I wish it could of rained the day before or after for your sake....I loved the house, before seeing it in person I always felt it wouldn't have enough light for me but on the contrary I felt very good in it, very comfy.....it seemed solid and tight.....it will be a couple of years before I build, I have 2 lots connected to the lot I live on in an 1861 money pit I will be following your blog I'm definitely interested in all aspects of the project, edible landscaping is important and I see your doing that, very smart and innovative team.....thanks for your warm hospitality.....
--Elaine"

"Copeland,

Thank you for opening up your house (future home) to us strangers. We really enjoyed the visit even with all the rain. Seeing the house in real life is quite different than following your blog.

We really enjoyed our visit and look forward to the read your progress on your blog. I did notice on the landscaping design that you are building a root cellar. I was wondering if you had any more information on it that you can share with us.

Again thanks for opening your house to us.

James and Robin

Baltimore, MD "

*Thanks to George Geier, who shared his pictures with me so this blog looks nice!*

 

Modern Prefab Update:

It is morning in the net zero prefab house kit.
I am blearily sipping coffee, and the 5 year old just walked up and said,
"Momma? This feels like home."

Last night both children woke up separately, and with them, individually, we finally watched the stars and listened to the coyotes howl together.

It has become habit here for the 5 year old to awake waaaaay after the animals have melted into dawn and sit with me, along the south windows overlooking the trail, loudly chattering while seeking wildlife.

So for her to finally join me before dawn, in the dark, and quietly listen to all the night sounds as I always do, alone, was... so nice to share it with them, for I have been listening for years by myself while the family slumbered... You should have seen her bright eyes and smile: she heard the coyotes, an occasional cow, and many birds of the night.

She even saw her first shooting star. : )



Sooooooooooo... Let's talk about the bedrooms.
We have neglected that middle bedroom while camping in the prefab.

We have two queen sized air mattresses on which we've been staying while camping in the house kit.
We put one in the west bedroom, and one in the east, which is supposed to be our room. Through this sleeping arrangement over the past months, I am now rethinking it- the west bedroom, intended to be the 6 year old's, might actually work better for the adults- we are tending to sit at the dining table at night, so I imagine that might be the "late night talking area" vs. the other side of the common room, and the east bedroom is closer to the bathroom so it might be better for the 6 year old when he has little friends stay the night.

So as we re-think the purpose of the east & west bedrooms, I suggested,
"Why don't y'all sleep in the five year old's middle room tonight, and we'll try out the west bedroom?"

It didn't work out that way.
Somehow a child fell asleep on EACH bed, so the boys were in the west room and the girls in the middle bedroom.

And let me tell you... that middle, overlooked bedroom is FABULOUS.
It is PERFECT for a little wildlife watcher!

When she awoke, instead of leaving the warm bed for the rocking chair along the south windows to seek animals, we just turned over under the covers and looked out that long, vertical window where we had a clear view of the field. I am certain she will see many things over the years from that lovely view.

Because the house kit is made of SIPs (structural insulated panels), the inside sounds tend to... stay inside.

The dogs were being loud- the mastiff-mix happily-with-tail-wagging-and-heavy-breathing his acknowledgment of our nighttime alertness, the other shaking his tail happily and jingling his tags as he greeted us, and Handsome Husband... well...
Handsome Husband was snoring.

So, from the comfort of our bed, I reached out and opened that vertical window, and suddenly the night sounds filtered in.

Similarly, those high windows in each bedroom ROCK. During the day, they allow light in while providing privacy. At night, I tell the children to lie down, heads on pillows, and look up: they are perfectly placed to view the stars!

Although progress has been maddeningly slow (no one's fault but our own), it has really given me time to evaluate how we are *really* using the space, vs. as I had envisioned we would.

Imagine if I wanted to switch rooms after decorating one room very mod and adult, the other decorated for a little boy! So by camping in and using the space thus, I can make sure everything is finished where it is appropriate for YEARS of use and enjoyment.

Now I am off to sweep (again, thank you, myself-in-another-dimension for NOT choosing bamboo and embracing the easy-to-clean concrete with fly ash! My other-self-NOT-in-another-dimension would have LOST IT when the 6yr old decided to give the dogs "dirt baths" whom, after I finished sweeping, came in to flop...and it was awhile before I noticed the piles of dirt here, piles of dirt there... "What the heck?!?" then he 'fessed up...) and organize as Ron will build bathroom walls this week, just in time, for... well, one of my best friends is supposed to visit next week from NEW YAWK CIT-AY and I am taking her camping in the prefab house kit.

Handsome Husband is busy recycling leftover wood from framing to make stairs, and the 6year old has proudly added a um, nice doormat he snatched from the waters of the Bay while sailing last weekend and thinks it's perfect to reuse here.
I support his enthusiasm to reuse! But... um, it's not quite mod.
But, hey, it's reuse, so I applaud.

(So if you come to the Prefab Open House September 26th and notice a faded doormat that's all frilly / West End housewife-y, that's the story behind it. Please tell the 6year old you think it's a *lovely* addition to the decor.)

 

Net Zero Passive Solar Prefab House Kit Update

I wish I could talk more... but I can't. I am on serious deadlines this week. Instead, I share more photos of the net zero prefab house kit, and some small, treasured moments from the weekend:

(Make sure to read the comments on the prefab photo slide show, that's where I posted more information. )

...Looking at lizards sunning themselves on the prefab:
Ron, Fabulous Best Contractor Ever:
"Oh, those are The Average Lizards. All the good ones now work for Geico."

Being invited to a church pot-luck in a community of 199, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by bicentennial farms, and, in the midst of the service, they focused on Heifer International, a VERY worthwhile organization (read their history and mission), their work not only with nations abroad but this sermon focused on...
URBAN COMMUNITY GARDENING AND SUSTAINABILITY (those of you that know me in real life will start laughing) and, in the midst of a 101 year old church in the middle o' nowhere, the video playing, WHO SHOULD POP UP but Erika's DAD, Urban Empowerment And Sustainability Expert Extraordinaire, Will Allen of Growing Power, in their fantastic video! That was pretty amazing. But then again, they're all amazing people.

It underscores how connected and understanding of the bigger picture the people in smaller, tightly-knit communities are... but then again, don't we all form our own communities and towns where ever we are, even on the 'net?



And, Dear Reader, Amuse Yourself With My Excerpt From A Letter to Our Fab Prefab Open House Visitors: : )
(Pssst: please let me know if you want to come visit the net zero prefab modern house Sept. 26th, just email c-o-p-e-l-a-n-d (remove the hyphens) (then add an at- @) GreenModernKits.com)


**AND SEE ALL THE PREFAB PASSIVE SOLAR OPEN HOUSE INFO HERE!**

"Hello, Prefab Passive House Kit Visitors!!!!

We are so excited to have you visit on September 26th!!!!!

David Day, the casa ti prefab green building architect, will be on site Saturday, September 26th from 1-3, as well as The Most Fabulous Contractor Ever, Ron Bernaldo, to answer your questions. There will also be a green sustainable landscape architect, and hopefully some systems and factory representatives present to give you more information if you like.

As you know, we have some great events going on that weekend – a bicycle ride, a winery and farm open (on Sunday, if you stay in nearby accommodations), and more – you can learn more about the area (including accommodation information) and what is going on here:
http://www.greenmodernkits.com/2009/08/prefab-net-zero-passive-solar-open.html

Now, to remind you, a few house keeping items:

1. Please remember the interior of the house is still under construction. Interior framing is complete, so you can envision the space of the rooms, but we currently have no interior walls or systems in place.

2. This also means our bathroom is not complete.
We currently use a shovel. So make sure to stop at Farmville or a nearby town before journeying that last leg! (I will try to find a porta-potty to rent, but please do remember this is rural Virginia… I don’t know if I can even rent one!) (Later Note: I was able to rent one! Do not fear the shovel.)

3. We have children and dogs. Please tell me if they make you nervous and I will chain them all to a tree.

4. Because I have young children and dogs, no matter how many times I sweep and mop the interior I guarantee there will be muddy paws and footprints and hair for you to notice. Please tell me this bothers you so I can have an excuse to chain ‘em to a tree for even longer.

5. This is real nature. So please take all food items and trash with you so that the bears, bobcats and coyotes don’t eat us.

6. Speaking of… we also have copperheads (do not run through brush! Watch and scan where you walk!), black widows (don’t grab armfuls of wood without looking carefully!), an ancient barn that will fall on your head and most certainly kill you if you get near it, poison ivy (look for “Leaves of three! Let them be!”)… Did I miss anything? Hmmm… I’m sure something out there has rabies and will certainly jump you with my luck. Are you sure you still want to come?

7. Oh yes, The Big Buck. If you see him give yerself a high-five because that is like spying a unicorn in the mist.

8. Please keep a close eye on your children! For all the reasons aforementioned, (did I mention we have coyotes the size o’ shepherds?) as well as the many pointy, dangerous objects I haven’t yet thought to even think about yet.

9. By clicking on the link below to get instructions to the land you understand that this is real nature and will not hold me liable for your poison ivy, etc.

10. Oh, an astute reader just pointed out I forgot to mention you can also fall down a groundhog hole running in the field and break your leg (Thanks! Guess the Visitor Tag-Football Game is off!).

11. I will have some snacks and punch but will be cooking nibbles without a stove… NEXT YEAR I will impress you with my deft culinary skills."

(And yet they're still coming? A lot of them? Someone had better bring a guitar...! Hint hint...)

: )

I am very much looking forward to meeting the nice people who are traveling near and far to visit us.

 

Prefab House Interior Framing Complete, We Turn To Systems

We spent a lovely few days in the prefab house kit... the interior framing is done, and now I need to turn Handsome Husband over to guest blog, because I have zero interest in procedures of interior construction, I just want to move in.

The off grid prefab catches the breeze. We never would have camped here in the summer, but now, with shelter, we are comfortable even on hot Virginia days. That is not to say we're anything close to air conditioning; but remember, I always set the air conditioning to 82 degrees in our existing house regardless; each time I checked the temperatures in the prefab house kit it hovered between 75-80 degrees in the afternoon. And the breeze... we picked a great spot for the house kit- it sits on a high area, the wind sweeps up the road, funneled by the trees, right to the house kit, and sways gently through it.



I encourage you to go through our prefab house kit exploits in the photos above, the pictures have a lot of comments on them; I am a little tired from the weekend to write much more!
: )

Some of my favorite moments included visiting Mrs. Esh at her Amish store and running into our friend George there, wandering off to pick wildflowers, then returning to the prefab house to find Ron & Judy sitting at our picnic table... they had taken some time off from their weekend to stop by and it was great to see them.

If you recall, in order to finish the off grid prefab house kit we needed to get the framing done, then give Ron a systems list so that he can get quotes from the plumber and electrician, at which point we apply for a loan to finish off the remainder of the house.

Well, last night Handsome Husband finally sent Ron the systems list for the off grid, zero energy house:

Here is the list of systems we would like installed in the off grid modern house.

The casa ti shell you have erected for us provides a passive solar design with a highly-insulated building envelope.

We chose a concrete slab as the foundation to provide a thermal mass to store heat both from the solar radiation and hydronic heat delivered via solar hot water collectors.

In addition we want to power the systems and our extremely basic power needs exclusively via a photovoltaic system.

Our water supply will stem from rainwater collection, purified physically and by Ultraviolet light.

We will have a composting toilet (not mentioned below as it is already on site) with liquid waste running to a septic field that will also absorb the kitchen sink drain while the shower and vanity will drain as gray water to our orchard.

Here are the parts lists for the systems, I would like to meet with you as soon as convenient to go over this:

Solar Power:

Qty	Item	Price	Extended
4	Mitsubishi MF125 Module	$ 595.00	$ 2,380
1	CHARGE CONTROL: Xantrex C40DD	$ 146.00	$ 146
1	TriMetric Battery Meter C- 40R/50 Remote Digital Display with 50' cable	$ 115.00	$ 115
4	Trojan T-105 6V 225A Battery	$ 135.00	$ 540
1	INVERTER/CHARGER: Xantrex TR2424 24V 2400W 100A	$ 995.00	$ 995
1	I- TEMP plug in battery temp sensor	$ 29.00	$ 29
2	36" interconnect cable w/ fitts	$ 18	$ 36
2	10' 10ga combiner cable	$ 20	$ 40
1	Outback Combiner box	$ 125	$ 125
2	Outback 15 amp PSPV breaker	$ 12	$ 24
2	DC Lightning Arrestor P-31	$ 35	$ 70
2	AC Lightning Arrestor P-31	$ 35	$ 70
1	4/0 inverter cable set 10'	$ 140	$ 140
4	16" 2/0 battery interconnect	$ 12	$ 48
	solar power total		$ 4,758

Water:

Qty	Item	Price	Extended
2	Stiebel Eltron SBB 300 S 80g sgl exchg tank (heat)	$ 1,000.00	$2,000.00
1	Stiebel Eltron SB 150 S 40g sgl exchg tank (DHW)	$ 560.00	$ 560.00
2	Bosch AquaStar 1000P tankless propane this would be installed behind a mixing valve one for DHW and one for heat activates above 0.5 gallons per minute (gpm)	$ 350.00	$ 700.00
1	water pressure tank		$ -
2	2 zone, 3 loop ea. Manifold Mr. PEX 103B-50P - 3 Loop Radiant Heat Manifold Package (1/2" PEX) pexsupply.com	$ 174.95	$ 349.90
1	water supply pump		$ -
2	TACO 007 Ciculator for Zone Heating Circulation Performance Data Flow Range: 0-20 GPM Head Range: 0-11 Feet Minimum Fluid Temperature: 40º F (4º C) Maximum Fluid Temperature, Cast Iron: 240º F (115º C) Maximum Fluid Temperature, Bronze: 230º F (110º C) Maximum Working Pressure: 125 PSI Connection Sizes: 3/4”, 1”, 1-1/4”, 1-1/2” Flanged The Taco 007 Cartridge Circulator is designed for quiet operation in a wide range of applications. Available in cast iron or bronze construction with universal flange-to-flange dimensions. Unique, “00” family replaceable cartridge contains all of the moving parts so you can service it easily instead of replacing the entire unit. pexsupply.com	$ 72.95	$ 145.90
1	TACO 0011 Circulator for Solar Loop Circulation Performance Data Flow Range: 0-28 GPM Head Range: 0-30 Feet Minimum Fluid Temperature: 40º F (4º C) Maximum Fluid Temperature: 230º F (110º C) Maximum Working Pressure: 125 PSI Connection Sizes: 3/4”, 1”, 1-1/4”, 1-1/2” Flanged The Taco High Velocity Series 0011 Cartridge Circulator is specifically designed for high-head/medium-flow applications in large residential/light commercial closed-loop hydronic heating and chilled water cooling systems. Exclusive, anti condensate baffle (ACB) protects motor windings on chilled water jobs. Available in cast iron or bronze construction—Bronze can be used on open-loop systems. Unique, “00” family replaceable cartridge contains all of the moving parts so you can service it easily instead of replacing the entire unit. Universal flange-to-flange dimensions and orientation allow the 0011 to easily replace other models. pexsupply.com	$ 335.00	$ 335.00
	get remaining pieces: valves, thermostat, actuators
	water total		$4,090.80

Air Quality:

Qty	Item	Price	Extended
1	VHR 1404 Air Exchange Heat Recovery Ventilator (Fantech.net) 120V 1.4A (what is difference of SHR 1504 1.5A?)	$ 700	$ 700
5	remote light switches http://www.adhocelectronics.com/Products/Wireless-Lighting-Control	$ 150	$ 750
5	A-Ceiling Fan 24v http://www.backwoodssolar.com/catalog/fans.htm	$ 135	$ 675
2	A-Swivel Kit	$ 20	$ 40
	air quality total		$ 2,165

Rainwater Collection:

Qty	Item	Price	Extended
1	WFF 100 Vortex Filter with extension (2,000 sq.ft.)	$ 757.00	$ 757.00
1	Goulds 1/2 hp, 115 volt, Cistern pump, with: stainless steel base plate, 1 1/4" nozzle, 1 1/4" discharge, hose, floating filter	$ 899.00	$ 899.00
1	1,700 gallon below ground tank 133" length x 55" width x 66" height	$1,445.00	$1,445.00
1	Purification Kit including 1 x 8gpm UV light, 2 x 20" Big Blue Housings with 1" fitting, 2 x Brackets for Housing, 2 x Wrenches, 1 x 20 Micron String Wound Sediment Filter, Carbon Filter.	$1,475.00	$1,475.00
1	baffle above entrance and root cellar (see landscape drawings
1	root cellar and pump room per landscape drawings
1	downspouts on North matching scupper boxes and method to handle drainage
1	gutters on South, with downspouts routed across baffle at entrance to above ground cisterns
	rainwater total		$4,576.00

Miscellaneous:

Qty	Item	Price	Extended
5	remote light switch kit - simple http://www.adhocelectronics.com/Products/Wireless-Lighting-Control http://www.adhocelectronics.com/Products/Electricians-Builders-Contractors	$ 149.00	$ 745.00
	miscellaneous total		$ 745.00

Total Systems cost:

area	cost
solar power total	$ 4,758.00
water total	$ 4,090.80
air quality total	$ 2,165.00
rainwater total	$ 4,576.00
miscellaneous total	$ 745.00
grand total	$ 16,334.80

We have geared our own zero energy systems list not towards how MUCH we can do, but how little we can use to be comfortable, functional, but not in excess of power needs. Another house kit purchaser, depending on their needs and climate, might need larger systems, but I want to see how comfortable I can be with less... we shall see.