Green Modern Kits News! Winter 2009

Greetings From Green Modern Kits!
Here is our latest news and updates for Winter 2009.

Virginia casa ti

If you haven't been following the blog of the Virginia off grid modern casa ti at http://www.greenmodernkits.com/casa-ti.htm, the house kit there is complete, the metal modern cladding, doors and windows are installed, and the structure is weather tight.

Next steps include surrounding the foundation with foam insulation, backfilling the dirt back to around the house kit, then concentrating on the interior and systems.

This weekend it was a cozy mid-60s in the house kit despite the February brisk breeze and temperatures in the 40s.

And this is before we have hooked up any of our systems - purely from the passive solar design working with the energy efficient structural insulated panels retaining the heat generated from the sun!

Here are some photographs of the exterior and interior progress so far:


Press

We have been very well received by the green building and design industry.
In December, Exclusively Home blogged on The R1 Residential!

A very nice blog post on the modern store Exclusively Home's blog, on The R1 Residential!

http://blog.exclusivelyhome.com/2008/11/r1-residential.html

"I just stumbled on this site recently that offers prefab, environmentally conscious home designs. The structures are made of SIPs, which gives the homes a leg up when it comes to energy efficiency over traditional home construction. Each home's panels are constructed at the closest SIPs plant to your project and then delivered ready to assemble. Love the thinking and the design behind the R1 Residential by Grace Street residential design systems. You can learn more about these Prefab homes at Greenmodernkits.com."

Thank you, Exclusively Home! We rather like The R1 Residential ourselves! : )

In January, Green Muze interviewed me and covered Green Modern Kits, Green Cottage Kits, and Green Cabin Kits.

We were also covered in Jetson Green and Tree Hugger, two of my favorite publications.

Rainwater Management Solutions

Rainwater Management Systems has some nice rainwater collection packages available right now and I encourage you to check them out:
http://www.rainwatermanagement.com/Packages.php

For more information call Rick Hall at (866) 653-8337 and tell him Copeland sent you. : )

...And that's our Winter Update!
As ground breaks on spring house kit construction elsewhere, I will send you links to their blogs so you can follow along with others' progress as they build.
I don't know about you, but I am eagerly looking forward to spring...

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at copeland@greenmodernkits.com.

Sincerely yours,
Copeland Casati

copeland casati
president
www.GreenModernKits.com
6902 park ave / rva 23226

 

Green Modern Kits News! November 2008

Greetings From Green Modern Kits!
Here is our latest news and updates for November 2008.

Virginia casa ti

Our house kit construction is well underway- the foundation was framed, the radiant heat tubing laid, and finally, the pour. We are now just letting the foundation cure...
The SIPs arrive November 10th, and the cladding on the 14th.
So please keep an eye on http://www.greenmodernkits.com/casa-ti.htm if you would like to follow that kit's progress!

For those of you that like the metal finish you will soon see in photographs, please know I have arranged for you to order directly with the manufacturer, so if this is what you want, all you have to do is place your order with them!

Texas

After much hard work, we signed a TEXAS factory to offer the same low price for our house kits in this key state!!! I know a bunch of y'all are in Texas, so now you have a local business that would fabricate your house kit. Yay!

Well good thing we signed that Texas factory, 'cause *that day* a nice Texas gentleman confirmed that yes, he would like an R1 Residential. : ) He is right outside of Houston, and we will keep you posted on that as it develops. He is in the process of soil testing to determine his house site and possibilities.

Oklahoma casa ti

Speaking of blogs, I had the great pleasure in catching up with Ohanahaus last week. They are progressing on building a casa ti in Oklahoma, and have much excitement going on.
He will be posting more pictures and information, hopefully by the time you read this!

Rainwater filtration / collection / gray water / potable solutions expand!

Our original partner, Rain Filters of Texas, has joined into a larger network (throughout the United States and Canada), Rainwater Management Solutions. I am very excited to announce our partnership with this incredible group, as they are recognized as national leaders using cutting edge technology, while spending the time to educate zoning and government.

This is great news for you, whether you are in Arizona, Canada, or *wherever,* because now we have a much wider offering of rain solutions for you, wherever you may live!

Rainwater Management Solutions brings a common sense, cost effective approach to the escalating issue of water conservation and management through its innovative rainwater harvesting system designs and its experienced, knowledgeable staff.

Their combined expertise encompasses industries directly impacted by water management issues:

• Commercial & Residential Developers
• Engineers & Architects
• Industrial & Commercial End Users
• Agricultural Professionals
• Local, State & National Agencies
  

...And that's our November Update!
In the meantime, I hope you are all having a productive autumn.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at copeland@greenmodernkits.com.

Sincerely yours,
Copeland Casati

copeland casati
president
www.GreenModernKits.com
6902 park ave / rva 23226

 

Green Modern Kits News! October 2008

Hello everyone, I hope you are having a beautiful fall!
This time of year, my family and I spend Friday evenings cooking food that won't spoil quickly, carefully packing our bags, charging the lantern and getting ready to head for the land at first Saturday light. It's busy, a lot of work, but never loses the excitement of the ritual as we prepare for our weekend.

As you may know, our Virginia casa ti foundation work has begun (and may be complete by the time you read this - expect an update on the blog later this weekend), so if you would like to follow along with our own house kit construction, you may subscribe here: http://www.feedblitz.com/f/?Sub=423265

As always, I have been pulling some frugal and crafty tricks out of my hat. My contractor is more than bemused- last week I found old weathered doors made in 1905 I always imagined would look so cool juxtaposed with the super sleek concrete and modern design of the kit... for $2 apiece! (I felt so guilty I paid... $4...)

And then this week, on GovDeals.com, I scored another piece o' history for the house: The VMI basketball court.
Oh, yes I did:
http://www.greenmodernkits.com/2008/09/craft-and-crafty-affordable-house-kit.html





















On the furniture kit front, Akemi Tanaka is in the prototyping phase of her work, and we will have her first piece constructed for the Virginia casa ti, so there will be more information, photos, and furniture kit prices coming soon.

And The Ohanahaus? They've been busy, zipping between working in California and settling in Oklahoma as they interview builders and finalize their interior. More updates on them soon! (You can also follow along their blog; he said that now they're back in Oklahoma he will be blogging again.)

During this economic crisis we are all tightening our belts.
Cautious and steady stays the course. Keep paying off your land, keep saving for your house kit, or even consider ReFabbing (making your home more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly) your existing home. If you're stretched, then now is not the time to stretch further!

Don't worry, we'll be here... we're here for the long run.
First, I started with an amazing product: gorgeous, green design that is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, utilizing passive solar principles, as cost-effective as possible.
Secondly, this is my passion. I'll never stop doing this because I love doing it, and believe we're the best out there.
Third, we always aim to improve. We constantly analyze and research and strive to be better. As new technology comes out, I consider it. As improved methods appear, I adapt it.

Green Building For The Rest Of Us!
: )

Sincerely yours,
Copeland Casati

P.s. Here's one more thing: Take a deep breath, and remember:

June Carter Cash - Keep on the sunny Side
by thenelaware

 

Green Modern Kits News! September 2008

Greetings from Green Modern Kits!
This is our first official newsletter, and thank you all for your continued interest in Green Modern Kits.

We have some big news ahead:

• September 22nd we begin foundation work for the Virginia casa ti. We received the foundation foam this week, and you will see my blog turn much more towards our own house kit construction... starting... now!
  
• In Oklahoma, a casa ti is beginning the permitting process. They will also be building an R1 Residential addition and garage.
• Akemi Tanaka has been working hard all summer and is finalizing her first Green Modern Kits furniture offering! While I encourage reuse of materials (and am, ahem, quite the Queen of Thrift Stores!), I did see that it was hard to find gorgeous, affordable furniture that does multiple things, which is really an asset in smaller footprint homes. So, we're crafty! We've been working hard on some really cool stuff that's practical, useful, and gorgeous!
• And there are two R1 Residentials in the works... more details soon...
  

Green Modern Kits has been recently written about by Green Building Talk, materialicious, Skirt! Magazine, and Urge Online.

Despite the current housing and economic crisis, people remain enthusiastic about creating green, efficient, affordable homes for their family. Despite great credit, our own personal house kit has been affected by the gloomy market- just yesterday, our equity line of credit was reduced by $20,000. Want to see super thrifty and frugal? Then follow that project as we navigate the murky financial waters.

Another couple has sold their Las Vegas home and downscaled to a small rural town. They have the great opportunity to pay for their land and construction in cash- at a young age, already debt free! Kudos to them, and they will be posting more on that project soon.

In the meantime, I hope you all have a wonderful fall- and those of you with whom I have spoken in Texas, Florida, and California this summer that have been in the path of disaster: I am thinking of you all. We actually have a special rate for you, because it's the right thing to do. Please contact me to discuss it further.

And to everyone else: Happy Camping Season!!!! : ) Expect many, many camping pictures in my posts, 'cause this is when we go out to hug our own piece of land and enjoy it with friends and family.

Sincerely yours,
Copeland Casati
and all of us at Green Modern Kits