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If you were building your own house...

L

Lonyo

Lifer
Would you pony up for things like solar panels on the roof (assuming you lived somewhere with sun 😉) and other useful things that would save energy in the long run (and help the environment), or would you rather spend the money elsewhere?
 
My first priority would be efficiency and sustainability above ALL else. Unfortunately, that can eat into your budget *very* quickly.
 
I'd go with ICF exterior wall, solar water heating, perhaps solar water radiant heating.

I'd try to get a pond inside my house, too. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: BigJ
Depends how long it would take for me to break even with the increased costs.
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What he said. I'm not sure solar panels are ultimately worth their cost unless you're living in the middle of the desert.
 
I would especially on items that can?t easily be changed later such as good insulation. I would also try and determine what would save the most for the price such as the water heater.
 
I would do whatever is practical. Solar panels on the roof may be too much; but solar water heating would be nice, top notch insulated windows & doors, there's a new HVAC system that is supposed to be much more efficient, etc etc. If you're gonna do it, do it right.

Oh, and if I were building my own house there would be cable drops everywhere & stereo wire for surround speakers pre-run 😀
 
I paid a few extra k for better insulation and to up the SEER of my air conditioners. I also tinted the windows to cut down on the heat. Summers in AZ can do a number on your electric bill.
 
Originally posted by: Queasy
Originally posted by: BigJ
Depends how long it would take for me to break even with the increased costs.
Click to expand...

What he said. I'm not sure solar panels are ultimately worth their cost unless you're living in the middle of the desert.
Click to expand...

With all the rebates currently available? I'd find that hard to imagine.

I would most definitely add solar panels and high efficiency insulation, etc. Mostly for cost savings and partly, sure, for the environment.
 
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Oh, and if I were building my own house there would be cable drops everywhere & stereo wire for surround speakers pre-run 😀
Click to expand...

Oh God yes!

Fishing wire through a house is such a pain in the ass.
 
Just remember....the key to making a house efficient is making the walls and ceilings airtight. The problem with this is that you then can end up with the problems that my house has.....it's too airtight. So you run into the issue of moisture buildup from the 2 kitchens and 2 bathrooms. I'm basically having to go in and add multiple ventilation outlets to get rid of the moisture which is going to start affecting efficiency until I can reinsulate the attic next Spring.

The moral of the story, whatever you do.....have an expert make sure you handle ventilation properly. You don't want to have to go back and fix it. It will be more expensive that way.
 
I'd go geothermal & radiant heat if I were building from scratch.

Maybe put in a wood burning stove to help out the heating process in the winter months.
 
I'm building a large addition onto my house - I sprung for good windows and 2x6 construction for additional insulation. ICF is pretty expensive and difficult, particularly for a 2 story building. I did use it for my foundation though.

I plan on making some provisions for solar-electric in case they ever become economically viable.
 
Yes, and we will also plan in as much handicap accessibility as we can afford. We plan on living in the house that we'll be building (in a few years) for the rest of our lives.
 
Originally posted by: Armitage
I'm building a large addition onto my house - I sprung for good windows and 2x6 construction for additional insulation. ICF is pretty expensive and difficult, particularly for a 2 story building. I did use it for my foundation though.

I plan on making some provisions for solar-electric in case they ever become economically viable.
Click to expand...
Initial cost does seem to be higher for ICF, but the costs will recoup themselves in a few years.

Difficult? If you get somebody experienced with it, you shouldn't have any problems. Just stack, fill, and vibrate (as far as the wall-building goes). As far as the joists go:

http://www.icfweb.com/Manual/floordeck.asp
http://www.icfaccessories.com/watkinhanger.html
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/build/msg0513444125855.html?6
http://x.kippercat.net/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=9&pos=10

etc.
 
I was going to finish building a house last year in Fairbanks, Alaska. I had planned on using urethane foam EVERYWHERE and then using regular insulation on top of that. Can't go wrong with lots of insulation/ventilation and good windows. Everything else I think appeals to yuppies and doesn't really save you anything in the long run.
 
I'd do ICF if I had to do it again
I did get upgraded windows and furnance but Hey I live in Canada
I've also changed most of my lighting to compact flouro's bought new appliances with effeciency in mind and vent my clothes dryer into the basement,
I know you' re not supposed to do this cause of humidity but this house for brand new construction has always been dry dry dry.
Other than maybe go to goethermal and R2000 there isn't too much more I can do.
Myabe in 20 yrs when I'm tired of the siding and ready for a new furnace I'll go that way
 
Originally posted by: Howard
Originally posted by: Armitage
I'm building a large addition onto my house - I sprung for good windows and 2x6 construction for additional insulation. ICF is pretty expensive and difficult, particularly for a 2 story building. I did use it for my foundation though.

I plan on making some provisions for solar-electric in case they ever become economically viable.
Click to expand...
Initial cost does seem to be higher for ICF, but the costs will recoup themselves in a few years.

Difficult? If you get somebody experienced with it, you shouldn't have any problems. Just stack, fill, and vibrate (as far as the wall-building goes).
Click to expand...

Well, I'm doing all the work myself and don't have alot of help available, so that factors into it. And I do have a good bit of experience in traditional framing. As I said, I did do the foundation myself with ICF, and that went well. But that was very simple compared to 2 story walls with windows, doors, various cutouts, wiring & plumbing runs, etc.

Plus, you need to have a good idea how and what you intend to run through the walls before you pour. Again, since this is primarily just me and I'm learning as I go along I wanted to have a bit more flexibility in my plumbing and wiring runs.

If I was building the addition that *I* wanted, and it was only one story, I might have made a different decision. But that's a long story.

I'm not sure the cost would recoup in just "a few years". This addition will be about the same size as my existing house - but better insulated. I probably spent about $900 heating the existing house last year. The addition should be less then that - less roof area for the square footage, 2x6 vs 2x4 walls, more efficient furnace, etc. Call it $750 per year.

A 2x6 wall will be about R19, the numbers I've seen for ICF are on the order of R22 - R28 or 16% to 47% better - but only for the heat you lose through the walls. Considering that alot of the heat you lose is through windows &the roof where ICF can't help you, I'm not sure the difference between 2x6 walls and ICF will save a alot of that $750/year.

IIRC, the ICF just for the foundation cost about $2500 - not counting the concrete and the cost of a pumper. I did a spreadsheet cost comparison between stick framing and ICF when I was planning this, and the difference was significant, though I don't recall what it was specifically.

As far as the joists go:

http://www.icfweb.com/Manual/floordeck.asp
http://www.icfaccessories.com/watkinhanger.html
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/build/msg0513444125855.html?6
http://x.kippercat.net/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=9&pos=10

etc.
Click to expand...


 
Along with some of the aforementioned I would definitely go with an on-demand hot water system as opposed to a traditional hot water tank. This in addition to or to supplement solar water heating.
 
Originally posted by: Queasy
Originally posted by: BigJ
Depends how long it would take for me to break even with the increased costs.
Click to expand...

What he said. I'm not sure solar panels are ultimately worth their cost unless you're living in the middle of the desert.
Click to expand...

my thoughts exactly
 
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