I know our posts have slowed down a bit, but so has the house as of late. We're getting ready for some big things -- the metal roof will go on soon, the windows are on their way, and we chose some outer doors.
This week we had a three-hour meeting with our electricians to go through the house and decide where we want to put lights, light switches and electrical outlets. This is a very tough thing to do! It's so hard to know how you will use a room before the room is even built, and you have think about room use to figure out what type of lighting is needed and where the lights and switches should go. We've still got a few decisions to make, but I like where we're heading with things.
Blake and Larry recently traveled to a national Passive House Conference in Urbana, Illinois, where they met lots of other Passive House aficionados and learned about what's happening with projects around the country. They told others about our project, and as a result some other builders are now interested in checking out our house. That's exciting! We were also glad to hear that interest in Passive Houses is growing.
Blake just sent me an article about the conference:
www.finehomebuilding.com/item/9720/2009-passive-house-conference
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
It Looks Like a House
A lot has happened with the house roof since the trusses were delivered, and now it actually looks like a house. Here are some new pictures.
They started building our porch. I can't wait to sit on it someday.
Even after they put the roof on, those beams will still be visible from underneath.
Our way-cool staggered garage entry.
The upstairs trusses.
I'm standing in the master bedroom, while Stuart is in one of the smaller bedrooms. It'll be weird when we can't look through the walls anymore.
Stuart ponders life's mysteries.
Our new leaves to rake.
They started building our porch. I can't wait to sit on it someday.
Even after they put the roof on, those beams will still be visible from underneath.
Our way-cool staggered garage entry.
The upstairs trusses.
I'm standing in the master bedroom, while Stuart is in one of the smaller bedrooms. It'll be weird when we can't look through the walls anymore.
Stuart ponders life's mysteries.
Our new leaves to rake.Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Raising the roof
A giant crane came to the build site today to lift our big roof trusses up onto the top of the house. We saw it on our way in to work. Then when we got home, the trusses were raised over the garage. An exciting development!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Green Home Tour
We had a successful showing on the Salem Green + Solar Home Tour. I'd estimate about 50 people stopped by over the day. Blake and Larry were on hand to answer any real questions. They did a fantastic job, and we're really grateful they were there.
I know people on the tour are already receptive to green homes, but it was nice to see so many interested in what we're doing. My arm is a little sore from patting myself on the back all day. I'm hoping we'll be invited to participate again next year when the house is done.
I know people on the tour are already receptive to green homes, but it was nice to see so many interested in what we're doing. My arm is a little sore from patting myself on the back all day. I'm hoping we'll be invited to participate again next year when the house is done.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Odds and ends
The Statesman Journal published an article today about the Salem Green + Solar Home Tour. Our project was mentioned:
www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20090930/GREEN/909300409/1001/NLETTER01?source=nletter-news
Also, I just learned about another Passive House project happening in West Linn, Oregon, which is outside of Portland. It's wonderful to hear that the Passive House concept is spreading in Oregon. You can read about that house on their blog: oregonpassivehouse.blogspot.com.
www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20090930/GREEN/909300409/1001/NLETTER01?source=nletter-news
Also, I just learned about another Passive House project happening in West Linn, Oregon, which is outside of Portland. It's wonderful to hear that the Passive House concept is spreading in Oregon. You can read about that house on their blog: oregonpassivehouse.blogspot.com.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Second Floor
The excitement at the build site during the past week is that we now have stairs and a second floor. It's been fun climbing up and seeing what our second floor views will be.
Looking out the side window of one of the smaller bedrooms.
Stuart looking out the master bedroom window.
This large beam on the ceiling will be exposed in the living room. I think it will be a cool feature. It's a lot darker inside the ground floor now that the second floor decking is in place.
Heading upstairs...
The view of the backyard from the master bedroom.
Here's Stuart hanging out on the upper floor.
Looking out the side window of one of the smaller bedrooms.
Stuart looking out the master bedroom window.
Stairs!
This large beam on the ceiling will be exposed in the living room. I think it will be a cool feature. It's a lot darker inside the ground floor now that the second floor decking is in place.
Heading upstairs...
The view of the backyard from the master bedroom.
A-ha! We caught our builder, Blake, on camera.
We took this photo last week before the second floor was in place.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Salem Green + Solar Home Tour
Stuart and I are excited that our new house is going to be on the Salem Green + Solar Home Tour, which happens next weekend, Oct. 3. Yes, you read that right -- we'll be on the tour in just a week, even though our house is not complete. The organizers were intrigued by our Passive House design and thought that having the house on the tour while it's still under construction would give people a chance to better see how the design works.
I'm hoping to also get the chance to check out some of the other homes on the tour, because I want to see what other interesting green projects are happening in Salem. If you want more details about the tour, go to the Events section of the Pringle Creek Community website.
There may also be a preview article in the Statesman Journal sometime next week, and we might be mentioned. Look for that as well.
If you live in Salem, come check out our project and the other great green homes in town!
I'm hoping to also get the chance to check out some of the other homes on the tour, because I want to see what other interesting green projects are happening in Salem. If you want more details about the tour, go to the Events section of the Pringle Creek Community website.
There may also be a preview article in the Statesman Journal sometime next week, and we might be mentioned. Look for that as well.
If you live in Salem, come check out our project and the other great green homes in town!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
What is Passive House?
A lot of people ask me what makes our house "green," so I thought I'd share a little more information about the type of house we're building. We are seeking Passive House certification, and if we earn it, we could be the first house in Oregon to do so. In fact, there are currently no Passive House certified homes on the West Coast, although our builders tells us that will be changing soon.
Passive House is a very stringent performance/construction standard that has become more popular in Europe and is more recently starting to catch on in the U.S. While many green technologies revolve around renewable energy sources (solar panels, etc.), Passive House focuses on cutting back dramatically on energy consumption. Here's a brief paragraph from the Passive House Institute US website:
"A Passive House is a very well-insulated, virtually air-tight building that is primarily heated by passive solar gain and by internal gains from people, electrical equipment, etc. Energy losses are minimized. Any remaining heat demand is provided by an extremely small source. Avoidance of heat gain through shading and window orientation also helps to limit any cooling load, which is similarly minimized. An energy recovery ventilator provides a constant, balanced fresh air supply. The result is an impressive system that not only saves up to 90% of space heating costs, but also provides a uniquely terrific indoor air quality."
You have heard Stuart talk about our 12-inch-thick walls and our quadruple-paned windows -- we have super thick, super well-insulated walls and windows for this purpose of helping our home be more air tight, and preventing energy loss. As a result, we should have extremely low energy bills because we will not have to use much energy to heat the house.
Also, note that our house will partly be heated by people. So when we have parties, our guests' body heat will help heat the house. We plan to have lots of parties during winter. :-)
I found a really cool graphic on the New York Times website that describes a Passive House. Our windows will be a little better than what is described in the graphic, but it gives you a good idea of what we're doing:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/04/30/business/energy-environment/20090430_businessofgreen_house.html?ref=businessspecial2
The reason I am so excited about using this technology is that it focuses more on conservation, on not using as much energy in the first place, instead of just adding solar panels and keeping my energy use the same. I'm still learning about Passive House, so hopefully I'm describing all of this accurately -- I'm sure our builders will let me know if I'm not. :-)
Passive House is a very stringent performance/construction standard that has become more popular in Europe and is more recently starting to catch on in the U.S. While many green technologies revolve around renewable energy sources (solar panels, etc.), Passive House focuses on cutting back dramatically on energy consumption. Here's a brief paragraph from the Passive House Institute US website:
"A Passive House is a very well-insulated, virtually air-tight building that is primarily heated by passive solar gain and by internal gains from people, electrical equipment, etc. Energy losses are minimized. Any remaining heat demand is provided by an extremely small source. Avoidance of heat gain through shading and window orientation also helps to limit any cooling load, which is similarly minimized. An energy recovery ventilator provides a constant, balanced fresh air supply. The result is an impressive system that not only saves up to 90% of space heating costs, but also provides a uniquely terrific indoor air quality."
You have heard Stuart talk about our 12-inch-thick walls and our quadruple-paned windows -- we have super thick, super well-insulated walls and windows for this purpose of helping our home be more air tight, and preventing energy loss. As a result, we should have extremely low energy bills because we will not have to use much energy to heat the house.
Also, note that our house will partly be heated by people. So when we have parties, our guests' body heat will help heat the house. We plan to have lots of parties during winter. :-)
I found a really cool graphic on the New York Times website that describes a Passive House. Our windows will be a little better than what is described in the graphic, but it gives you a good idea of what we're doing:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/04/30/business/energy-environment/20090430_businessofgreen_house.html?ref=businessspecial2
The reason I am so excited about using this technology is that it focuses more on conservation, on not using as much energy in the first place, instead of just adding solar panels and keeping my energy use the same. I'm still learning about Passive House, so hopefully I'm describing all of this accurately -- I'm sure our builders will let me know if I'm not. :-)
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Four walls in the shape of a house
Yesterday and today Chris built and stood up the four exterior walls of the first floor. Actually, it's only half of each wall, since we have a double studded design. Basically a second wall will go inside the first one for extra insulation and sealing. It's really neat to get a sense of size and scale, especially regarding the windows.
That door-shaped hole in the middle is our front door!
It's hard to see, but all of the interior walls are marked on the floor.
That door-shaped hole in the middle is our front door!
It's hard to see, but all of the interior walls are marked on the floor.Sunday, September 13, 2009
The action continues
A lot has been happening in the past week at the house site.
Chris the framer started building the frame under the floor ...
... and the plumber came by to install pipes in the crawl space.
We look forward to seeing what else is built this week. Many of our friends are walking or driving by the lot to check things out, and we also see lots of neighbors taking a peek. It's fun to see so much action happening there.
Chris the framer started building the frame under the floor ...
... and the plumber came by to install pipes in the crawl space.
We look forward to seeing what else is built this week. Many of our friends are walking or driving by the lot to check things out, and we also see lots of neighbors taking a peek. It's fun to see so much action happening there.
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