Yeah yeah

Okay. Yes, I want passive solar. But opening a window to cool the house isn't going to cut the mustard 6 to 8 weeks of the year. What else ya got? 

Visit ability

Web site: concrete change 

www.concretechange.org

Coined the term 

Visitability 

A conversation about universal design features. 

Stair cases

Stair cases should be built in such a way that ...

The guys that work for furniture stores...

Won't groan when they see then. Queen size box springs and big couches are easy to get up them! 

Bathrooms

When sitting on a potty the door should be able to open and close without hitting knees. 

When a little one is using a stool to brush teeth at the sink, the bathroom door should be able to open and close without having to move the stool. 

When someone gets out of the shower and leaves a damp spot on the bathroom floor...

That should be not the same spot my feet need to be when using the potty. 

The area around a potty should be large enough to lay down and the floor should be warm...

If you are sick enough to sleep laying next to a potty...

You will want the floor to be warm able. 

Elevator

If the garage is connected to the house via the covered back porch...

Could we have a storage / office / yoga studio type thing above the garage? 

And a path from the upstairs of the garage to the upstairs of the house. 

And although not actually install an elevator in the garage, at least plan for one. 

Elevators in homes turn into fire magnifiers. 

Back up heat

Possible propane back up heat. But no electricity required to kick it on. Direct vent. 

SIP's and carpenter ants

Just read an article about SIP's being a gold mine for vermin and carpenter ants. 

Given that the region is FULL of carpenter ants.... 

Sound proofing

Sound proofing so we can't hear neighbors dogs barking. Sound proofing so when parents are up late watching a kick ass movie .... Everyone else can sleep peacefully in beds. 

Universal access

Front door - big wide side walk up hill to wide front door. IS a handicapped ramp but doesn't look that way. 

more

out going air vent above dryer to evacuate humidity

Master Bath will have a large steam shower.

Throne room built for a 6'6" guy to lay down. Or is that the half bath walk through to the Master? And keep the throne room modest - larger than average ~ but normal.

And...

Aging in place

Barrier free

Universal design - kids to great grand parents. 

Vent roof? Soffiit venting?

http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/building_america/1_1c_ba_innov_unventedconditionedattics_011713.pdf



http://www.confluencearchitecture.com/vented-attics-versus-sealed-attics/

http://www.builderonline.com/codes-and-standards/eliminating-attic-vents.aspx

http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-102-understanding-attic-ventilation

Oaks

Bur oak Quercia macrocarpa

(Fuzzy fringe ) 

Chestnut. Castaneda sativa? 

Ginkgo

Wild honey locust

Surge protector

Surge protector on the fuse box

Erection of a Hanse Haus passive house in just eight hours

NJ Passive House Part 1 - Passiv Haus

Kitchen

In our current home in Alaska we have a kitchen island. It is 45 inches from the sink. I like that spacious distance feel. Not sure what handicapped needs. But I'd say 45 in the minimum. 

NJ Passive House Part 1 - Passiv Haus

Latitude

The latitude of Goddard park is 41.66

(Needed to calculate awning size) 

Grey water heat recovery

http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/drain-water-heat-recovery

as the hot water goes down the drain, it warms the water coming in.

fiber optics with sun and electric back up.

solar collector on the roof,
Bringing day light to dark areas.
And has an element of electric back up. Low level energy requirements. Floor lighting. Bathroom lighting.
Around kitchen sink and stove.
In areas where light is sorely missed in an extensive power outage.

http://shaikmohasin.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/green-illumination-hybrid-solar-lighting/


unable to pin for pinterest.

Suncalc.net

Cool web site once you get the pin in the right spot! 

Great room

I think I would like the great room to have a possibly free flowing floor plan. Maybe a couch and two recliner love seats that can be easily rearrainged - make way for Christmas tree, all face TV for family movie night, gathered in a circle for book club, or pushed against the walls for wild dancing! 

Alaska house

Just measured our Alaska home. The south side is 35 feet. The west side is 49 feet. Exterior measurements. 

So. 

I'm thinking that 

For lakedell drive, 

for the first floor, 

35 feet along the road - that faces west. 

And 49+ feet facing south. 

Bathroom

When a 6'6" man is sick...

Sick enough to lay on the bathroom floor, 

For easy access to the toilet, the guy should fit on the floor. 

awesome article!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/26/business/energy-environment/26smart.html?pagewanted=1&_r=3&

neat-o idea!

Maybe use it to make pizza too???

ter some serious research and with help from the best adobe-oven-making book ever, Kiko Denzer’s Build Your Own Earth Oven: A Low-Cost Wood-Fired Mud Oven, we gave it a try. (The book is available at www.Grit.com.) Using Denzer’s thorough, friendly instructions, I built an oven in our yard,

Read more: http://www.grit.com/departments/backyard-bread-oven.aspx#ixzz2lEUC2vpF

5 reasons to live off grid

Copied and pasted from an online article: Not my original thoughts, just thoughts I feel in harmony with.


1. Self Sufficiency: Living off the grid in a self sufficient manner brings with it a certain independence which cannot be found in modern living. Modern living (i.e. city living) is a dependent system. Each block or “grid” square of a city depends on the next for support.
If there were a collapse of the financial system -which is the most likely “doomsday” scenario- then the grocery stores, hardware stores, and the big box home improvement stores would be the first to be wiped out of supplies.
In the biggest cities in the world, this leaves millions of people without the supplies needed to survive. Self-sufficiency, at a fundamental level, is all about survival. But it also goes far beyond survival, into the realm of independence.
People like the feeling they get when they don’t have to depend on others, and they can support their families and enjoy their lives with their friends on their own land, in their own home.
2.: Sense of Accomplishment: There’s a certain satisfaction on a job well done. Whether you build your own log cabin, tiny house, or cottage in the hills, the sense of accomplishment you feel must be astounding.


3. Survival: Surviving the world off grid may not be the easiest way to live, but it arguably gives you a better chance of survival in a disaster/collapse scenario. It’s all about being prepared.
4. Freedom: Becoming “Debt Free”. The freedom to provide for your family without the burden of crushing debt. The freedom to spend quality time with your family instead of making money for your boss. The freedom to live life the way you see fit. With true freedom, comes happiness.
5. Happiness: Ultimately it comes down to happiness. We all strive for happiness in our own way. Some folks are materialistic, some seek power or money. Some seek the simpler life. A life without stress, or as stress-free as possible. Removing the burden of mortgages, utility bills, car payments, and living the simpler, easier life appeals to millions of people around the world. Happiness is at the core.
They call it “The American Dream“, but I think that’s a rather narrow-minded and selfish way of phrasing it, since most people in the world want the same things. They want to be happy. Living off the grid seems like the perfect way to achieve it.
It’s all about being happy.

Net zero metering and other notes FHB summer 2012 issue

Because the price of a kW hour generated is different from a kW hour consumed, two different meters are installed. This is unlike net metering which uses only meter that runs both forward and back. (Fine home building - summer 2012 pg 57) 

A house for all ages- pg 62

4 ft wide circulation path around kitchen island. 

Cabinet hardware allowing 4finger grip

To create a home that would be functional now and in the future, design principals in accordance with Americans With Disabilities Act were inter grated into the first floor plan. 

Pg 77

Fiberglass thermo-tech windows that met the passive house design. 

Pg 82

A home that allows for a person with massive allergies (and possibly some chemical sensitivities) to live in peace and good health. 

Eliminate mold, biological irritants, and chemical toxins 

Walls preplumbed for mini split ductless air conditioners. 

Sealed conditioned crawl space outfitted with dehumidifier and radon exhaust fan. With no connection to the homes interior. A small exterior door provides service access (Not sure if I like that or not!) 

They used an architect firm called "zero energy" 

Ventilation and heat recovery systems were sealed until all construction work was complete. 

Energy recovery ventilator (ultimate air recoup aerator www.ultimateair.com) 

Paired with energy recovery ventilator an air filter (Pure Air Systems 600 Hs plus www.pureairsystems.com) uses a HEPA FILTER 

Window seat photo - sturdy and in an alcove. Pg 93

Definition

Homes should be able to shelter occupants safely during severe storms or other disasters and keep them comfortable during the aftermath. 

Miami fade county hurricane code - tie down hurricane straps 

Build w materials that - if they get wet are still usable. 

Safe room /tornado room in basement or garage to provide shelter in the most intense winds. 

Surviving in extended power outages

Building science corp r-5 windows, r-10 under slabs, r-20 foundation walls, r-40 walls, r-60 attic

Air tight blower door tested 

To 1.5 AC/H

Proper orientation of homes

Passive house planning package 

South facing windows could have "solar screens" installed in summer months? Need to have a fully "shut it off" system that still allows the outside feeling in. 

Www.sungagelle.com