Is it possible to build a super efficient home without going bankrupt?
Image by Dept of Energy Solar Decathlon
Congressman Michael Arcuri (R-NY), center, poses for a photo with team members of Cornell University, while next to their solar-powered home, during the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009. (Photo by Stefano Paltera/US Dept. of Energy Solar Decathlon)
Question by jldude: Is it possible to build a super efficient home without going bankrupt?
I’m talkin a house that can withstand extended sub zero temps as well as high summer temps while using roughly the same energy to heat and cool as an average home maybe even less? No incandescants, just flourescent and LED lighting, possibly self sufficient solar power? What technology would someone use that’s not commonly known without getting way out of budget?
What do you think? Answer below!
6 Responses to Is it possible to build a super efficient home without going bankrupt?
Leave a Reply
Houses in iceland use geothermal heat to produce electricity and hot water. For those outside of iceland, the best choice is a wind turbine. They’re affordable and produce more than enough electricity for a house. The electricity can power everything in the house and can also heat water.
Paul Hansson
February 14, 2013 at 12:27 am
Often there are tax-credits or low-interest loans. Also, after building, your energy bills should be lower.
Jerry Lee
February 14, 2013 at 12:40 am
There are a few design elements that would be helpful to accomplish your goal. A typical wood built home wouldn’t work, you would need something that would have thermal mass and reduce heat loss, so the Styrofoam bricks that they fill with cement would be one way, adobe or other brick and mortar would be another, even the hay bail would work. The orientation on the land and the location and number of windows could help regulate the temperature. A solar chimney and convection vents would help with the heat in the summer. Most of these are design issues not added technology so they should be able to be worked in without breaking the bank.
If you have Directv, you can watch Planet Green channel, they have a couple shows about energy efficient homes, Greenovate, Worlds Greenest Homes, Total Wrecklamation and Renovation Nation. They have tons of info on remodeling or building from scratch.
whsgreenmom
February 14, 2013 at 1:17 am
Well, without knowing what your bankruptcy threshold is or where you live, it’s hard to answer that question. Generally speaking a green home doesn’t need to be much more expensive than any other home to be very efficient. One Energy Star builder I talked to said the up front prices are around 5% over traditional construction, which isn’t bad if you consider the lifespan of the house. I would say look at hay bale construction as the most economical way to go as long as you don’t live in a hurricane zone. Otherwise your biggest investments should be in solar siting, high R value windows and doors and expanding foam insulation. From there you can look at ways to really tighten the place down for a hard winter, and create natural ventilation to reduce the need for A/C in the summer.
whsgreen is referring to ICF Houses which consist of concrete poured into foam bricks. I happen to live in one at the moment, and it’s great (very hurricane proof), but it’s not the most cost effective to build anymore because of the cost of concrete.
snorkweezl
February 14, 2013 at 1:50 am
NO. Because no matter what the budget is something will come up to change it,either a product in the amount you need or a restriction of some kind.That is a given.
peppersham
February 14, 2013 at 1:58 am
My grandfather built a cement house into the side of a hill. The front is all double pane glass and the top and sides is covered in a few feet of dirt. Just the sunlight coming in is enough to keep it above freezing unless it gets below -20′ outside for awhile. In the summer it never gets above 60 inside if the shades are pulled and door kept closed. He did all the engineering design work himself and tied the re-bar together so it cost him very little.
If you don’t want to live in a tornado proof bomb shelter, Structural Insulated Panels are very efficient at keeping heat in/out. They are a little pricey, but will pay for themselves quickly. Now that metal prices are down, I’d suggest getting larger diameter copper wire than code requires too. It costs a bit more, but is less likely to overload and is much more energy efficient than smaller wire; can pay for itself in as little as 7 months, depending on your electric rates.
thor
February 14, 2013 at 2:57 am