Mocking Up the ideal home

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Permalink Reply by Monte Smith on January 19, 2009 at 7:22pm

Before I dive into describing my ideal home, which, BTW, I will be doing a piece at a time...I thought it would be a good idea to do a little FYI and give you a bit of info on myself. So here are some work history highlights with some extra stuff thrown in at the end...

My official entry into the actual construction industry began in the summer of 70' when I went to work for a TV Cable installation company (prior to this job I was a cowboy and worked for a big cattle company that my dad managed.). I worked all summer for the cable company helping to install a TV cable network (including signal tower) in the little town of Charleston, AR where I also happened to have graduated from high school in 69'. Anyway, this job with the cable company is the point I consider as my official entry into the construction industry. From then to now I have worked construction (primarily as a carpenter) in AR, OR, TX, LA and FL. While most of my experience has been in residential home construction (new and remodel) I have worked on numerous commercial jobs...again, both new and renovation, and a few public jobs e.g., re-roofing a county courthouse, building a tunnel, building a sewage treatment plant and building a post office (all in AR in the early 70s'). Then, as sort of a sidebar to construction, while out in OR I was a chimney sweep and chimney sweep manager for a couple of years (great job!) and for a few months I worked in bathroom fixture restoration i.e., resurfacing and recoloring existing bathroom fixtures with high dollar automotive paint, which after applied, was baked on for 24 hrs (it was interesting work, got some incredible products but I quit after six months because I just couldn't handle the chemicals involved). Then when I moved to FL in 93' I worked for a friend of mine who had jewelry kiosks in over 300 malls throughout the US and Canada. I designed a few kiosks for him and helped to fabricate the various parts for the kiosks that were then packaged up and sent to the malls where they were assembled on site. While in Florida I worked mainly in the commercial sector (wore a variety of hats) but I did do some residential remodel and helped in the building of five new houses. One of these in particular was my crown jewel in residential home building. I was the framing contractor as well as the supe on this house which was a $850,000 "spec" home that turned into a $1.8 million spec home (way too many creative people working on this job) and when it was finally completed it appraised for $2.3 mil. Side note: took a year to sell and sold for $2 mil. In 01' I moved back to AR with my wife, Joy, who I had met and married in FL. I had been away from AR since 76'. Since being here I have done a lot of different construction projects. I helped to build three in-ground swimming pools, turned a passenger train car into a dining car with a kitchen, spent almost a year working by myself doing restoration work on a famous historic home here in Fort Smith, built some furniture, cabinets and lots of other misc stuff.

For the past couple of months I have been working on the design and organizational structure of something that I have named GEEE (Glass Elephant Environmental Enterprises). It is a new company, it will involve many, many people and it will be national if not international in scope. GEEE will have many products that it produces as it evolves but initially, it will start in the residential sector building new Green & Healthy Homes as well as running an online academy on how to build green and healthy (the course room for the academy will be the construction site). SEE is a critical element in the concept of GEEE and Tom and I are going to be working closely with one another as our two organizational entities evolve and gain mass to go with all of the significance.

Note: It was never my intention to work in construction other than to pay my way through college. I always thought that I would be a psychologist or sociol

Permalink Reply by Fred Mars on January 19, 2009 at 10:28pm

I commend you and everyone involved in the construction trades that join with you in making SEE and GEEE the code standard instead of an option. Building the GEEE and SEE way will be the most cost effective to the buyer or owner in the long run. The savings in energy costs alone would be great, but I challenge you to include in the GEEE designs to include some form or forms of clean energy production.

I want to see power produced in megaWatt numbers by businesses and homeowners across America. You want to beat big oil and big power? Cut out the Enrons of the world from being a factor. Decentralize power production and the distribution grid. Let the federal government buy the local substations and power lines from the utility of ownership, and then turn over control to the local or regional governments to upgrade and maintain. The unemployed electrical workers will be hired by the cities and counties or by the electrical contractors that bid for maintaining those local and regional lines.

Back on topic, as Thomas was saying about SEE materials, the insulation and lumber, Tyvek or some other material, all this is totally dependent on the climate of the area that you would be applying SEE standards or GEEE standards. Knowing that, isn't there some way that you can break it down to the individual factors that determine what type of materials are used? See, I have been a technical writer, and when I have to write about something that engineers come up with, I have to translate that to something that a CFO can wrap his financially gifted and physics challenged, brain around.

Fred

Permalink Reply by Monte Smith on January 19, 2009 at 11:20pm

Fred,

Thank you much for your comment.

Just so you know, when I think of energy independence I just don't think about energy independence for my country, my state, Fort Smith, AR...I think energy independece for each and every building. Why not? The tech is there to bring this into existence. But this technology requires a vehicle to bring it to the people as well as educate the people on it. Accomplishing this is a primary mission of GEEE. The way to bring this tech to the people is to bring it to them via their home (get em where they live!). If we can build new or greenovate existing dwellings using SEE as our base so that we are coming out of the gate with a structure that is super energy efficient (doesn't consume or waste substantial quantities of energy) and then add the necessary clean energy production system or combination of several systems and then make it a healthy and green home to boot...well...we will have something won't we?! It's totally DOABLE! It only requires attention to the enormity of details and a viable organizational structure coupled with competent management. And, it is going to take the creation of a multitude of partnerships operating synergistically and a legal and viable system to ensure that funding is available.

Now, to answer your question...yes, the material package can be broken down so as to match up to the individual factors. Like I said, there is an enormity of details to work out and what Thomas is proposing and what I am proposing and what We are proposing is going to require numerous working partnerships. In other words, there are a lot of hats that will have to be worn. And doing what you are asking is a function of one of the hats.

Okay Fred what about your ideal home? What are two things that you want in your ideal home?

Monte

Permalink Reply by Fred Mars on January 20, 2009 at 1:04am

My ideal home would be quite unique. First and foremost, it must conform to the existing natural environment, so I would be utilizing the materials and colors of the land. My dream would be a place close to the mountains or in the foothills, with lots of trees and a clearing for tthe house and out buildings.

The two things that it will have is SEE energy efficiency and clean power generation. Both outdoor gardens and indoor greenhouses, to grown fruits and vegetables all year round. Water would be from artesian wells and I personally would like to have a fresh water brook or creek running through my land, which I would tap into to bring into the house. I would create a natural waterfall, with vegetation of the local habitat. The flowing waters would provide a gentle and soothing ambiance to the areas closest to it. I guess I would place my bedroom close by to have the sounds gently lull us to sleep.

I would install water recycling provisions, so that water other than from the septic system can be reused, and recycled for water plants and the grounds when needed, especially during the dry summer times when fire hazards are greatest.

I can probably write a book about all that I would want to include as accessories and amenities, so I'[ll stop now.

Fred

Permalink Reply by Monte Smith on January 20, 2009 at 7:55am

Fred, this is wonderful!

I, as I'm sure many others will too, want to move in so make sure you have plenty of guest rooms included. :)

But don't end the process Fred. Whenever you have the inclination please share another piece of this vision. I wold like to hear more about your gardens too.

Thank you.

Monte

Permalink Reply by Mark J Warren on January 20, 2009 at 8:41am

Sounds like Heaven on Earth.

Mark

Permalink Reply by Monte Smith on January 19, 2009 at 10:57pm

Of course I see after the fact that my FYI shpeel was too long (imagine that - me, writing something too long :-)

Well, the FYI was what flowed out of me and I am going to go ahead and add what was cut off from the first entry. Here it is...

Note: It was never my intention to work in construction other than to pay my way through college. I always thought that I would be a psychologist or sociologist or something like that. But as I continued in college I became disabused from higher learning and opted instead to be a construction worker (I actually enjoyed digging ditches - still do - but not nearly as much). I have never had a desire to be a builder or assume any high position in the construction idustry food chain. And, for probably the first 30 years of my working in the industry, about every two years I would sell all of my tools then proclaim that I was leaving construction forever and go do something completely different. Usually within a year I would be back bending nails somewhere ( I did eventually wise up and stopped selling all of my tools everytime this happened). I have done PR work, I was the ED of a Drug rehab prgm while I lived in Portland, Or, I was an ED and senior course supervisor of a business management consulting and academy, also while living in Portland, I've saddle broke horses and I've done numerous other misc things. I have pretty much been a gypsy all of my life. I owned a house once and lost it in 83' and I haven't wanted to own a house since until just recently. It does seem that the gypsy in me has grabbed the rocking chair and I currently have no urge to move anywhere. And now I am wanting to build Joy and I a cozy little green and healthy home. I have never been affluent for any length of time. I pretty much live pay check to pay check or, more accurately, project to project. I can't begin to tell you how many house I've helped to build over the years but it's - lots. Also, I can't begin to tell you how many different kinds of dwellings I've lived in over the years either but that number too is a high one.

Okay. That's it on the FYI. I will be back later to talk about water. Yes, water. Water and the management of water is very important in my ideal home.

Thanks for your indulgence.

Monte

Permalink Reply by Chris Tidman on January 22, 2009 at 8:54pm

Monte
One item that I feel is indispensable is the waste water heat recovery system. The gray water waste from your shower passes through a copper waste pipe which has a small flexible copper pipe wrapped many turns around the waste pipe. As hot water leaves the water tank the incoming water is heated by the waste water leaving your shower. It can reduce water heating costs by up to 40%.

A lot of the new buildings have separate drains for graywater from sinks and showers, and sewers which carry toilet waste. Graywater can be recycled for all kinds of things, but provision for the separate systems has to be in the original construction. The graywater systems are usually color coded purple.

The most efficient sized heating system is the smallest unit that will run continuously on the coldest day in the year. Most heating systems are over sized and therefore not very efficient. This can be improved by having a lot of small heaters that can be turned on independently. A control system with an outside thermostat can switch on the fewest number of heaters to do the job. This can reduce fuel consumption by up to 40%

Permalink Reply by Monte Smith on January 22, 2009 at 9:33pm

Yeah Lawrence, we should probably keep it the contiguous 48 for now. We get that down then we can expand out from there.

Maybe we should begin by listing out 10 key components that we would want in our ideal home and after that move more into the details of each component. Just a thought.

Glad you're here Lawrence.

Monte

Permalink Reply by Chris Tidman on January 23, 2009 at 7:43am

Allen-Drerup-White designed/built a 2900 sq ft home in 1981. R-50 walls. R-60 roof. that has been lived in by the one owner. I watched it being built. A history of this home over the 23 years was published in Solplan Review (Nov) e-mail : solplan@shaw.ca They are still hard copy, but you could ask. Annual energy bill now $600 - $700

It might be a good place to start.

Just looking at a local show home effort that has the solar panels mounted half way down the side of a two story. Same slope on the panels but they get the sunlight reflected from the second story.

Permalink Reply by Mark J Warren on January 23, 2009 at 1:29pm

Canada has to be considered as well.

The PP has lots of Canadians as members.

Mark

Permalink Reply by Chris Lewis on January 24, 2009 at 4:02pm

I truly feel humble walking among giants here. I have learned so much in five days of steady reading these forums that I feel totally ignorant. I am involved in other on line communities and correspond with people around the world and this is what I have heard. The rest of the world is waiting for US, the USA to lead the way. At this point I see we are going global with the Picken's Plan and I am going to send links to my overseas friends.My only talent is my ability to communicate and enthusiasm for green energy. It must involve the entire planet if we intend to save this world for future generations.

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