Maine Modular & Custom Home News

Everyone is looking at alternative energy these days and wind generator systems are getting a lot of attention. There are many things you need to know about wind generators to make a good decision about putting a system in. They are not cost efficient in a lot of cases. I thought this article on AskConstructionAdvice.com has enough information to at least get you started. There are some ways you can rule out a wind generator system right away….like not enough wind! As they mention in this article, without wind all you have is an expensive propeller statue. Unless this is what you want for artwork on your property you might want to have an expert site survey done before you decide to use a windmill.

There are differences between sustainable and green even though these terms are often used as interchangeable. This article in Scientific American on the Top 10 Myths About Sustainability gives a whole lot of information on the sustainability motif. There are of course some overlaps in the two terms, but I agree that sustainability is more important than green. When building new homes the replacement time for flooring, appliciances, roofing, siding, heating systems, etc., can be a much greater concern than just building “green”. The best option would be to optimize both your sustainability and your “greenness” when you are choosing building materials and design. That saves money both in the short term and in the long term…sounds good to me.

As almost every entreprenuer is jumping on the green bandwagon I’m seeing more evidence that greed is slowly slipping in. I’m not sure about other places in the United States, but in rural Maine we don’t have the resources to spend too much green (our VERY hard earned dollars) on green technology. I love this slide show highlighting the “Ecofabulous Home.” This is a 1000 square foot home filled with green technology and energy saving sustainable building ideas, mixed with contemporary beauty. For all the beauty and “greenness” the price tag ranges between $200,000-$300,000. This is just a bit rich for my wallet – I am healthy, but I don’t think I’ll be living long enough to see a savings payback that will justify spending that much money up front. What I’m really looking for is the practical green, not the pricey green.

Okay – so I really thought I had a handle on green products and building. I do spend a bit of time each week researching and learning so I can try to make intelligent comments on green technology. The problem is, I’m just not an engineer or a scientist, and I can’t believe how hard it is to keep up with the current information. It actually made me laugh out loud when I tried to answer some of these simple quiz questions on CNET news that were generated from photos taken at the Northeast Sustainable Energy Green Building Conference. If you want to see what the latest and greatest is in the green building and sustainalbe energy world, this is a great place to start. I won’t bother telling you how I scored on the quiz…just suffice it to say that I have a bit more to learn.

Some of us need visual tools to be able to really see what a room will look like with our furniture in it. Those of us who aren’t artistically inclined cannot conjure up a picture in our minds of the finished product – no matter how hard we try. I found some tools on the Better Homes and Gardens (you do need to create a free log-in first) website that help us with our handicap. This arrange the room tool lets you create a room of any size and shape and then add basic furniture pieces into the room. You can even change the color and dimensions of the furniture to mimic your own. That way you will get an idea of what the room will look like when your home is built and you put your finishing touches in it. If you look through their tools menu, you can find the same type of tool to arrange a deck, a garden and even to try different window treatments. It’s addictive so beware when you visit the site, you might spend a little time there. Happy Planning!

Now may be the best time ever to remodel. This Old House has posted these 10 ten reasons why to remodel now.

• Interest rates for qualified borrowers are at a low
• Slow housing starts are creating a better choice of contractors
• Slow housing starts are creating a quicker availability of contractors
• The price of materials has dropped
• Some contractors are offering discounts on their prices to become more competitive
• Due to market conditions, in general only the better contractors have survived
• Due to market conditions you will own your home longer and enjoy the renovations more
• Due to market conditions renovations will not likely cause a tax burden
• Renovations can slash your energy bills
• When the market conditions change you will be ready to sell

Perhaps you would rather be buying a new home but now just isn’t the time for you. These are great reasons to consider renovations instead. If you can afford to do some moderate renovations now, when the market picks up, your home will be ready for selling. Here at Schiavi Home Builders we can do your renovations on your existing home and when you are ready to build a new home we’ll be right there for you. Doing what you can to prepare for the future is a smart move and we’d like to walk you through that. Give us a call today.

Although there has been a lot of information available on the modular process recently, I thought this video; Modular Home Introductory Video from NAHB (National Association of Homebuilders) was exceptionally instructional. It shows a little more of the factory process and clarifies that modular building can be customized. I have made multiple factory tours of systems built products and it always fascinates me. Every process is so efficient and each worker does his or her job with such precision. That really shines through in this video – it’s worth watching.

So you’ve had someone in your home to do an energy efficiency audit…what should you expect from them? This list comes directly from the Maine Home Performance with Energy Star Standards. (Clicking this link will bring you to the entire 131 page document.)

1. Contractor’s name and contact information.

2. Assessed homes address.

3. Date assessment was performed.

4. Maine Home Performance with ENERGY STAR logo. (If a MHP technician did the audit)

5. List of existing conditions:

• Air leakage, visual inspection or diagnostic results.
• Insulation levels for walls, attic, rim-joists, and foundation.
• Approximate age and condition of HVAC equipment (heating, cooling and ventilation fans), water heating equipment, and condition of exhaust flues for HVAC ir water heating equipment that consumes fossil fuel.
• Type and condition of windows and doors.
• Duct system visual inspection findings.
• Approximate age and condition of appliances.
• Any signs of moisture concerns, building performance failures or conditions affecting the durability of the home.

6. Results of tests related to use of combustion appliances (draft, spillage, carbon monoxide, combustion appliance zone depressurization and gas leak testing.)

7. Recommendations in the comprehensive work scope must address air leakage between the house and attached garage due to the potential for infiltration of carbon monoxide and other fumes.

8. An estimate of energy savings from recommended improvements and improvement installation cost.

The scope of work should be legible, clear and comprehensive in addressing the work agreed upon between the service provider and the customer. An energy audit will only be helpful if a thorough investigation has been done and it is well documented. Make sure you ask for all of the items on this list so that you can make a good decision on the direction to take to improve the energy efficiency in your home.

I really enjoyed this blog post at Energy Circle; Home Energy Efficiency Retrofits – Is it Rocket Science? It is a good question. Most people think that adding a little insulation and weather stripping a few windows is the consumate weatherization process. Reading the personal experience Peter Troast described in his post shows how much money you can throw at a problem and still not have a solution. It’s important to figure out the underlying cause of an energy draining situation and analyze what the proper solution is before you start spending money. Hiring a certified weather technician is a good start and something we can help you with here at Schiavi Home Builders. Like Peter said “Is it rocket science? Maybe not. But it’s still pretty darn complex.”