Maine Modular & Custom Home News

Anyone who has a teenager most likely realizes that they know more about the DVD, HDTV, TiVo, and any other new technology than their parents do.  While we struggle to keep up with the new developments, they are right on top of things, waiting impatiently for the newest and greatest developments.  They can text message while down loading a new play list for their Nano, and programming the TiVo.  I on the other hand can barely load a DVD into the player and figure out how to make it actually play.  So then, as I ponder about new electronic technologies that are available for our homes, like enhanced security systems and programmable lights and thermostats, I have a hard time figuring it all out.  In fact the words Home Automation Systems are pretty daunting when you try to think about it.  According to the NAHB our home automation systems should enhance our lives while also being approachable.  There are specialists that can walk us through what is important to incorporate into our new home.  Perhaps it is lighting and heating automation that helps us the most.  Maybe we want music to be playing when we arrive home.  The possibilities are endless, and that’s why it can be overwhelming.  If you can’t deal with it as you are building your new home, there is at least one important rule to remember.  Install more structured wiring than you think you need.  This way when you do decide you need that surround sound stereo in each room of your home, the infrastructure will already be there.

The broad definition of sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.  There are a lot of factors that contribute to the various aspects of sustainability, such as; the population and available living space, pollution of land, water and air, climate change, use of manufacturing materials, energy demands, etc.  There is so much involved in the sustainability equation that universities are teaching sustainability as a science major.  Included are sustainabilty accounting, or how to quantify sustainability and sustainability governance, or how to control sustainability.  The latest idea that I ran across is that sustainability should include preservation of our cultural knowledge.  So not only is sustainability applicable to our everday lifestyles, but also to our historical social perpetuation.  As the issues of sustainability become more and more complex, all I can do is to try to keep up with the latest information.  If you are considering building a home, call to find out what we can do to help you with your sustainability concerns.

Energy tax credits for existing home owners have been extended into 2009.  The array of items you can get tax credit for may be a simple as a storm window or new insulation, or it might be full installation of a new geothermal heating system.  If you aren’t sure if your renovation is included in the list of available tax credits keep good records and bring them to your tax accountant.

The record for each product should include:

• Name and address of the manufacturer
• Identification of the component
• Make, model or other appropriate identifiers
• Statement that the component meets the 25C standards
• Climate zones for which the criteria are satisfied
• Additional information for storm windows, if applicable
• A declaration that the certification statement is true

Alternatively, the home owner can use the Energy Star certification of the product, if available.

You can read more about the Energy Tax Credits at the Irs.gov website.

We’ve been promoting a combination of Timberframe and System Built technology for quite some time.  If you are intrigued with the concept but have a hard time visualizing how it might come together, make sure to watch This Old House for the fall 2008 season.  They are going to show you step by step how one couple designed their timberframe home and combined it with system built technololgy to arrive at a new home with the look and feel of the old house charm.  Excellent craftsmenship and state-of-the-art building technologies marry to create a eco-friendy green dream home.  Visit This Old House on the internet to see a short video of the process.  If it looks like something you would love to build, call one of our Home Specialists to talk about building a dream home for yourself.

How can a firm in Oakland, CA be of any consequence to building in rural Maine?  Michelle Kaufmann, owner of Michelle Kaufman Designs, Inc. - “a full service architectural design firm that specializes in sustainable, innovative, high quality design”  is actively promoting Sustainability Labeling.  She has recently released a white paper on her website outlining a proposal that each home has a label, based on the idea of nutrition labels for food, that rates sustainability.  Her list of items to be included on this label are:

• the R-value of the roof, floor and wall
• the U-value of the glass
• an efficiency rating of the electrical and plumbing
• an analysis of the resource consumption (materials used to build the home)
• an indoor air quality assessment

The idea is to make certain that people become aware of the actual cost to the environment of their home.  According to her white paper Kaufmann says, “Our belief and our hope is that the introduction of sustainability labeling would not only lead to greater demand for sustainably designed homes, but also that the demand eventually grows to such a degree that traditional home construction methods are one day permanently abandoned.”  I’d say that would have some effect on Maine building!

To read the entire white paper on sustainability labeling visit the website of Michelle Kaufmann Designs, Inc.

Not that many years ago, we didn’t build homes in the winter because we couldn’t pour concrete in weather that was below freezing.  Some may think that this is still a bad idea, but with a few precautions and following some basic rules, pouring concrete in the winter is no big deal.  In fact, according to the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), “Placing concrete in cold weather provides the opportunity for better quality, as cooler initial concrete temperature will typically result in higher ultimate strength.”  If you aren’t convinced that pouring concrete in cold weather is a good building practice, read more from the NRMCA.

We are all well aware that the cold weather is upon us.  There is frost upon the pumpkins and seeping into our homes as well.  There are some practical steps we as homeowners can take to become more energy efficient.  Even newer well built homes need some tender loving care, like cleaning the furnace system.  Remembering to let the sun shine in windows with southern exposure can help warm your home up so your furnace doesn’t have to work so hard.  Those with older homes can do a few things that can help keep the drafts out.  Read the 10 Ways to Cut Energy Bills posted in the Realtor magazine to find out more.

Are you looking for Green Products?  The Green Building Pages 2008 website has a database of building products that will earn points toward a LEEDs certification.  The database can be searched in multiple ways; either by construction type, location or product name.  There is also a wealth of information on sustainable design.  The more resources and information you can have the better your chances to be green and save money at the same time.

HGTV - which builds dream homes for give away has built its first green home.  At the HGTV website you can watch a series of videos that explain their choices from start to finish, and how they built a LEEDS certified home this year.  There are a lot of practical ideas in these videos, and HGTV claims you can build a green home at an additional cost of only 1%-2% over the cost of a conventional home.  One thing I learned while watching these videos is the need to coordinate your site planners, your landscapers and your architect right from the beginning planning stages.  What each is doing will affect the other, so communication is vital.  Good communication throughout the process will be cost effective, also.

Capturing the wind for power seems so alluring.  Windmills have been around for centuries and I always wondered why we don’t all have one in our backyard.  It has the illusion of being a “free” power source.  In fact wind turbines are getting a renewed interest from those looking to get off the power grid.  Unfortunately, they are anything but free.  Estimates for setting up your own wind generating operation range from $15,000 to $50,000….OUCH!  Yet - if you never have to pay a power bill again…..it makes one think.  The U.S. Department of Energy has a great FAQ page to get you thinking if wind power might be for you.  The answer my friend, might be blowing in the wind!