Well; it's really not done yet, but I have gone back and pulled in my utility bills and weather data for the last 4 -5 years to do comparisons.
The first year of the remodel there was no insulation and very good ventilation through the house. I was lucky if the house got up to 69F that first winter. Fortunately the dogs were not living with me that winter. It was kind of like living in a tent. In fact until the carpenters closed the second story in, in late October, it was a tent. I spent the first year putting in electrical conduit, rough plumbing, and going around putting in brackets to strap the roof to the top plates, to the studs, to the bottom plates, ring shank nails to tie the bottom plate to the floor and joists, etc. I also had to rewire the original first floor because all the wiring was just left hanging draped over the walls. Per my standards I used conduit for that too. And finally a little foam insulation. ________________________________ From: Bill Cardell [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, 10 July, 2008 21:08 To: Murray, Richard; Eric McCord Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected] Subject: RE: OK, I get it now. Gas prices are high! Sounds like quite the project! Has it been done long enough to compare costs? Bill Cardell TurboDog's Dad www.flyinmiata.com www.fmwestfield.com Sales 1-800-359-6957 Tech 970-464-5600 Before you call, check out http://www.flyinmiata.com/FAQ/ Come to our Open House! August 14-17 ________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Murray, Richard Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 12:59 PM To: Eric McCord Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected] Subject: RE: OK, I get it now. Gas prices are high! "Green" costs a lot less if it is designed in from the beginning rather than retrofitted later. From what I have seen and read a newly designed "green" commercial building can cost less than 10% more than a traditional design. The higher cost is probably for more plumbing and electrical controls. I too live in Michigan near Pontiac (where I work) but I decided to design my house remodel to be as energy efficient as possible; given the restraints of an existing building on a narrow North and South lot. Direct solar heating or electrical is out of the question, but I added a sloping bump in the roof with south facing vertical windows. They are not as large as I wanted, but I have managed to turn the lemons into lemonade by designing an awning that reflects more light into the house through the windows in the winter and away in the summer. The windows facing East and West also are tilted to face South as much as I could get by the zoning setback requirements. I am working on reflective sun screens for those windows too. When I replace them, the north facing windows will be as small as the building code allows. I got the most reflective standing seam metal roof I could. Solar heating in the winter is not practical, but rejecting solar gain in the summer is. The walls are 2X6 instead of 2X4. I specified 24in centers, but the dumb carpenters put them on 16in centers anyway. I am taking vacation time next week to have a company come in and finish applying closed cell foam insulation in the new addition and garage. I ended up with a 90% efficient boiler supplying domestic hot water and radiant floor heating in the house and attached garage. The radiant heating allows me to keep the thermostat in the house at 68-69F while keeping the floor comfortable enough for the dogs. It is actually more comfortable in the coldest part of the winter when the boiler runs more than in the spring and fall when it cuts out for long periods. I am wiring the house lighting for room occupancy sensors because I have a habit of leaving the lights on. I have a heat exchange ventilator to install for bathroom exhaust and replacement air. I understand that those are required in the far white north. I guess what PO me most is that I have read that the builders in Michigan have been stalling implementation of the higher thermal standards that have been in the International Building Code for years. The state has a blanket approval of the Electrical, Plumbing, etc codes from the same organization, but the builders are afraid that they might lose some business.
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