That is the question, isn't it. What kind of house should we build?
We know we wanted an energy efficient home, but we didn't want to make too many sacrifices in comfort. We currently have decent size family (3 kids living with us and one that has moved out) and in-laws that come to visit frequently, so we can't get away with alot of the smaller houses that the energy efficient plans tend to use. Our two youngest (boy and girl) are currently share a bedroom, but they are getting older, they need separate bedrooms. This is another reason we started looking for a bigger house.
We scoured the internet and came across Debie Rucker Coleman's Passive Solar designs at www.sunplans.com. Passive Solar design basically is about situating your house so that the majority of the windows are on the south facing wall. The difference between today's version and the one from the 70's that your parents probably remember, is that they realize that too much sun can be a bad thing. Today's plans use bigger overhangs, so the windows are fully shaded in the summer, and partially in the spring and fall. This keeps out the heat of the sun when you don't want it, and let's it in during the winter, when the sun is lower on the horizon. They also use more thermal mass (stone, tile, concrete) on the interior of the home to absorb and release heat, thus reducing large temperature swings. Check out her book for more information and her learn more page.
We decided on the Moravian Falls design, which I thought was perfect, albeit larger than I'd planned. We initially planned on contracting it ourselves, so we started getting bids on the different items. We sent out for quotes for SIP (Structural Insulated Panels) walls and roof that the plan called for, metal roof, and ICF foundation. (Upon reading more about ICFs, they don't appear to be appropriate for areas with a high risk for termite infestations. Code says you can use them, but you must apply chemical soil treatments for termite prevention. ) Her plans do come with alternative construction techniques, such as regular shingles, framed walls, etc..., but I figured we'd price it out as drawn. We spent several months researching and getting quotes (or attempting to get quotes). We also had a few contractors bid on the job using the more conventional construction methods.
In the end, it was a real eye opener. The house was simply out of our budget, although Southland Custom Homes was far lower than the other quotes. Rhonda, with Southland Custom Homes, has a infectious enthusiasm about her job that really gets you excited about building. We found her a pleasure to work with. Unfortunately, for everyone involved, there is no real good way to find that out, without spending alot of time estimating. So, back to the drawing board. Luckily, Debie over at SunPlans, Inc has a "Clunker Trade-In" and other specials, which allowed us to purchase a different set of plans at a substantial discount.
