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Who says Green Building has to be expensive?

patrick_mccombe's picture

Who says Green Building has to be expensive? (post #205858)

patrick_mccombe on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 06:35
in

Builder Christian Corson has built a net-zero, 1600 square foot  two-bedroom home for $130 per sf. That figure includes sitework and septic, but not the land or the PV array. The home's heating demands are so low that it's heated with a mini-split heat pump. The vinyl R-9 triple glazed windows are made by lithuanian maker, Intus Windows.

 

You can check out the house here:

-A +A

Thank you. (post #205858, reply #1 of 7)

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calvin in reply to patrick_mccombe [original] on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 07:45

Are there any other details available besides those in your link?

A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.


http://www.quittintime.com/

 

Net-zero for $130 per square foot (post #205858, reply #2 of 7)

by patrick_mccombe in reply to
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calvin [original] on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 08:14

Here's more:

including some of the construction techniques used.

 

Are you thinking of doing something like this Calvin? I am.

Patrick (post #205858, reply #3 of 7)

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calvin in reply to patrick_mccombe [original] on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 08:38

doing something like that?

Well, back in '87 when we started this house, I sure could have used these ideas.  While satisfied that we did in fact build our dream home and in the standards of the time-did pretty good, there's always something that could have been improved.

At 62 I doubt I'd undertake another build, but you never know.

 

So, my interest really is just more education.  At the rate I forget things, I'm sure there's room in the noggin.

 

thanks and best of luck on the project.

A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.


http://www.quittintime.com/

 

Hey Patrick (post #205858, reply #6 of 7)

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calvin in reply to patrick_mccombe [original] on Thu, 09/27/2012 - 16:51

We met at Mike and Helen's.   Hope you had a good time.

You in on this Taunton hosting next yrs Fest?  

Boy, big undertaking.

A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.


http://www.quittintime.com/

 

If everyone gets such an idea (post #205858, reply #4 of 7)

by JimBerry in reply to patrick_mccombe [original] on Thu, 09/27/2012 - 08:50

If everyone gets such an idea and builds a house for as little as $130 per sf then many of us who have been planning to buy a house would be able to get one soon considering the fact that these days the prices of real estate and other such property is increasing at an alarming rate.

Sure..... (post #205858, reply #5 of 7)

by cussnu2 in reply to patrick_mccombe [original] on Thu, 09/27/2012 - 12:38

but not very many people want to live in a windowless tool shed. 

Call me skeptical. Unless the (post #205858, reply #7 of 7)

by florida in reply to patrick_mccombe [original] on Fri, 09/28/2012 - 11:16

Call me skeptical. Unless the builder has discovered some new technique unavailable to the rest of the building industry I don't see how it's possible. There is nothing new in the framing techniques he discusses nor in any of the material so how is it done? 

The square foot price of any house looks far better if you leave out things like the cost of the property and part of your mechancial system. What if you add back in the cost of 10 acres plus the actual cost of the PV array, aren'e we then talking about more like $200.00 a square foot? How about labor, is that all included? Donated material?  Has this house been built for a paying customer at that price?

Florida Licensed Building Contractor, 40 years experience in commercial remodeling, new homes, home remodeling and repairs and all types building maintenance.