Well, our project was not selected to participate in the Massachusetts Energy Star Zero Energy Challenge.  My presumption about why is two-fold.  1 - We are not contractors.  2 - Our application package deliberately challenges contractors to build better houses at market rates rather than charging a premium for "green" construction.

Here are a few questions I've received via email and my answers to them.  I felt it appropriate to share.

1 - I've spent years researching all the different building methods, systems, and materials.  I decided the best way to go was either panelized SIP or a modular with spray foam insulation.  Some of the modular people do that now.

For the past two years Melissa and I have been contemplating having our house LEED certified.  As with many things in this house, the issue is cost versus benefit.  It will cost us approximately $2000 to have the house certified, yet it will currently add no appreciable market value to the project.

In case you are interested...

Ed 

Has it already been over a month since my last post? Hopefully, you will accept my apologies and my excuse(s) since there has been a great deal going on in the background.  I'll bring you up-to-date...

We finally received our engineered drawings.  It was easy to see why it took so long to get them; the engineering package was 154 pages! There were at least one half dozen different signatures on them (engineers).

When we signed the paperwork to have our house designs turned into engineered drawings, we were told it takes about 2 week. That was over 2 months ago!

Ever hear the saying, "Pioneers are the ones with the arrows in their back."  Being a pioneer can be frustrating.  Hopefully it will also be rewarding at some point.

We've signed the loan.

We now own the land.

We are currently waiting for engineered drawings of the house in order to apply for a building permit (this is taking longer than we would like, but we are building a house that has never been done before).

We are discussing nitty-gritty details (i.e. colors, kitchen design, flooring, etc.)

Ed

We've FINALLY signed a deal.  This project will be moving forward!

More details coming soon...

Ed

Last week we ran into a bit of a snag. Just when we were ready to close on our construction loan, we were hit with the reality of a sagging real estate market. Despite credit for our energy efficient upgrades, our updated appraisal came in $50,000 less than the one done just six months earlier (July 2007). That appraisal also happened to be the construction budget we were working with. The lower appraised value quickly put a "wrench in the gears" and brought our forward momentum to a halt.

We're almost there! Here are the latest drawings. We still have a few minor tweaks to make to the overhangs and portico, but this is very close!