Zero Energy Home: Lying Numbers
Sometimes you open up your utility bill and say, “That can’t be right!” Usually, it’s more of a wail of despair than a statement of fact. But this time, I’ve got the numbers to back me up. This story really starts two months ago, when we got our electric bill for March-April. It showed a [...]
Budget-Driven Design
In last month’s blog post, I started a discussion about ways to figure out how much your home construction project will cost. Last month, I talked about getting bids. Now I want to talk about a better way: Determine your budget first, and plan accordingly. You’d be surprised how hard that is for some people. [...]
Cool House Tour 2011
If you’ve never attended the annual Cool House Tour, you’re in for a treat. Mark your calendar for Sunday, June 5. We know lots of people who never miss it! This year, our “Rock Star” home at 1804 Johnson Way in Round Rock is one of the 16 homes selected for the tour. This is [...]
Wayne on Radio
KOOP radio show Shades of Green Energy interviewed Solluna Builders president Wayne Jeansonne on April 14. You can listen to the podcast where Wayne talks with hosts John Hoffner, Debrah Dubay, and Reed Sternberg. They discuss green building in central Austin and talk about the net-zero energy Solluna Builders home that will featured on the [...]
What does that CPBD mean? So you’re not an architect?
What does that CPBD mean? So you’re not an architect? Normally, when asked those questions, I tell what the acronym means. Then I add, “For you as a client, hiring a CPBD is an alternative to hiring an architect.” So what does that CPBD stand for again? Certified Professional Building Designer. I’m confused. What’s the [...]
Getting bids for your home construction project
When you need a general contractor, how do you decide which one to use? How do you figure out how much your project will cost? One way is to call in three or more general contractors. Give them each a set of plans and specifications, and ask them to submit a bid on the project. [...]
Finding a good green builder
A good green builder is not on the endangered species list, it just feels that way sometimes. Finding a good builder requires a little effort, but it will save you lots of money in the long run. Do some preliminary research about what house features are important to you. Make a list and separate it [...]
Who Ya Gonna Call?
Did our recent days of really cold weather get you thinking about ways to make your home more energy efficient? Now that it’s warmer, are you looking at other home improvement ideas? Maybe you’ve started thinking about that kitchen remodel. Or maybe planning that room addition. Maybe you want to start on that garage/workshop/studio you’ve [...]
Recommended Reading
Famine to feast. Used to be, home owners had to scramble to find reliable information about green building and remodeling. Now, the online and print media are waving the flag. There’s a glut of information. So much information! How do you sift through all that stuff to find the nuggets that apply to your home? [...]
Zero Energy Home: The Bottom Line
I’ve posted in the past about the elements that went into our energy efficient house (which we hope will be net zero energy). I’ve also talked about how the weather and use of appliances, electronics, and other consumers of electricity affect the performance of the house. But what it really comes down to is one [...]
Green Rating Systems
What does it mean to get a green rating for your home? Why should you care? Sure, a green home is good for the environment. It also increases your home’s comfort and durability, and saves you money over time through energy-saving features. But where’s the proof? One way to prove it is to certify your [...]
Zero Energy Home: Inside Scoop
While I’ve focused on some of the big items that affect a home’s energy efficiency, there are many smaller items that also play a significant role, if only because there are so many of them. Take a look around your own house and count the lights, computers, TVs, etc. that use electricity on a daily [...]
Does It Cost More to Build Green?
I talk a lot. No, really, I do talk a lot. I also do a lot of public speaking about green building. I give workshops at the annual Renewable Energy Round Up. I talk to Realtor groups. I’ve conducted seminars at the Green Products Expo and the Renewable Energy Stampede. In November, I presented case [...]
Information Your Builder and Designer Must Have
Let’s see . . . First, we purchased property for our new home. It took us a few months but — check — done that. Second, we’ve got our team together — the home builder, the designer, and us. Who knew that would take so long — finding people we believe we can trust and [...]
Zero Energy Home: Getting to True Zero
As I reported in my previous post, our solar electric system has been installed and operational. Since then, our electric meter has been replaced with one that measures both inflows and outflows, which means more numbers for me to play with (see the table at the end of the post). The weather hasn’t been cold [...]
Case Studies Seminar
Solluna Builders’ president Wayne Jeansonne will be a featured speaker at this month’s green building seminar sponsored by the Austin Energy Green Building Program. Friday, November 12, 2010, 11:30 am — 1:30 pm, at the LCRA Dalchau Service Center, 3505 Montopolis Dr. This month’s seminar presents case studies of green building projects in Austin: commercial, [...]
Ways We’re Cutting Our Water Use
When we started planning our house, I wanted to reduce our usage of electricity and water. We quickly realized that we could not afford a greywater system, but I wanted to do what I could to conserve water. We installed a 550 gallon rainwater collection system. The plumber separated two of the exterior hose bibs [...]
What Do You Mean There’s an Endangered Species on My Lot?
Here’s the scenario. You’ve just closed on the most beautiful piece of property you’ve ever seen. You stand at the top of your hill and gaze across beautiful green rolling hills and trees for as far as you can see. You look down at that lovely little creek running through the back of your property [...]
Green by Design
Preparing to build, buy, or remodel? Learn how to improve energy and water efficiency, increase comfort, and reduce maintenance at the Green by Design workshop, offered by the Austin Energy Green Building Program. Saturday, November 6. We highly recommend this workshop to all our clients. It’s a day well spent!
Zero Energy Home: Old Numbers, New Numbers
We’ve had a couple of really busy weeks around the house. In addition to all of the work on the landscaping that we’ve been doing, our solar electric array was installed and is now providing power to the grid (and us)! Unfortunately, that means that for a little while I won’t know how much electricity [...]
