Grex Environment Conference

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Grex Environment Item 36: Eco-minded builders?
Entered by n8nxf on Sat Dec 30 04:06:28 UTC 1995:

I'll be looking for a builder in a year or so.  I'd like to find one
who can follow instructions and who likes to do low environmental
impact construction with natural materials.  Any suggestions?

9 responses total.

#1 of 9 by gibson on Fri Nov 7 03:52:36 1997:

        if you're still looking i recently talked to builder who is building
a house for a women with envinmental allergies. i dont know if he is any good
or not.
        Hover & Assoc. Engr.
        Paul Hover
        Clinton Mi
        517 423 7310

#2 of 9 by n8nxf on Fri Nov 7 17:55:51 1997:

The house is half built now.  The builder I chose is a graduate form
U of M's school of forestry, not that that makes him a eco-minded
builder.  He is more so than most, however.

#3 of 9 by rcurl on Fri Nov 7 20:19:11 1997:

Forestry - and geology - are taught primarily from an industrial/economic
perspective. Individuals might develop an "eco-mind", but it doesn't
come with the training.

#4 of 9 by keesan on Fri Jan 2 03:32:57 1998:

we gave up looking for a builder in 1986 and designed our own house.  We are
still building it.  It is supposed to cost about $100/year to heat with
electricity, hardly ever require painting, etc.  We are avoiding anything that
outgasses or needs to be replaced (stainless steel roof, cement panel siding,
tile floors, plaster walls), and are trying to use recycled materials where
possible.  Stop by if you want to trade ideas.  We welcome suggestions
particularly on the parts we did not do, which according to the assessor is
67%.  (We are using hand tools, it goes slowly).  Plumbing, wiring (we plan
to put it in 'wiremold' outside of the drywall so it can be changed and
updated easily), heating (probably wires in the floor), and a central
dehumidifer and air cleaning system rather than an air-to-air heat exchanger.
Rather than throwing out heated air and taking in the polluted stuff from
outside, we will remove the humidity (with its latent heat) and the large
molecules from the kitchen and bathroom (odors), and take in a little outside
air in the middle of the night when there is less traffic pollution.  May we
visit your house in progress.  Anyone else interested in low-impact housingh
is also very welcome for a tour, or to ask questions here.

#5 of 9 by n8nxf on Sun Jan 4 13:43:17 1998:

I would be very interested in seeing your house.  I, too, am building
a house for my family.  Not as environmentally friendly as I would like
but it is a rather unique house none the less.  Perhaps we could trade
notes?  (Commercial air to air heat exchangers go for $1,000 I found out.)

#6 of 9 by keesan on Tue Jan 6 02:08:48 1998:

(We are exchanging house tours.  Contact either of us for more information
on heating, siding, etc.)

#7 of 9 by gibson on Tue Jan 6 02:57:28 1998:

        Are the tours open to others? I'd be interested in seeing both.
        If anyone is interested in learning to thatch roofs, friends are
putting on 2 seminars,1 spring 1 fall, cost is about $1000. Limited to 10
people each time. Lessons by a danish craftsman being brought over just for
this purpose..

#8 of 9 by n8nxf on Tue Jan 6 12:07:32 1998:

Your welcome to drop by and have a look.  Mail me.
 
Don't thatch roofs run up your insurance bill?  Is the cost of the class
$1000 or is that the cost of the average roof?

#9 of 9 by keesan on Tue Jan 6 20:47:04 1998:

n8nxf (Klaus) is coming by to look at our house this Saturday at 4 p. m. 
Anyone who wants to join us then is welcome.  E-mail me for the address.  It
is a 10 minute walk from Main and Miller and has a shiny roof (you may already
have noticed it.).\

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