Monday, March 26, 2012
River Escape Achieves LEED for Homes "Platinum" Certification
It's official we just received LEED for Homes"Platinum" Certification for the "River Escape" project in Stanwood, Michigan. This is the highest honor you can receive from the USGBC . We want to thank the members of the "River Escape" project team for project well done. Thanks goes out to Image Design, LLC, Sustainable Home Consultants, LLC, Vos Energy Concepts, Turtle Wall and AES (Alliance for Environmental Sustainability) for awesome job!
Friday, December 30, 2011
River Escape Wins GreenBuilder Magazines 2011 Home of the Year Award
We are proud to announce that our "River Escape" project was named GreenBuilder Magazine's 2011 Home of the Year. This is a very prestigious national award from one of the industries most respected green building magazines.We would like to thank the project team members Vos Energy Concepts, Image Design LLC, BuildBlock ICF Company, and Turtle Wall for a awesome job! We would also like to thank the Homeowner for allowing us all to be apart of the special project!
Please checkout the GreenBuilder Media Press Release.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Pray for Peace while Preparing without Panic
The 10th anniversary of the malicious attacks of September 11, 2001 is just two days away. The loss of family, friends, and co-workers from these attacks is still a vast canyon of sorrow and evident in the heart of our Country.
The days and months following this horrendous attack were full of questions, anger, sadness and prayers which were spoken aloud and boisterously through the halls and steps of government. Individuals flocked to places of worship.
What has changed in our Country? In Ourselves? In the World? What has stayed the same?
What hasn't changed is God. He is the same today as he was yesterday and will be tomorrow. He was the same on September 2001 and our Country rallied and pulled together in prayer to Him as He is today September 2011 and our Country seems to be pulling away from Him.
Buildings may crumble and fall all around us as devastation threatens to devour us but we can have peace and knowledge of who we can count on for our safety. Unlike our own human frailties and weakness there is no limit to God's help, power, availability and ability.
With this knowledge we can go out and face this fast changing uncertain world and stand strong in our Faith knowing there is a plan for all of us and God is in control.
Pray for peace while preparing for man-made and natural disasters - they will happen!
The days and months following this horrendous attack were full of questions, anger, sadness and prayers which were spoken aloud and boisterously through the halls and steps of government. Individuals flocked to places of worship.
What has changed in our Country? In Ourselves? In the World? What has stayed the same?
What hasn't changed is God. He is the same today as he was yesterday and will be tomorrow. He was the same on September 2001 and our Country rallied and pulled together in prayer to Him as He is today September 2011 and our Country seems to be pulling away from Him.
Buildings may crumble and fall all around us as devastation threatens to devour us but we can have peace and knowledge of who we can count on for our safety. Unlike our own human frailties and weakness there is no limit to God's help, power, availability and ability.
With this knowledge we can go out and face this fast changing uncertain world and stand strong in our Faith knowing there is a plan for all of us and God is in control.
Pray for peace while preparing for man-made and natural disasters - they will happen!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Power Usage Update
Solar Panels purchased from Sun Electronics
http://www.sunelec.com/index.php?main_page=about_us
We highly recommend checking out their website and giving them a call to compare prices. Our panels have been producing as indicated and arrived in excellent condition. August 28, 2011 we had a full sunny day in Michigan and we produced just over 25.60 kw with our 4 kw system.
Great Lakes Energy Co-op
Our energy provider in Stanwood. We are connected by a net-metering agreement with Great Lakes Energy.
I had some questions in the beginning and wondered about our meter. They came right out and put on a "dual" meter to give us a more detailed read-out of what was happening to our power. This has been a great learning tool. I have been talking to Bob at Great Lakes Co-op. He has been so helpful when I have questions - which I have had many questions. We have a much better understanding of exactly what times we use power and what uses power...
For-instance, did you know that when you forget to cover your hot-tub for just one cool night in the summer that you can burn through 4kw an hour!! Yep, I found that out a couple weeks ago. That energy sucking pig! I unplugged the beast temporarily but I will plug it back in for the fall and winter - we need to have some way to thaw-out in Michigan :)
Electric Bill
Starting in June 2011 our first bill was only a couple dollar because of the monthly fee that everybody has to pay. Then in July our bill went to $40 dollars. This is when I started asking Great Lakes so many questions. The bill for August is $58.
We know the Energy Sucking Pig (aka hot tub) is to blame for much of this bill but it is worth the cost. We didn't go solar to forgo all comforts - but it does make you think more about where your dollars/kw are going.
The other culprit is our Electric Dryer. We had to put in an electric dryer because it is in our master bathroom; so propane was out of the question per-code. Usually we hang all our clothes to dry anyway but we were lacking a clothesline. Ouch! We now have a clothesline! It's not exciting that we get to hang up laundry but it is really fun to see the meter run backwards again :)
Moreover, remember my post about air conditioning...well, we purchased a portable air conditioner during the heatwave of 2011. Well worth every penny! Unfortunately, these units are not energy efficient so I'm sure we gobbled up more kilowatts with that little monster too. The unit is made to cool a 350 sq ft area - it cooled our 1200 sq ft home wonderfully. We were very comfortable. It ran for about 1 1/2 weeks straight; we have not needed to use it since the middle of August.
We also have a travel trailer plugged into the house! When older kids come up to visit they stay in the trailer. The refrigerator was still going - oops!
Meter
Running backwards
http://www.sunelec.com/index.php?main_page=about_us
We highly recommend checking out their website and giving them a call to compare prices. Our panels have been producing as indicated and arrived in excellent condition. August 28, 2011 we had a full sunny day in Michigan and we produced just over 25.60 kw with our 4 kw system.
Great Lakes Energy Co-op
Our energy provider in Stanwood. We are connected by a net-metering agreement with Great Lakes Energy.
I had some questions in the beginning and wondered about our meter. They came right out and put on a "dual" meter to give us a more detailed read-out of what was happening to our power. This has been a great learning tool. I have been talking to Bob at Great Lakes Co-op. He has been so helpful when I have questions - which I have had many questions. We have a much better understanding of exactly what times we use power and what uses power...
For-instance, did you know that when you forget to cover your hot-tub for just one cool night in the summer that you can burn through 4kw an hour!! Yep, I found that out a couple weeks ago. That energy sucking pig! I unplugged the beast temporarily but I will plug it back in for the fall and winter - we need to have some way to thaw-out in Michigan :)
Electric Bill
Starting in June 2011 our first bill was only a couple dollar because of the monthly fee that everybody has to pay. Then in July our bill went to $40 dollars. This is when I started asking Great Lakes so many questions. The bill for August is $58.
We know the Energy Sucking Pig (aka hot tub) is to blame for much of this bill but it is worth the cost. We didn't go solar to forgo all comforts - but it does make you think more about where your dollars/kw are going.
The other culprit is our Electric Dryer. We had to put in an electric dryer because it is in our master bathroom; so propane was out of the question per-code. Usually we hang all our clothes to dry anyway but we were lacking a clothesline. Ouch! We now have a clothesline! It's not exciting that we get to hang up laundry but it is really fun to see the meter run backwards again :)
Moreover, remember my post about air conditioning...well, we purchased a portable air conditioner during the heatwave of 2011. Well worth every penny! Unfortunately, these units are not energy efficient so I'm sure we gobbled up more kilowatts with that little monster too. The unit is made to cool a 350 sq ft area - it cooled our 1200 sq ft home wonderfully. We were very comfortable. It ran for about 1 1/2 weeks straight; we have not needed to use it since the middle of August.
We also have a travel trailer plugged into the house! When older kids come up to visit they stay in the trailer. The refrigerator was still going - oops!
Meter
Running backwards
 |
| Test Meter for forward and reverse. Picture shows reverse setting. If we call in with questions we can find out exactly what kw were used in what hour and what was produced, etc. |
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Small Animals for our Property: Goats, Sheep, and Chickens?
I miss having our own chickens and sheep...but have always wanted to raise goats. Maybe we should have all three! Maybe next year...
My daughter and I attended Michigan Fiber Festival in Allegan this August. We had so much fun! Who knew you could spend so much time in the animal barn!! Llama, Alpaca, Rabbits, Goats, Sheep and a Camel - amazing.
We are checking into different types of animals for their fleece to spin and I am checking into sheep/goats for meat and milk. My daughter already spins on a drop spindle. We are both looking for beginner spinning wheels. We watched many people beautifully and effortlessly use their wheels at the fair. We were invited to give it a try and given a lesson. Well, my first spinning attempt was neither beautiful nor effortless; what a disaster! But lots of fun! Practice, practice, practice - hmm...seems I've heard that before.
Also, I met a wonderful goat lady who graciously introduced me to her Nigerian Dwarf goats which is the breed of goat I am interested in for dairy. She showed me how to milk them and let me attempt milking. Well, I don't know how much more failure I can handle - milking was not easy for me. Very awkward indeed. I definitely need a higher milking stand because my back and neck protested the whole time. Fortunately, I was told this is "normal" on first attempts at milking. I hope so or I might just cry over spilled milk. The goat protested the whole time by kicking the bucket of milk and putting her foot in the pail - nice
My daughter and I attended Michigan Fiber Festival in Allegan this August. We had so much fun! Who knew you could spend so much time in the animal barn!! Llama, Alpaca, Rabbits, Goats, Sheep and a Camel - amazing.
We are checking into different types of animals for their fleece to spin and I am checking into sheep/goats for meat and milk. My daughter already spins on a drop spindle. We are both looking for beginner spinning wheels. We watched many people beautifully and effortlessly use their wheels at the fair. We were invited to give it a try and given a lesson. Well, my first spinning attempt was neither beautiful nor effortless; what a disaster! But lots of fun! Practice, practice, practice - hmm...seems I've heard that before.
Also, I met a wonderful goat lady who graciously introduced me to her Nigerian Dwarf goats which is the breed of goat I am interested in for dairy. She showed me how to milk them and let me attempt milking. Well, I don't know how much more failure I can handle - milking was not easy for me. Very awkward indeed. I definitely need a higher milking stand because my back and neck protested the whole time. Fortunately, I was told this is "normal" on first attempts at milking. I hope so or I might just cry over spilled milk. The goat protested the whole time by kicking the bucket of milk and putting her foot in the pail - nice
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Air Conditioning: My opinion during the heat wave of 2011
Err on the side of caution and put in Air Conditioning with a Dehumidifier! Especially for small children, elderly persons and/or those with health problems.
Wow - didn't need to wait the whole summer to come to this realization!
I know this heat wave will be over soon and we live in an area where it cools off in the evenings but the floors are damp and some moisture is collecting because of the humidity. Common sense tells me this is not a good thing.
Our home should not take much to cool off because of the ICF, SIP and Triple Pane windows. Maybe a portable unit would work just fine. We haven't made the purchase yet. So hard to make the purchase because then the meter will start moving ahead - good grief :)
If I lived in the city with our exact style of home we would have air conditioning. There is much more concrete in the city which acts as thermal mass and gives off heat at night making it much more difficult to get those cool nights.
Hope this helps anybody considering this style of building. If you have any other questions we haven't answered please feel free to contact us.
Wow - didn't need to wait the whole summer to come to this realization!
I know this heat wave will be over soon and we live in an area where it cools off in the evenings but the floors are damp and some moisture is collecting because of the humidity. Common sense tells me this is not a good thing.
Our home should not take much to cool off because of the ICF, SIP and Triple Pane windows. Maybe a portable unit would work just fine. We haven't made the purchase yet. So hard to make the purchase because then the meter will start moving ahead - good grief :)
If I lived in the city with our exact style of home we would have air conditioning. There is much more concrete in the city which acts as thermal mass and gives off heat at night making it much more difficult to get those cool nights.
Hope this helps anybody considering this style of building. If you have any other questions we haven't answered please feel free to contact us.
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