3 ms·

I’d love to hear more about your design, and retrospective on the decisions. We are about to undertake a design for a new build and energy efficiency using pass

by voisin 3y ago

I’d love to hear more about your design, and retrospective on the decisions. We are about to undertake a design for a new build and energy efficiency using passive technologies is something that matters to us. We had been planning a highly insulated slab with exposed concrete floors, but your comments on having to run AC seems concerning if I am reading it right. We plan for awnings to keep sun off the windows in the high summer sun.

hedora 3y ago
See sibling comment for awning comments. We went all electric in an area where PG&E outages are frequent. We have battery and solar, but during extended outages there usually isn’t any sun. Our solution is to get a propane tank and generator that can charge the battery. This is a complicated compatibility problem, so we should have put the generator in at the same time as the battery and solar. Heat pumps are fine, but the contractor undersized the ducts. Run a system backpressure test yourself (get the service manual) before writing the final check for the install. Permitting and insurance in California are maliciously bad. If you want a graywater system, apply for the permit at the same time you start the project. Also, be prepared to pay $20-30K for “engineering” and permits, but only $1-5K for parts and installation. (Or look around more than we did for an ethical designer.) Get the best possible insulation and if possible pay for plaster. We’ve had a few leaks, and plaster / rockwool is much more tolerant of water than drywall / fiberglass. Pay for all the smarthome stuff, but insist on offline home assistant compatibility. Wire multiple outdoor circuits (120v and 240, if possible) so you can charge a car, run a hot tub, run a pool pump, charge a lawnmower, etc, etc without thinking about circuit capacity. You won’t do those things, but they cost basically nothing now, and $10K or more later. AFCI breakers are a scam (incompatible with appliances that contain motors or switches), so expect nuisance trips unless you replace them with GFCI post-inspection. The fancier the lamp, the more compatibility and capacitor whine you will encounter. Our most trouble free lamps were under $100 at ikea. I know which ones cost 10x that, but meh. Under no circumstances purchase doorknobs made by emtek, assa abloy or kwikset. (Two of those brands are $$$). Keep a bottle of spray air on hand at all times because modern smoke detectors will go off at 2am and the only way to fix it (other than a hatchet) is by spraying off the sensors. Whatever your plan is for a roof, get a nicer one. Pick a general contractor that has put up lots of homes in your county.
- hedora 3y ago
  Oh, and either find someone that has installed like 100 hybrid hot water heaters, or check the installation for wires that rub (heat pumps usually don’t vibrate) and air exhaust / inlet condensation post-install.
  - hedora 3y ago
    One other thing. If the house is passively cooled and heated, you will want to leave the windows open when you are not home. European style tilt and turn windows are perfect for this, since they are secure when open in tilt mode: https://www.vetrinawindows.com/styles/tilt-and-turn-windows https://www.vetrinawindows.com/styles/tilt-and-turn-windows (I’ve never heard of that brand, but their webpage has a nice animation explaining the product.)

by voisin 3y ago

hedora 3y ago

See sibling comment for awning comments. We went all electric in an area where PG&E outages are frequent. We have battery and solar, but during extended outages there usually isn’t any sun. Our solution is to get a propane tank and generator that can charge the battery. This is a complicated compatibility problem, so we should have put the generator in at the same time as the battery and solar. Heat pumps are fine, but the contractor undersized the ducts. Run a system backpressure test yourself (get the service manual) before writing the final check for the install. Permitting and insurance in California are maliciously bad. If you want a graywater system, apply for the permit at the same time you start the project. Also, be prepared to pay $20-30K for “engineering” and permits, but only $1-5K for parts and installation. (Or look around more than we did for an ethical designer.) Get the best possible insulation and if possible pay for plaster. We’ve had a few leaks, and plaster / rockwool is much more tolerant of water than drywall / fiberglass. Pay for all the smarthome stuff, but insist on offline home assistant compatibility. Wire multiple outdoor circuits (120v and 240, if possible) so you can charge a car, run a hot tub, run a pool pump, charge a lawnmower, etc, etc without thinking about circuit capacity. You won’t do those things, but they cost basically nothing now, and $10K or more later. AFCI breakers are a scam (incompatible with appliances that contain motors or switches), so expect nuisance trips unless you replace them with GFCI post-inspection. The fancier the lamp, the more compatibility and capacitor whine you will encounter. Our most trouble free lamps were under $100 at ikea. I know which ones cost 10x that, but meh. Under no circumstances purchase doorknobs made by emtek, assa abloy or kwikset. (Two of those brands are $$$). Keep a bottle of spray air on hand at all times because modern smoke detectors will go off at 2am and the only way to fix it (other than a hatchet) is by spraying off the sensors. Whatever your plan is for a roof, get a nicer one. Pick a general contractor that has put up lots of homes in your county.

hedora 3y ago
Oh, and either find someone that has installed like 100 hybrid hot water heaters, or check the installation for wires that rub (heat pumps usually don’t vibrate) and air exhaust / inlet condensation post-install.
- hedora 3y ago
  One other thing. If the house is passively cooled and heated, you will want to leave the windows open when you are not home. European style tilt and turn windows are perfect for this, since they are secure when open in tilt mode: https://www.vetrinawindows.com/styles/tilt-and-turn-windows https://www.vetrinawindows.com/styles/tilt-and-turn-windows (I’ve never heard of that brand, but their webpage has a nice animation explaining the product.)