Snow Camp, NC

(Retirement-age client couple used our 4.5” thick wall panels and 6.5” thick roof panels for DIY fire resistant (metal sided) home in the country featuring passive-house levels of energy efficiency. Size is 62×28, or 1,736sqft single level. They acted as their own owner/builder and simply hired help when they needed to.)

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Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2018 3:23 PM
Subject: update

Charles,

I could see the end of the construction tunnel if I had my glasses on. We are a week or two from moving in. Actually, when it went down to 4 degrees, we moved into the back bedroom to avoid the RV.

Our conclusions about Eco-Panels have been made. After installing a wood heater, we have had the house at about 65 degrees, even in the most severe cold. Foam Boy and the panels made it all happen. The system is, as we expected, incredible. You get five stars. Smartest thing we ever did.

The trusses have be transformed to winning architectural features, believe it or not. The whole house is open and the trusses are beautiful to look through. After we have a sink, toilet and stove, we are going to cover the construction plates with black iron look alikes (actually semi gloss vinyl flooring that is easy to cut and install). It takes about 150 pieces, so we are patient.

Right now things are a mess, with sheetrock leavings, and unpainted parts. In about 2 weeks I will send you photos before we put the furniture in so you can use them if you like.

Many thanks to you and Ethan and Mike and all your helpers.

H.

Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2018 6:58 AM
Subject: Re: update

Charles,

Hope that you can come again soon as I want to show you the wondrous house.

Our first electricity bill was $43. We open the windows at night, close them at 8am, and the house stays in the low 70’s all day. Have turned on the a/c once.  When we open the front door, it opens the back door. Tight! Can’t think of a single negative.

H.

 

From: Charles
Sent: Sunday, July 8, 2018 6:59 AM
Subject: Follow-Up with Questions

Good morning H,

I wanted to follow up with you with some questions based on our discussion the other week.

You had made motions like “previously you had been ‘scraping by’ and things are much better now”.  Can you elaborate?  And do you have a mortgage or were you able to ‘pay as you go’ and you own the house outright?  (which is awesome!)

I’m thinking it would be wonderful if we could put together an approx. priced out plan for your house if people approach us that want to do it the same way you did – assuming you kept records like that.  We’d be happy to send you $500 or so for every job we could sell off of your plan.  What do you think?  I think people are simply looking for validation of claims, and you could help bring that formula to the table.

I also think of all the fires out west and how your house has metal roof and siding that would protect against that (I think it would protect, anyway).  Was that what you were thinking when you did that?  Or was it the low maintenance of the metal siding?  It’s true that you have a wooden side porch – but those are heavy timbers that you probably know would char and then protect themselves if there was a fire.  Or could also be easily soaked down with water if there was fire danger.

I look forward to hearing your further thoughts on your home.

Best Regards,
Charles

 

Sent: Monday, July 16, 2018 9:16 AM
Subject: Re: Follow-Up with Questions

Charles,

First, I will be happy to help in any way I can. I want people to know what is available that makes less energy waste in the world. I want them to know that you did an incredible job for us..

I kept accurate up-to-date records until the temperature went down to 4 degrees in the RV, I had no internet, bath or kitchen. I am back to putting the records together and I have a Sept. 15 deadline for taxes, so there is hope.

Because we decided to move to NC to be near grandchildren, we sold our farm on ****** Mountain. It was the most gorgeous place in the world, but was huge—500+ acres- and we nearly starved for 20 years keeping it afloat. After the sale, we put the money in the bank, bought a little farm of 50 acres and downsized. Because of that, we were able to go the cash route. I had pages of estimates on the cost. Soon I can tell you how far off I was. No mortgage. Ahhhh.

S. and I have been innovating with energy for 30 years. We built a house from a barn in HOT Texas. It had a coat of polyurethane underneath, the actual test case for that foam insulation. Then we built a house from three grain bins. It was sheathed with foam, had a heated floor (leftovers from a bottom heated greenhouse operation).  We installed the heat tubes under the slate floor that was actually a roof that I found), solar hot water and heated floor from pool solar heaters. We later built an octagon house from insulated foam blocks filled with rebar and concrete. Masonry heater, but no electric air or heat. The last three houses have been sheathed in metal because it is fire resistant and doesn’t need painting. We find that insulation is the key, but then there are a lot of cheap tricks that can be incorporated in the building plan.

Our goal is to use as little earth resources as possible and save money at the same time. This house combines all that we have learned (after we get the solar heat installed). Our electricity bill this month, the hottest of the year, was $81, including 2 freezers and all the welding equipment and carpenter equipment.

Let me know what we can do.

 

From: Charles
Sent: Sunday, August 5, 2018 11:25 AM
Subject: Clothes dryer and Wood Stove Questions

Hi H!

I hope this note finds you and S. doing well.

I was curious if you had found that opening a nearby window or two was helping you with your clothes dryer effectiveness.

Also, I got to thinking about your wood stove.  Does that have a fresh-air intake pipe?  I got to thinking about it and a tight house like yours will not have much combustion air, but I only saw one pipe going up which I’m guessing is only exhaust.

Best,
Charles

 

To: Charles
Sent: Sunday, August 5, 2018 12:23 PM
Subject: Re: Clothes dryer and Wood Stove Questions

Good points, both.

The stove has a fresh air intake below it, a pipe that goes outside the block foundation. Works like a charm.

I hate to admit that I hang clothes on the 500′ clothesline/fence in front of the house. I even have little squares of wire for socks. I did try opening the bath window when I dried a load of clothes shortly after you left and they dried beautifully. Can test further in the winter, with rain and snow.

I am getting ready to install summer screens on four windows on the sunny side. They will be made of solar screen that is made for greenhouses and has varying degrees of solar block. I think I used 80% last time. The screens let you see out, but take out most of the sunlight before it gets to the window. Tried this last house on the west wall and it worked perfectly. We remove the screens in the winter.

I have five weeks to finish the income tax. Starting in the morning. Will get figures to you at that time.

 

Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2018 8:12 AM
To: Charles
Subject: cost of house

 

Charles,

Attached is a summary of the cost of the house. As you know, we did some of the work ourselves, but that is not shown.

I would assume that you would not use things like septic tank, landscape, etc.,, but you can do with this as you like.

I think our expenses on the house from this point will be minimal.

This data does not include the cost of the land, workshops, fences or barn.

Last week, when it was snowing and cold, the temperature was 72 when we went to bed. Had what was left of a fire in the heater. The next morning it was 71.

The electric expense for 2018 was $1214, but part of that was when we were in the RV, part in original service hookups, etc. $100 a month average is about right for the months since we moved in.

We have some plans for heat and electricity in the workshops.  Will be fun.

We are delighted with the house and the EcoPanel and all that goes with it. You all get five stars.

H.

 

 

Sent: Sunday, September 1, 2019 9:45 AM
To: Charles
Subject: combination yesterday

Charles,
Yesterday we had a couple from Boone, NC. Lisa and _______, come to buy a buck. They are living in a travel trailer on their new place and are getting ready to build a house. They were fascinated with our house and will call you shortly. We gave you the usual 5 stars. He plans to do the inside himself. They had a log cabin that he insulated with interior walls. Smart and capable. Gave them a tour of the house. They especially liked the metal siding as they were sick of treating a log cabin every two years.

Then yesterday afternoon we went to Silk Hope old equipment day. Met a fellow in the tobacco drying barn. He is smart and fascinating. Found that he is getting ready to build and plans to call you shortly. The usual 5 star.  He lives at Whitsett and is planning a completely solar house. Retired, knows what he is doing. He’s coming by here to look at the house. I’ll get his name and send it on.

We aren’t finished, but now the things at the top of the list are getting smaller and less trouble. There is hope. We LOVE the house. Run the air cond. in the early morning and leave the house shut all day. Again, electric bill at $85.

Do you want any cone flower, black eye susan, columbine, yarrow seeds? Can mail.

H.