Community: Plans Review

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3 Answers
What can I add to my "green shopping cart"?

Howdy all! I live in Portland, ME (zone 6A). I was recently approved for an energy loan of $15,000. What prompted me to do this was my kitchen renovation. As with most people, money is tight, and I was looking for away to finance part of the renovation. This loan will cover the energy star appliances and some replacement windows.
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House: 1960's cape with added on 1st floor 350 first floor bedroom.
Insulation: Fiberglass batts with vapor barrier, not too bad.

Asked By Seth Fernald | May 16 12
18 Answers
Under-slab foam: How thick? Spreadsheet for review

I just built a spreadsheet to look at the savings and cost of various thicknesses of foam under a slab. In another thread, I had questioned the PassivHaus use of 14” as being excessive, so I thought I’d take a simplified look for myself, ignoring inflation, etc. This is for zone 8, 14,000 HDD, and $60 for a 4’x8’x4” sheet of 15 psi EPS.

Asked By John Klingel | Feb 20 11
10 Answers
Double stud wall detail....review

I am attaching my proposed double stud wall detail I came up with. Let me know if anyone has any suggestions to improve it, or areas that are overkill/not needed.

The other option is running the ICF to the trusses. I like the benefits of full ICF, however from an energy standpoint (zone 6) I do not think they will hit the goals I am after. At an $8k add, I think it would be a step in the wrong direction.

Asked By Jesse Lizer | Dec 13 11
3 Answers
PERSIST Workshop Wall Construction in Upstate NY (Zone 5A/6A)

I am going to break ground on a 24'x32' detached workshop in a month or two. I liked Martin's article on "Getting Insulation Out of Your Walls and Ceilings" enough that I am going to give the PERSIST technique a try with this workshop. Here is my wall detail.

Asked By Clement B. Edgar III | Mar 4 12
15 Answers
What's wrong with this wall?

From inside out...
1/2" Drywall
2x4 framing
Cellulose
Diagonal T brace or let in 2x bracing
2" XPS caulked and taped (doubles as WRB)
Horizontal Furring strips
Extira Siding

CZ5
2x4 framing w/ 2"XPS makes window bucks easy. Extira (exterior grade MDF) is the probable siding choice as the desired look is approx. 2'x4' panels, and smooth texture is preferred. Running the furring strips horizontally allows the panels to be fastened in a location the makes sense for the panels, as well as allowing some customization of panel size. What am I missing/overlooking

Asked By Aaron Vander Meulen | Jan 3 12
18 Answers
Inverted thickened edge slab. Work?

Having looked at a variety of foundation systems, I see problems with all of them. Any stem wall or thickened edge generates insulating or compacting/pouring issues, as far as I can see, especially w/ lots of foam underneath. This one is not perfect, either. Nevertheless, here is an option I thought of that gives you the rigidity of the thickened-edge slab but is easier to insulate... except at the garage door. It also better locks the house to Terra Firma than a SOG, should there be seismic activity, .... I think it does, anyway. This generates a 4" lip to drive or step over.

Asked By John Klingel | Nov 3 11
10 Answers
Planning a new double-stud house — what should I change?

My wife and I are planning a 2,100-square-foot house in Massachusetts. Here's the plan: a south-facing wall with glazing equal to 13% of the 1st floor area. A 5" radiant slab on grade with 4' frost wall on footings insulated with 4" of xps underneath with a stepped foundation top to minimize thermal bridging.

We were planning a 10 1/2" cavity double-stud wall with dense-pack damp-spray cellulose and lots of air sealing. Huber Zip System exterior sheathing with strapping and vertical pine siding sealed on all sides for a rainscreen wall.

Asked By noah kaput | Sep 15 11
35 Answers
Will these ideas work in Zone 5a?

Hopefully this questions won't be to all encompassing and broad so that it won't make any sense.

I'm trying to build a home in Southern Connecticut to be as energy-efficient and cost-effective as possible. My Dad is a Carpenter / Contractor so we will be doing it ourselves. He has never done anything "green" or energy efficient before, so I have been researching as much as possible to find the most cost-effective and energy-saving way possible.

What I want to do so far:

Home will be Colonial, Gambrel style roof, 36 X 30, no garage.

Asked By Denis Recchia | Jul 26 11
28 Answers
Detail directory

Or perhaps detail dustbin...
If you have a detail that you think would be beneficial to the GBA community, please post it here with the hope that it may eventually be selected for permanent enshrinement in the GBA details "library."

All climate zones are welcome.
It is a shame when perfectly good details become lost in the "void" of long dead Q&A threads.

I should also mention that this thread is listed under the "Plans Review" category for reference.

Asked By Lucas Durand - NW Ontario, 7A | Jan 21 11
33 Answers
What do you think of these plans?

In terms of thermal bridging, heating, etc.... is there anything you would do to improve them because my wife an I are thinking of building and we like the ideas presented in these plans. Any opinions would be appreciated.
thanks
John and Rebecca
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SolarHomes/MAZeroEnergy/Plans.htm

Asked By rebecca Surprenant | May 15 11
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