Found the Site Afterall

Great sunny day to visit the jobsite!  At first it was a bit tricky finding the site because I hadn't gotten directions.  I figured that I would just drive down Wolfe's Neck Road and come across WR trucks or signs or something.  If you're trying to find the site, here's a photo of the road that it's on.  Just keep your eyes peeled until we get a sign posted.   

After the first "snag" with the ledge, the project has progressed on schedule within a day or two even with of all of this rain.  The crew had installed ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) and were applying the first floor Warmboard radiant heating system.  The tongue and groove system seemed easily managed and eliminates the need for a subfloor and underlayment.  While the Warmboard product is more costly than your average flooring system, estimated 20-25% initial increase, it claims to distribute heat more efficiently.  Using a standard radiant heat flooring system the heat needs to travel through levels of flooring before radiating warmth.  With Warmboard, the aluminum and tubing is exposed directly to the 3/4" finished floor allowing for the water to run at a lower overall temperature with the optimum heat output.  Therefore, it is expected the initial up-front cost will be paid back in the energy savings. 

And...the water heater will be powered by solar!  How's that for ultimate efficiency?

Carbon Collaborations

I came across another blog that contains contains commentary about carbon and the quest for reduction.  Check out the terrablog.  It is hosted by TerraPass, a non-profit founded by a UPenn professor, that finances projects utilizing solar, wind and biomass projects.  Impressive collaberations include their recent partnership with the Ford Motor Company.  Ford will now calculate the amount of CO2 produced by the consumer and suggest an amount to invest in renewable energy sources in order to offset their vehicle's carbon.  Businesses being proactive is a good step in the right direction.
On that note, I attended the Governor's Carbon Challenge reception this week with many other businesses leaders and individuals with sincere concern for the well-being of future generations.  I was impressed with their aggressive commitments to reduce their carbon footprint and emissions.  There are more than 50 businesses in the State, large and small, committed to this challenge.  It's a solid start by our State to address a global concern.

Site Lines for LEED Home

After the groundbreaking a couple weeks ago, our crews immediately hit ledge and construction was paused for site reevaluation.  Could we move the house and maintain the original site synergy in the plans?  No.  This meant that we were forced to blast the ledge which doesn't seem very Earth friendly, I know.  Considering the Maine location, it's a common construction practice.  However, check out The Ridge House which was designed and constructed on the spine of ledge so as not to disturb any of the site.

As it stands, the project is moving forward and our in-house crew will layout the foundation.  The construction delay is not expected to postpone the completion date.