Replies

1. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Dec 03, 2012 11:30am | #1

   Kami,
   One possible resource is a book by architect Debra Rucker Coleman, The Sun-Inspired House.

   Be careful of your resources -- especially older books from the 1980s. A few decades back, books tended to overemphasize energy collection and underemphasize the importance of a good thermal envelope and air sealing measures. These days, the tide has turned somewhat away from the old idea of the "passive solar house" to a more sophisticated approach that requires less south-facing glass.

2. 
   greenhomes | Dec 03, 2012 11:40am | #2

   Thank you Martin, I do have this book. I think I just need to break each item down separately and research them one by one. I feel I need to be the one to make sure this is done right, but it is not my expertise.

3. 
   kevin_in_denver | Dec 03, 2012 02:52pm | #3

   Kami,

   How about a quick unsolicited pros and cons of ICFs?

   PROS:

   1. Good for tornados and hurricanes.

   CONS:

   1. More expensive
   2. Hard to remodel or fix mistakes.
   3. Not enough insulation
   4. The insulation on the interior side of the concrete destroys the value of the thermal mass of the wall.
   5. Hard to run wiring.

4. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Dec 03, 2012 03:00pm | #4

   Kevin,
   Good list!

   I might add one more item to the "pro" list:
   Relatively airtight

5. 
   greenhomes | Dec 03, 2012 04:23pm | #5

   Thanks for the list. I find that it would be easier for me to get this type of home built here vs double stud wall. I also live in tornado territory.

6. 
   Danny Kelly | Dec 06, 2012 12:16am | #6

   Here is another resource - they also provide plan review services and consultanting:
   http://ncsc.ncsu.edu/