Got Energy!!????

Previous Post July 2008

My daughter Laura and husband Peter just had their 2nd child in the Netherlands. Baby is healthy and all are doing well. Every time I think of my daughter living there it brings to mind how great it is to live in the good old USA. They have to constantly be aware of even the most insignificant use of energy. What is costs them to drive anywhere, heat and cool their home and would have most of us on our back begging for the good old days of the energy costs we are dealing with today.

This is a great lesson on how not to deal with energy other than conservation. Most of their energy in controlled by Russia for their natural gas heating. They are powerless to make any change at all unless it is to accept what prices are dictated to them. They had no energy plan until it was already to late and it became a finite source. Are we here in the US headed to that sub standard of living or will we finally stop playing political games and do what needs to be done to make us self sufficient.

There are many debates out there and none of them are totally right or totally wrong about energy solutions. All of the ideas that are being kicked around should be considered and used to get us out of the mess that we have created for ourselves. The only debate worth having is how to take the politics out of the equation. All I see so far are silly statements on both sides that if you asked them to prove what they are saying, none could do it. You seem to be able to say anything you want with no science data to back it up.

Most of our home building customers are educated enough to realize this is a fact and that they are going to start today to incorporate as many energy saving systems, methods and better construction principals into their homes to reduce their consumption. They have all realized that the payback for better insulation products, geothermal and ICF( Insulated Concrete Forms) is going to continue to shorten the payback period for the extra costs that are incurred.
Last year we completed a ICF home that was built as a duplex and uses geothermal heating and cooling and am told that their heating and cooling bills average $40.00 per month.
This year our parade home is geothermal with a closed cell foam used in the exterior walls and a soft foam used in the attic. You can already tell in the humid summer that it is cooler inside with out even have the systems up yet. I am anxious to see the energy bills on this one. It incorporates other methods that are less expensive than the ICF homes.

The location of this home is in Cedar Falls at 301 Spruce Hills Dr. It is one of our Craftsman Bungalow style Villa Homes. The parade states August 20th and continues thru the weekend. We hope to see you there to appreciate the amenities these homes have to offer.

Craig Fairbanks
Owner
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