Not easy being Green
So Catskill Farms wants to be as green as the next guy and we do everything we can on a day in day out basis to use best practices to ensure our homes our as green and non-wasteful as possible. Here are some pics of the new insulation that we using in homes that ask for it. It's a foam-based system that ensures a better seal and air-penetration barrier than the traditional pink panther.
One of the arguments against the traditional 'batt' insulation is that it leaves too many weak points and air penetration opportunities - especially in these times of high energy costs, having a house that neither leaks or allows air in is a plus.
It's pretty cool stuff - get's sprayed in each bay of the house, providing a pretty solid air barrier.
Kind of pricey too - about double the cost of traditional batt insulation. And when I saw how much was brushed into the dumpster I definitely sat the foreman down for a little chit chat.
There's a lot of pros and cons with all the new 'green' ways of building - most of the items don't add a lot of value, but a few do - orient the house to work passively with the sun, and use good construction techniques to minimize waste, air penetration and heat loss.
Other ways to conserve include energy efficient appliances, florescent lighting, improved insulation, improved window glazing, automatic thermastats, low VOC paints, stains and polys, oriented strand plywood and sheathing, duel flush toilets, on demand hot water.
Since Green means more green (dinero), they also have green mortgages for people spending a little extra in an attempt at long terms savings. Some of the better products can also reduce the cost of homeownership over the long run. For those really wanting to spin the electric meter backwards, solar heat, hot water and electric are an option, and there are some serious federal and state rebates for those who go for it. It's still expensive and still a pretty long payback period but if you want to be off the grid and really stick it to the coal manufacturers that supply our energy grid with juice, there is no better way. Throw in a little wind mill ...
But, to be honest, saving money while owning a house comes more down to using the house intelligently - setting the heat at a reasonable level, turning down the heat and turning off the lights when no one's around, taking shorter showers, wearing a sweater, using the fireplace. it was kind of funny that using common sense saw such a marketing push over the past year disguised as a 'new way of living' - to me, it's the same old living, just maybe with a little more consciousness of consumption and waste.
It's winter and there are some precautions that need to be taken to protect your house - but that list is for another day.
Today, Lisa spent 2 hours trying to get her and 4 wk old Lucas to the local dump to get rid of our recycling, diaper bag and assorted garbage and she finally gets out the door and to the dump and what does she find but the dump is closed because of course Veteran's Day falls on a Tuesday (?) this year.
WildLife
We are just starting to build a house in a little 'community' outside of Barryville. The house will be 1300 sq ft, big open loft, big fireplace 2 bedrooms, 6+ acres, and a glorious pond view. Here's what we saw on the way in the other day - a Hawk and her friend, the Bald Eagle.
And another pic of my new company truck with James exiting Left. I look like a real builder with this truck even though I really don't do a whole lot of nail hammerin'.
Artistic Integrity
so me and lisa and lucas and my dad and his wife alta who were in town from lancaster pa in order to visit with our new son went to narrowsburg ny to 15 main for some dinner last night and i went to the local art gallery with luke to check out what's new and lo and behold an expensive framed photograph that i purchased a few months back for what could only be seen as some real coin was sitting right there, in the same frame, the same photo - like someone said, hey that worked, let's do the exact same thing, lessening my perception of what I purchased. not that i really care, but it makes me realize what makes our homes so special - we are not lazy, and we rage against the 'easy way' and reinvent our design techniques and materials on every single house. nothing is harder than building a different house every time we build one - much easier to imitate ourselves, to repeat ourselves, to pretend we value the artistic achievement born from each collaboration from catskill farms and the individual owners. how much easier it would be to just order 2 of those faucets, one for this house, and then we could just go ahead and use the other one for the next house. it's just comes down to respect - i respect the fact that uniqueness and originality, while arduous and not risk free - produces the product that has made us what we are, warts and all. it's a principle that is readily evident to anyone who knows our homes and efforts. the hardwork associated with keeping it real obviously has value - since even in these difficult times, we are able to help families achieve their dream of living inside a piece of original art at a price tag that is astonishly affordable.
Farmhouse at Lot 3, Highland Farms
Our large cottage at Highland Farms is nearing completion. This 2000 sq ft cottage is actually a little larger since we created a walkout basement and then finished it off. The owners of this house have really done a nice job keeping it real and the clean modern design is complimented throughout with detail. Such as a glossy black tile fireplace with white grout, large piece of glass instead of spindles, big darkly stained floors, big projection/media room in the basement, an office space with blood red carpet for the man of the house, the rest of the basement is carpeted with that material they use on playgrounds or pre-school - soft rubber/foam that snaps together. White porcelain doorknobs, antique doors, kickass deck with built in seats and beer holders. And amazing, this house started with the Owners bringing me a vague outline from a book of cottage photos - from there, with only $6000 dedicated to architecture we have come a long way, nearly finished with this pretty cool home that we started in June. Big wall of windows in the mid-morning sun.
This bad photo captures the fireplace, the stairwell that will have glass installed, and a 4 panel door stained jacobean with a high gloss finish.
Here is another bad picture in bad lighting of the salvaged door we found, coupled on the right with a sliding chalkboard door for that never-ending always expanding honey do list.
Now this deck really creams the coffee. Not only is it a nice size, but we designed it so the safety spindles guiderail was designed and built at seating, so no furniture necessary. One less honey do item - 'bring in the furniture, honey'. Not at this house. Great design, great execution, great craftsmanship.
Won't be long and this house we be finished. We are hoping to bring her in for a soft landing a little after thanksgiving.
Regardless of the depression, international currency crash, liquidity crisis, job losses and a host of overblown points of media interest, we plan on closing this house after thanksgiving, Cottage 9 in early December, Cottage 15 in early December, Cottage 14 in Early January, Cottage 13 in late January, and Farmhouse 10 in early February.
We just started clearing land for our next 3 homes that will come onto the market in early next year. A 1000 sq ft modern ranch on 5 acres with big views, a 800 sq ft cottage with a big stream on 5+ acres, and a very cool expanded cottage 8, with a pond view, loft space, 2 bedrooms.
