Living Homes: Integrated Design & Construction

by Elpel, Thomas J.

• ISBN13: 9781892784186
• ISBN10: 1892784181
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-01
• Publisher: Hops Pr

Summary

The house of your Dreams does not have to be expensive. The key is all in the planning. How much a house costs, how it books, how comfortable it is, how energy-efficient it is-all these things occur on paper before you pick up even one tool. A little extra time spent in the planning process can save tens of lthousands of dollars in construction and maintenance. That is time well spent!

Table of Contents

Introduction
Building a House on Limited Means: The Elimination of All That Is Unnecessary to Achieve a Dream	1	(12)
Part I: Dreams, Goals, and Ecology
Integrated Design and Construction: Homesteading in the Twenty-first Century	13	(6)
Choosing a Location: Planning a Thousand Years into the Future	19	(4)
Disaster-Poofing Your Home: Preventing the Obvious. Preparing for the Inevitable	23	(8)
Building Codes, Permits, and Inspections: Exceed the Minimum Standards!	31	(4)
Defining Your Goals: A Blueprint Is the Sum of the Criteria	35	(4)
Part II: Principles of Energy Efficiency
Principles of Energy Efficiency: Designing Warm Houses for Cold Climates	39	(3)
Insulation and Insulation Systems: Many Choices, Most of Them Bad	42	(9)
Thermal Mass: How to Capture, Store, and Release Heat	51	(4)
Solar Input: Passive and Active Solar Heating	55	(10)
Heating Systems: For Backup Heat and Hot Water	65	(5)
Rethinking Appliances: Energy Efficiency Is the Path to Independence	70	(7)
Air Quality: Finding Fresh Air in an Airtight House	77	(8)
Part III: Water Supply and Management
Water Supply and Management: Squeezing More Use out of Less Water	85	(5)
Wastewater Management and Reuse: Closing the Loop on Water Waste	90	(13)
Part IV: The Nuts and Bolts of Home Building
Footings, Foundations, and Floors: Starting from the Bottom Up	103	(8)
Cement Mixing and Measuring: Aggregates, Admixtures, Substitutes and Reinforcement	111	(8)
Slipform Stone Masonry: A Stone Masonry Primer	119	(14)
Tilt-Up Construction: A New Lift to the Ancient Art of Stonework	133	(8)
Log-Building Basics: For Builders with Little Time or Experience	141	(12)
Building with Bales: It's Fast, Inexpensive and Energy Efficient	153	(10)
Putting the Roof On: The Search for Better Solutions	163	(6)
Windows and Doors: Putting a Plug in the Thermos	169	(6)
Part V: Finishing the Interior
Revival of the Masonry Stove: An Old but Efficient Heating System	175	(10)
Terra Tiles: Hand-Made Tile Floors from Sand, Cement, Dirt, and Dye	185	(6)
Wood Frame Construction: Building Interior Floors and Walls	191	(8)
Concrete and Fly Ash Countertops: A Nice Kitchen Doesn't have to Be Expensive	199	(6)
Practical Plumbing: Important Tips I Could Have Used	205	(10)
Electricity: Wiring the Alternative Home	215	(8)
A Primer on Paint: Reusing and Recycling	223	(6)
Conclusion
The Road to Sustainbility: Breaking Free from Fossil Fuel Dependence	229	(2)
Bibliography	231	(1)
Index	232