Browse Forums Building A New House Re: ANY SUSTAINABLE HOMES 3Feb 06, 2010 10:53 pm Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: ANY SUSTAINABLE HOMES 7Feb 07, 2010 12:29 pm Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: ANY SUSTAINABLE HOMES 9Feb 07, 2010 2:18 pm Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: ANY SUSTAINABLE HOMES 10Feb 08, 2010 8:04 am Thanks for some feedback guys, glad to hear someone is on the same line, I always think about what it will be like in ten or twenty years and I am pretty convinced that the McMansions once they pass their 7 year guarantee will be worth bugger all. I grew up in a brand new housing estate and just went back there 15years later and it really was a ghetto, houses that were brand new lovingly looked after with nice gardens and lawns now look like housing commission areas of the 70's. It was right then I realised everyone had built the same designs etc, when you mass produce anything,(think Commodore) the value drops, I am building a house that increases in value not decreases. Any capital gain people get on McMansions is through land value. I have spoken to a few builders myself and it is not hard to build a house sustainably and its not even much more expensive, eg its cheaper to build a house on bearing and joists then concrete! A simple thing like having the entry run right through to the rear of the house increases cross ventilation significantly, and of course as someone said the best thing you could do is buy a block with the living areas to the north. My brief dto a design architect was NO AC required, he said I was the first person to ask for that and he was so excited, I have had to make him reduce a few of the eco things! I believe the next biggest thing is power, I am an Electrical Engineer and believe me in regards to power prices you have not seen nothing yet! They are sky rocketing and its not because people dont want coal, NSW and Victorias electricity Infrastructure is at breaking point! As one builder told me, the construction is no different, as long as the house is still built with straight lines its no more expensive to build, some materials are more expensive such as double glazed windows etc. I have had a housing quote and yes its more expensive than a project home but only because its not a project home, not because I have anything weird. The house still has downlights, just CFL ones, the house still has a fridge, just one with lots of stars, the house will still be cool in 40 degree summer days it just wont be cold! Sorry but obviously this is my passion. And with the NSW govt's 60c gross feed in tariff my system will be making me money pretty damn quickly! Go green guys, its the way of the future. Ask for references and speak to them. If they are defensive or try to avoid the request, walk. 1 74716 I would never build with Fowler homes. I built with them in 2021 and till date maintenance issues are pending. All their existing trades and businesses don't work with… 14 105599 Hi there! Putting the feelers out there for those who have (or almost) built with Arli homes! Interested in your experiences who've built from their stock home designs… 0 23502 |