{"id":111,"date":"2016-07-21T04:11:54","date_gmt":"2016-07-21T04:11:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zanavu.com\/blog\/?p=111"},"modified":"2022-06-03T15:27:02","modified_gmt":"2022-06-03T23:27:02","slug":"build-a-house-and-you-learn-a-lot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zanavu.com\/notes\/2016\/07\/21\/build-a-house-and-you-learn-a-lot\/","title":{"rendered":"Build a house and you learn a lot …"},"content":{"rendered":"

In my mother tongue – Tamil – there is a saying:<\/p>\n

“\u0b92\u0bb0\u0bc1 \u0bb5\u0bc0\u0b9f\u0bcd\u0b9f\u0bc8 \u0b95\u0b9f\u0bcd\u0b9f\u0bbf\u0baa\u0bcd \u0baa\u0bbe\u0bb0\u0bcd;\u00a0\u0b92\u0bb0\u0bc1\u00a0\u0b95\u0bb2\u0bcd\u0baf\u0bbe\u0ba3\u0bae\u0bcd \u0baa\u0bcd\u0ba3\u0bcd\u0ba3\u0bbf\u0baa\u0bcd \u0baa\u0bbe\u0bb0\u0bcd”<\/p>\n

meaning, “Build a house; conduct a wedding” to learn more. Everyone lives almost half their lives in their houses, so let us make it great.<\/p>\n

A few years back a dream to build a house<\/em>\u00a0entered our minds. We were a small family of three people with our parents visiting us from India often. In India we are used to having parents, children, and grandparents living together inside a single house. We wanted a place for our parents to stay, without having them climb stairs for upstairs bedrooms. Most houses on sale that we visited lacked the four\u00a0items that I deemed were important – energy efficiency, open spaces, main floor bedroom and effective mud-room and coat closet. So we decided to build our own house.<\/p>\n

We started designing the house in 2011<\/em> with PB Elemental Architects (now Elemental Design). See pictures at the Architizer site<\/a>. \u00a0We worked with YS Built to build the house\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0and completed in 2013.\u00a0The house was featured in Fresh homes and other architecture blogs.<\/p>\n

We were intrigued with energy efficiency as well. Using the reduce, reuse, and recycle<\/em> principles, we built a comfortable house that can\u00a0reduce energy demands and\u00a0ended up getting the project certified for LEED Platinum<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The house uses Passive Energy <\/em>designs to cut down on energy loss and promote energy reuse, starting with better insulation. We used \u00a0double the foam board insulation for foundations. We reduced air leakage on the side walls using closed cell spray foam insulation. Low emissivity high insulation double pane (or triple pane) glass windows let in ample natural light while cutting down on energy loss. Well placed windows create ample cross-ventilation air flow reducing need for air conditioning during summer months.<\/p>\n

On the active design<\/em> front, the house uses zone controlled radiant floor heating systems provides amazing levels of comfort and reduced dry air flow at low energy costs. Electrical and gas powered hybrid water heating system with recirculating pumps also reduces energy demand for hot water. (A separate tankless water heater feeds some bathrooms.)\u00a0High efficiency heat recovery ventilators circulate fresh air while reusing the heat from outflowing air. Finally, use of LED lighting and efficient appliances lowers costs and lengthens operating life. With nearly 200+ lights LED lighting also reduced replacement frequency.<\/p>\n

Pragmatic choices based on location and availability are required. For instance, geo-thermal systems or solar panels were considered and not installed because the cost economics did not justify itself.<\/p>\n

With key focused improvements, our house is comfortable and reduces energy used per square foot by up to 60% compared to other houses in the neighborhood. Puget Sound Energy rates our energy consumption\u00a0among the top 10% of energy efficient houses here.\u00a0Exciting innovations in construction technology and smart appliances will continue to improve our lives in the years to come.<\/p>\n

Many people helped us in the journey to build our house including our valuable neighbor who helped us find the old house in the first place.\u00a0We now provide\u00a0inputs\u00a0to several others who are remodeling or building their new houses. I encourage you to build a house at least once in your lifetime.<\/strong> <\/em>It is a fulfilling and learning experience. \u00a0If you need help with your house project, please contact me.<\/em><\/p>\n

Now I have a new dream to\u00a0learn and build a business.\u00a0My technology experience is certainly valuable base to start from. And still I have\u00a0a lot to learn about being in a business. That learning journey has started. If you can help, please let me know.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In my mother tongue – Tamil – there is a saying: “\u0b92\u0bb0\u0bc1 \u0bb5\u0bc0\u0b9f\u0bcd\u0b9f\u0bc8 \u0b95\u0b9f\u0bcd\u0b9f\u0bbf\u0baa\u0bcd \u0baa\u0bbe\u0bb0\u0bcd;\u00a0\u0b92\u0bb0\u0bc1\u00a0\u0b95\u0bb2\u0bcd\u0baf\u0bbe\u0ba3\u0bae\u0bcd \u0baa\u0bcd\u0ba3\u0bcd\u0ba3\u0bbf\u0baa\u0bcd \u0baa\u0bbe\u0bb0\u0bcd” meaning, “Build a house; conduct a wedding” to learn more. Everyone lives almost half their lives in their houses, so let us make it great. A few years back a dream to build a house\u00a0entered our minds. We […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,9,23],"tags":[26,5,20,4],"class_list":["post-111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-household","category-kids","category-personal","tag-family","tag-ideas","tag-imagination","tag-possibilities"],"yoast_head":"\nBuild a house and you learn a lot ... - Bright Possibilities<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/zanavu.com\/notes\/2016\/07\/21\/build-a-house-and-you-learn-a-lot\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Build a house and you learn a lot ... - Bright Possibilities\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In my mother tongue – Tamil – there is a saying: “\u0b92\u0bb0\u0bc1 \u0bb5\u0bc0\u0b9f\u0bcd\u0b9f\u0bc8 \u0b95\u0b9f\u0bcd\u0b9f\u0bbf\u0baa\u0bcd \u0baa\u0bbe\u0bb0\u0bcd;\u00a0\u0b92\u0bb0\u0bc1\u00a0\u0b95\u0bb2\u0bcd\u0baf\u0bbe\u0ba3\u0bae\u0bcd \u0baa\u0bcd\u0ba3\u0bcd\u0ba3\u0bbf\u0baa\u0bcd \u0baa\u0bbe\u0bb0\u0bcd” meaning, “Build a house; conduct a wedding” to learn more. 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