Reader Comments on Energy Efficient: Vermont Five-Star Home from YankeeMagazine.com http://www.yankeemagazine.com/rss/index.php Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:09:14 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.yankeemagazine.com/seenewengland/test/energyhouse Conservation of energy is a must to help our environment as well a for our own good. Despite the fact that I thought that Gov. Rick Perry was sternly opposing any stimulus funds, the Texas Powerful Smart program is nevertheless going on over the month of April. The Texas appliance rebate program will give Texans a cash return if they buy and claim (together with recycling the old ones) Energy Star related appliances. It can be more than a payday advances worth, based upon on the replacement model and the model traded in. It is a good concept - although really, getting appliances that work just as well but conserve you energy, and therefore money, ought to be its own reward to start with. Yankee Publishing (rss@ypi.com) Mon, 12 Apr 2010 08:38:11 +0100 http://www.yankeemagazine.com/seenewengland/test/energyhouse NICE...Beautiful Vermont home with lots of long term efficiency planning and consideration for proper site placement to maximum benefits of natural elements. After many years of ownership/ocupancy of large 1800\'s colonial, we downsized for energy efficiency and to simplify our physical space needs. We built timber frame (douglas fir, pegged joinery/no metal fasteners) cottage on small lake with direct walk out basement (incorporated natural granite outcroppings along paths/corner of house into landscaping). We attained energy efficiency w/stress skin panel walls/roof, Buderus furnace, back up heating source from gas fireplace appreciated during ice storm/multi day power outage, insulated foundation, energy star appliances, etc. We hired licensed contractors for site work, electrical, plumbing & heating systems. My father-in-law and I framed interior walls and installed windows. From there on my brave wife and I installed sheetrock/mudded/sanded/primed/painted walls, ceilings & trim, built/finished interior staircases, installed doors & trim, stained/installed beadboard, installed solid cherry flooring, installed ceramic & stone tile flooring for counters/fireplace surround (worth trip to Trikeenan Tile...we chose forest/water scene & hand cut tiles). Lots of late nights/weekends, but we moved into the house six months after footing/foundation poured. Landscaping now almost done after few summers...flagstone patio, antique redware garden edging, lots of perennials & shrubs requiring minimal watering, plus veggie & tomato garden..all hands on by the two of us with picks, pry bar, shovels and wheel barrow of course... Yankee Publishing (rss@ypi.com) Wed, 02 Jun 2010 02:03:24 +0100