Issues → July/August 2007 → Home & Garden →
Energy Efficient: Vermont Five-Star Home
(page 3 of 3)
Best Wood Heater You'll Find Anywhere
For efficient, comfortable, and clean-burning wood heat, a masonry heater is the answer. The concept's not new -- Romans heated their baths this way, and Scandinavians have been using this method for hundreds of years. It was Frieda's husband, Alan, who really pushed for a masonry heater. They chose craftsman Rod Zander to design and build theirs. Here's how it works: A wood fire burns rapidly, and hot gases from the fire flow back and forth through a network of channels built inside the heater. The resulting heat transfers to the masonry mass -- in this case, soapstone -- which radiates the stored heat into the room for 12 to 24 hours. Like many homeowners, Frieda likes the low-tech simplicity and reliability of a masonry heater: There are no fans, pipes, burners, or boilers to crack or fail when the power goes out. Theirs has a built-in bench and a bake oven, which turns out everything from pizza with a perfect crust to delicious slow-cooked soups and stews.
Rod Zander has custom- built nearly 200 masonry heaters. Prices start at about $12,000 for a soapstone model that will heat 500 to 900 square feet.
Rod Zander, New England Hearth & Soapstone, Goshen, CT. 877-491-3091, 860-491-3091; rodzander.com
Resources
Builder: Art Carlucci Construction, Inc., Shaftsbury, VT. 802-442-2307; accbuilders.net
Architect: David Shaughnessy, North Bennington, VT. 802-447-0970.
Heating systems:
Buderus, Londonderry, NH. 800-283-3787, 603-552-1100; buderus.net
HS Tarm, Lyme NH. 800-782-9927, 603-795-4740; woodboilers.com
Windows: Marvin Windows. marvin.com
Insulation: Corbond. corbond.com
Foundation: Reward Wall Systems. 800-468-6344; rewardwalls.com
Vermont Energy Star Homes, Rochester, VT. 800-893-1997; efficiencyvermont.com
U.S. Department of Energy energystar.gov, eere.energy.gov
Reader Comments
Comment from kate churves on April 12, 2010
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.
Comment from Tuomo Peltokangas on June 1, 2010
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...
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