Construction is fun!

After we signed all agreements it seemed like forever for the actual construction to begin. That is the permit process. Also I had not included sewer hookup fees, road impact fees and water hookup fees in my budget and that was a shock. The fees were over $8,000 being on a too tight of budget I was shocked. The cost of everything had gone up since building our first home.

Then Craig, my contractor, called me with Good and Bad news. I asked for the bad news first. This news made me so happy that I do not remember the good news. The bad news was that two thirds of the house had to be two feet underground! I was getting passive geothermal!!!! This did not change how the house looked from inside just a lower profile on the outside. Over time it has been amazing. As the trees grow I have no need for air conditioning or even fans for cooling. Imagine it is 100 degrees outside and you walk into your home and it is a cool 78 degrees without fans or any cooling device. This year my highest energy bill during the summer was $59 dollars and that was because I had company for a couple of weeks. The greater part of the house that is underground is on the bedroom area which makes it warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. The windows didn't change from the plan and I have to tell people to look outside to see the difference in elevation.

Other benefits to having a house two feet underground it is easier to paint, uses less paint, washing windows does not require ladder and you can see your plants outside. And if you need to climb in the roof that does not require a very big ladder.