Greetings premies. What a great resource this website is!
My wife and I are pursuing smaller, simple,
energy efficient living quarters on raw or degraded property, probably in Southeast Minnesota or western Wisconsin. Cold winters with prevailing northwest winds, humid lush summers. We like designing and building things. I built a passive
solar duck house about a year and a half ago here in Minnesota and it's been awesome, like 30-40 degrees warmer than outdoor temp on a sunny day, and it isn't anywhere near airtight as duck entry to the run is always open, and doesn't even have any thermal mass to speak of. Kinda sold me on passive
solar...
Anyhow, we're hitting the property hunt quite hard at the moment, and when I look at anything but fixer uppers I really ought to begin being as realistic as possible about what it's going to cost us to build something modest but efficient on raw
land. I've done research here and there, and have a design in mind, which I'll get to, and which I have some preliminary sketches of attached. Note that all features of the sketches or description below are open to modification or compromise etc. I am hoping for big picture (or narrow I suppose) input of any kind really, and or any leads on eco/alternative builders or design consultants in the southeastern Minnesota / western Wisconsin area.
We're not necessarily going all natural on this. There is certainly going to be some
concrete and probably a metal roof. We will consider
straw bale or compressed earth block or bags, or (anyone have
experience with ICF "insulated concrete form" construction?) whatever honestly, but am not ruling stick frame out by any means either, and it even seems likely given cost constraints. Maybe thicker studs with more spacing yea? Anyhow what I THINK I need is also referrals to consultants/designers/builders of any kind in this area (or those who consult remotely I suppose) who can help me determine what is going to fit our budget when the time comes. Need to know how much I can spend on land at this point essenetially. I would also just love feedback on if others who have gone this route before me think of my aspirations with respect to the budget or design practicality...
I've seen smaller homes that supposedly cost like 20K... I don't expect that to be realistic for us. BUT, if access is good, and a well doesn't have to be prohibitively deep, and we implement the smallest possible septic, etc, is it unreasonable to expect to be able to build something around 800-1000 square feet for like 60-80K? IS IT? Im hoping it could be possible... I mean all I really want is a glorified (passive solar) hunting shack... Relentless utility, and simplicity would abound.
Following are the design considerations I'm kicking around:
-Passive-solar, mono pitch metal roof (one big gutter on the back to collect rainwater in) one OR two story home with a simple rectangle
footprint, actively heated primarily with
wood fuel, but with backup heat
enough to prevent home from freezing if left vacant for a few days. Could be electric or propane, whatever.
-This actively heated portion of the home would include one large kitchen open to one moderate sized living/dining area, one full bathroom, one small master bedroom, and maybe small utility room if necessary, all on the main level.
-The home will also need two more very small bedrooms, but they can be lofted or on a second level or on the main and only floor too, whatever proves more most cost and or material and or heat efficient.
-Solarium/corridor off south side of the home, acting as greenhouse/mudroom and with the aim of also adding insulation value to window side of the home. Likely self built and with salvage materials, but likely needs footings/foundation at time of initial build.
-Earth-bermed or submerged (depending on terrain) cellar/utility/storage-space/corridor on the north side of the home, also not actively heated (maybe a
wood stove in there for coldest days of winter), also with the aim of adding insulation value to the home on the cold side, and being the closest thing to a basement for storm safety etc.
-Just finished concrete floors for the main (and maybe only) level (we'll use rugs)
-No closets
-Minimal plumbing (one kitchen sink, one tub, one bathroom sink, one washtub, all on a small on-demand
water heater) and maybe one hose line (might just have a shallow well or spring/pond pump outside home for outdoor
water)
-Composting (
bucket n wood chips) toilet.
-Minimal electric routing, could even be exposed industrial conduit style
-Whatever interior wall finishing is cheapest while not compromising insulate value of that matters there. I'd even do plywood if it were cheaper than drywall. Non stick frame stuff to suite of
course.
-Self built
rocket mass heater likely near center of main floor (part of the reason I'm thinking 2 stories might be most heat efficient)
Lots of ideas here, curious to know if people with experience see any holes in the plan as of now, if there are any recommendations, or if I can get any leads on builders or designers to work with in MN/WI. Also, I hoe this is safe to do here, but you can email me personally at
nathanpieper22@gmail.com with any recommendations or considerations. Thanks for any help!