My husband and I are planning to move to our ranch in East Texas. Our dream is to build a green self-sustainable home and utilize solar for electricity, rain water catchment for watering our garden, as well as using our own well for drinking water. However, one issue we are contending with is the high humidity factor in East Texas. We have discussed several options, 1. building a timber framed home with SIP panels, which utilizes far less wood than a traditional wood home, 2. a straw bale home, which is very well insulated, 3. as well as building separate attached buildings that enable you to cool/heat only as needed.
We've seen several TV shows on building green homes, but haven't seen one built particularly in a hot, humid type of environment. Please let us know if you have any suggestions.
Thank you!
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Look into ICF construction too
If you have not already, you should look into ICF construction. It is one of the fastest growing building methods in the country, and is a great solution in hot and humid climates. Using SIPS is also a great building method, and both methods can be used in building a zero energy home. If you are planning on building the home yourself, you should look into getting some help with http://www.GreenHomeCoach.com. They will team you up with a licensed contractor in your area that will provide invaluable assistance in your building project, and help you get it done on time and within your budget. Good Luck!
East Texas neighbor?
May I inquire... whereabouts in East Texas is your ranch? I'm hoping we'll be close-ish neighbors!
My partner and I bought a 13-acre plot of vibrant, living land just a couple miles north of Fruitvale. It doesn't have any development at all, so we're getting ready to do the long, arduous task of doing virtually everything ourselves. Being over 50, we need to keep our plans reasonable enough for our physical abilities, of course.
Over the last, oh, 18 months or so we've become very keen on permaculture. Along the way, we've been reading and watching all we can about alternative energy, alternative building, natural gardening of Fukuoka and Stout ... you know, all those radical and radically cheap options. ;)
I really hope your project is progressing better than you ever imagined. We would love to hear from you, if you would be so kind as to reply.
Thank you,
Petrea Rasmussen & Christie Deyoung