13th Post – Hunting and gathering

I feel like I am hunting and gathering in a different way. I thought that I had everything done with bids and designs…was I wrong! We had to reexamine our windows and cut some out on the north side of the house. We also are looking at cabinetmakers who specialize in handmade cabinets. Remember, we have 2,000 board feet of White Oak. We would like it used for cabinets and shelving, up more at eye level to see the beautiful wood. I probably won’t be done with hunting and gathering until the house is complete. Was I ever delusional.

Now, moving on to financing the house project. This is not a fun part, but a necessity. How many creative ways can we find to fund our house? More phone calls and seeing people next week.

I am still working on the light sconces. This morning I will finish welding on the leaves and branches for the top of the light structure. I am also going to try some different finishes on scrap pieces to see what I like best. I have made all the glass disks on the torch for the glass domes. Here are some of the glass disks that will be incorporated into the domes. They are representing the growth rings of a tree. 

Have a great weekend.

Be Blue – Protect our sky – We just have one sky, even if we live in different countries or part of a country. Everything we put into the atmosphere may circle the globe, for us one day to breath in. Food for thought!

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12th Post – Plans/Bid

We have all the plans and bid and now with the realization of it all, we have to pull the funding together so our dream can come to fruition.
I am still looking into solar electricity and trying to find the best option for our build. I found several great web sites:
http://www.self.org/shs_tech.asp
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/sh_basics_water.html
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pv_basics.html
http://www.solaroregon.org

Be Blue – Protect our sky – Make sure you combine your errands when you go out!

11th Post – Solar information

There are two companies in the Portland, OR Metro area. I have asked both companies to contact us. I will have to gather the information for the square footage of the roof area that will be able to have solar panels. I have found the information of the Kilowatts used per month for our home now and the cost per Kilowatt we pay to our electric company.
Here are the two companies:

Sanyo Energy (USA) Corp. - us.sanyo.com/solar
1-408-557-4083

Solar World Industries American - www.solarworld-usa.com
25300 NW Evergreen Rd.
Hillsboro, Oregon 97124
1-503-844-3400

Be Blue – Protect our sky – Have you signed up for renewable energy power through your power company?
Did you know that our electrical grid, we use now, was invented by Thomas Edison September 4, 1882. Not much has changed since it was invented. OK, you smart person out there…come up with a storage solution for the energy we harvest!

10th Post - Introduction to solar

HELP!! Is there any other word to use? I am trying to go through the materials for solar panels and what our need will be. The obstacles to overcome are that the terms and technology is daunting. I will do the research, interview and try to put it all in laymen terms.
Here are the questions that I will need to answer for our home project:
1. What are the different makers of solar panels in our area?
2. How do they differ?
3. What style or type of solar panels will be best for our home in the NW?
4. What size of solar panels will we need for our home?
5. How much will this cost?
6. Will it be cost effective for our home?

Be Blue - Protect our sky - email this blog and share it with your friends and family.

9th Post – Happy New Year!

We have all of our plans: heating and ventilation system, elevations and engineering. All of the wish list materials have been settled for the house. We have the bids for deconstruction, and we are now waiting for our construction bids. They should be done by next week.
I have always been great at finding wonderful quality products for good prices. We know what we want, so the hunt is on! When I find great deals, I will pass them on to our readers. Here is the first of my great finds.
Doors
All interior doors come from
The Ugly Duck Warehouse
Spokane, WA
509-326-0199
Pre-hung solid wood doors 150.00 each – WOW!

Be Blue – Protect our sky – change your toilets to dual flush. A regular toilet takes 1.6 to 6 gallons of clean water to flush a toilet. Each person uses the toilet five times a day. That is 8 to 30 gallon per person a day. A dual flush will only use 4.8 gallons of water a day for the five flushes! That is 144 gallons for 30 days for the dual flush toilet and 560 to 900 gallons for a normal toilet you have in your home. This will save on your water and sewage fees! (In most of Europe and Australia they do not sell anything but duel flush.) Change your toilets and request your business that you work for to do the same. If the environmental reason does not sway you, then maybe the money saving route will!