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what method of home building would you choose ? and why please?

I am looking for A fairly inexpensive green home building technique that will provide maximum energy efficiancy.
To be built in A moderate climate ( less than 30 in. snow per year summer highs around 80’s )
I have looked at strawbale ,cob, adobe, earthbag, & rammed earth, But sorting out actual info is difficult.
Any one out there that has actualy build one of these ?
Can you share some thoughts ? costs,permits,insurance,etc.?

Consider going to some work shops on these various techniques. You will never know for sure until you get your hands dirty and see first hand some of the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

Also the more homes made with the various techniques you can go see, the more inspired you’ll become for one method or another.

Check out the “Canelo Project” for a great load bearing straw bale system. My wife and I have been to 2 of Bill & Athena’s work shops. We will be building our own load bearing straw bale home this summer in SW Colorado.

What ever system you go with, use as many local resources as possible… we went with straw bale because of the low cost, structural strength, and our home site has good clay for plasters and rammed earth floors, and numerous farms to source straw from (wheat, barley, oats). We have a small saw mill that can rip some of our beatle killed Pondorosa Pines into dimensional lumber for floor joists and roof truses. We’ll also use these dead trees for posts and railing on the porch, because I love to use my draw knives and peel them myself.

Our home will cost about $75.00 a square foot, because we’ll do most of the labor and I can do just about all the phases except the foundation.

We have an architect, that only designs and builds green, specializing in adobe and straw bale… We will be building the first load bearing straw bale home in Archuleta County Colorado. Our first meeting with the county went very well, so I see no problem getting a permit, but we rocked on our power point presentation…

Our site has many pine trees so forest fire is a concern. I have interviewed several insurance brokers, the older ones blow smoke, and the younger ones are open to new ideas and will try to work with you to get a better rate. In our case we will use a pro-panel (metal) roof, as we will capture rain water. Trex decking for the porches and decks and lots of clay plaster and stone work. So, the only things that will be flamable are our log porch post and the railing… If we keep that new foam stuff on site, we can get additional discounts.

Our rain water collection system will be hooked up to a 20,000 gallon sistern system, with an accessible fire port in the front of the house for the fire depatrment, they really like that, and have asked if we would allow it’s use for neighbors… I said sure, for a discount on my property taxes!!!

We are blessed with being debt free. But I know that there are some issues with financing some of these alternative building methods, especialy with the mess the whole housing market is in now…

Just remember what banks like, a big down payment and consistant growth in the equity of the home.

Keep your design conventional looking and add luxury. You might intend to live there the rest of your life, but everyone else looks at resale value, especialy the banks and realators…

I have a reatator friend that knows my home site area (location, location, location), and has reviewed the plans… our total investment will be $200,000 with land and buildings, he thinks it will apraise at over $500,000. But he knows I’m a trim carpenter, my son does hardwood floors and my wife is a great tile setter… not to mention the rock work I’ve already done at the site that has gotten me some side jobs… sweat equity… banks should like that too, if I needed one.

Good luck with your venture!

Don’t be afraid to really dig in and talk to lots of people and see stuff first hand, get your hands dirty and keep an open mind.

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