High Performance
- Affordable Cost
Questions and
Answers about the House Plans
- How were energy measures
chosen?
We show energy measures
that, taken together, are the best value for the consumer. We
wanted high comfort and safety levels combined with the lowest
possible annual operating cost and construction cost. To keep
construction costs affordable, we wanted measures that easily
meet current codes and standards, and that are readily understood
by most builders. We select measures that return solid savings
to consumers.
Can I change the floor plan?
- The floor plan is flexible with
one caution: we'd recommend not altering the mechanical room
and ventilation system ductwork unless you are willing to get
additional technical support for this change in system design.
What about a different
heating system?
Overall, the house performs
as a system. If any system changes are made, care must be taken
to ensure that compatible choices are made. With gas, oil or
propane, only sealed combustion heating units must be
used with this type of construction. Electric heat is possible,
but we do not recommend using wood stoves or fireplaces to heat
these homes.
What if my lot is different?
What if my lot has no solar access?
One of the best features of hight-performance housing is that
it performs well no matter where your building site is located.
While south solar orientation and access can provide 15 percent
of the space heat, overall performance isn't changed that much
if solar access isn't possible. One key thing to remember is
that we show heat rejection glass on WEST-facing windows. We
recommend this to avoid overheating through WEST windows or any
windows where summer shading isn't possible.
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- What if I want a fireplace?
- Only SEALED COMBUSTION GAS fireplaces
are appropriate for these homes. If you want to replace the home's
heater with a sealed combustion gas fireplace, choose a model
that is designed as a space heater, not a decorative appliance.
This option adds both ambiance and additional costs.
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- Will this work outside
the areas shown on the map?
- We don't recommend building
homes from these plans outside the shaded areas shown on the
map above. The measures are selected for climates with 7,000
heating degree days or more, and other measures will prove better
values in other climate zones.
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- What flooring do you recommend?
- We have opted to show sheet
vinyl and hardwood floor tiles as the flooring choice with the
best consumer value for larger families. These also are a good
value in the case of owner-builders and volunteer labor.
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- How will this house rate
in energy programs?
- This is a five-star home, with
maximum energy savings.
- Each Plan in the
Cold Climate Series Includes:
- Site/Lot Layout
- Floor Plan
- Footing and Foundation Plan
& Details
- Floor Framing Plan
- Window and Door Schedule
& Details
- Complete Wall Section
- Room-by-room Finish Schedule
- Ceiling Blocking Plan
- Elevations (four sides)
- Kitchen Elevations, Large-scale
Kitchen Plan with Cabinet Layout and List
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- Heat Recovery Ventilation
System - Plenum Plan and Ductwork Layout
- Heat Recovery Ventilation
System - Whole House Cutaway View
- Heating, Ventilating and
Water Heating Appliances Information & Details
- Electrical Plan and Electrical
Equipment Schedule
- Step-by-step Construction
Sequence, with companion exploded diagram
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- The house plans include 25 easy-to-handle
11x17 sheets of complete details. These plans are based on detailed
field research from the award-winning Montana Superinsulation
Project and on the previous experience of a critically acclaimed
and highly successful series of house plans for low-cost, high
performance homes.
These
earlier plans were referenced by Ned Nisson who wrote in The
Superinsulated Home Book, "Their houseplans are considered
the best available."
Do you have more questions
about our house plans? We'd be happy to answer them. Send us
e-mail right now to nahn@nahn.com.
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- Would you like to order houseplans?
Go to our order form page by clicking here.
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