High Performance Desert Build: ICF, SIPs, Ready-Frame & more.

Thanks Brad and Mark for the awesome tour of this Net Zero Desert home build.
Learn more:
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Construction Instruction: constructioninstruction.com/
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[@user-mo6rn1gs5l]

This is a good book. Does provide a step by step introduction to how to build things kzbin.infoUgkxhgbP-6hUnXu_QRaoHgLztgsI0YF3HqR0 , also does offer some steps. Includes pictures to give you ideas for layouts and such. If you are looking for a guide, this is not exactly what you want. But if you are trying to familiarize yourself with the way that pole barn building and other out buildings, are made, then this will work just as you need it to. A few things in this book are a barn (of course), detached garage, storage building, and coops.

[@Cliffhanger552]

I would really love if after you talk about a detail to then show the plan detail for 5 secs. Connecting the discussion with the plans would be really cool.

[@he-man3653]

Good the hear that he can enjoy his cold beer while the rest of the southwest is running out of water.

[@captsavage3049]

Ghost threw some sunglasses at Matt at 7:06. 👻👻👻

[@rvbzero7]

Old guy knows what he's doing

[@seanpalmer8472]

One of the nice things about building in the desert (or other places with mild winters): you can have large, north-facing windows to let in _lots_ of natural light. As long as they have vertical shade walls (usually perpendicular to the building) that are adequately large to keep out the direct sun at the summer solstice, you can add a ton of natural light with minimal thermal penalty _and_ without obstructing the view. One of my biggest pet peeves about buildings in the desert is unshaded (or improperly shaded) glazing. Almost all non-custom homes put no thought into building orientation, and those buildings' thermal performance really suffers.

[@GeraldLeenerts]

Should have stopped by at our build here in Scottsdale where we are building a high performance that is also environmentally friendly and does not feature any foam.

[@chasemiller175]

What are you using instead of foam?

[@JoshuaRes]

Blown cellulose?

[@GeraldLeenerts]

@@chasemiller175 We use Wood Fiber Insulation (Gutex) and Wool (Havelock). The alternative is cellulose. Foam is an insanely bad product, it's bad for the environment, health and it doesn't even function that way as an insulation.

[@GeraldLeenerts]

​@@JoshuaRes cellulose is great and would have made the cut if we didn't have access to these other products.

[@victorestevez7809]

I just LOVE when Pro’s come together to share knowledge for all to learn. Much love and respect to you Matt for making it happen.

[@hampyonce]

The architect guy is super cool. Good stuff, Build Show!

[@peteaulit]

I’d like to see the mechanical design on this house. Can you make this happen, Matt?

[@buildshow]

I’ll bet they might let me see it again

[@peteaulit]

@@buildshow great! please ask them to share. It would be interesting to see what equipment and layout they came up with. Those type of houses scare a lot of AC contractors.

[@MrRedTux]

@@buildshow As a homeowner who's been watching your videos, I've come to really understand the importance of having an adequately large mech room that's well laid out, because at some point some or everything in it will need to be replaced, and you will need room to adequately perform proper maintenance, like filter replacements.

[@d.e303-anewlowcosthomebuil7]

@@buildshow Yo Matzinger......nothing like inhaling toxic burning plastic with my coffee in the morning!

[@sparksmcgee6641]

@@d.e303-anewlowcosthomebuil7 ????? Flamer gotta whine when everyone ignores them

[@andrewwalker208]

Doing a much smaller/less cost intensive build very similar to this in Texas right now. SIPS basement and ICF roof. Also doing a “radiant cooling” system with buried water line. Regular 2x6 framed walls on main floor, but doing exterior foam to combat thermal bridging. Roof structure is timber framed, so the huge amount of wood underneath those big trusses is a massive thermal bridge. Exterior foam seems like the only solution outside of SIPS on the main floor, and that was just too much work. It’s a DIY build.

[@mikemcgown6362]

I find this very interesting! I wanted to be an architect or engineer when I was in highschool but funding just wasn't there for me to go to college for the training. I've been studying as much as I can on my own to learn as much as possible. My mind is a sponge for this stuff! The questions I had, you asked! I understood the answers you got. Thanks to all involved in this video! Much appreciated! I learned a little more today. I can never explain what's going on in my head to my wife, so she can't understand why I do some of the things I do. I'm smarter than people want to think I am. Thanks for the video!

[@ja1971chevelle]

I built SIP, ICF (TOWARDS THE END), AND TIMBERFRAMES for over 17yrs. The hot knife is missing the guide for the sips. The ICF is best done with fur strips. That way the interior foam is not cut. The SIP roof is best build with a false roof to actually stop shinlge rideging. Also adds a air barrier and helps stop shingle ridging, and a area if the shingles leak onto the SIPS roof the water can drain off. When cutting with the hot knife you need to fill the void with foam before putting the wood in, the splines doesn't matter because you fill that after its put together with drilling holes every 12".

[@fochdischitt3561]

Should do VOC tests with all that foam and fireblock.

[@zack9912000]

Bet the house goes up in flames fast if tthere is a house fire

[@Ilove3SGTE]

@@zack9912000 that is mostly ture the foam has wood that protects it 15 minutes plus the drywall definitely not great still.

[@speciesofspaces]

This is one of my biggest concerns and really strikes me as still heading backwards when "green building" simply touts efficiency and not health too. I know we can do better but it would be really unfortunate to have another generation of building without addressing the chemical exposure over time. As a furniture maker I don't want to use anything in our pieces that might expose me as the maker but also the user to hazardous material. Even if the science is still undecided etc. It's tricky given how many products are out there now and what their different claims are. I can't always take the manufacturer at their word, unfortunately.

[@charlesrodriguez7984]

@@zack9912000 the concrete will essentially act as an oven baking everything inside with 1600 degree heat from fire. Very dangerous.

[@mikedandar1171]

They’ve done the VOC tests. Very little in them.

[@Firestorm637]

I live on Maui where electricity is 40 cents/kwh and rising with gas prices. I own 2 EV’s, solar panels, and storage batteries. I save $500/month on gas and electricity. Sell excess electricity to the grid. My EV’s basically just tires for maintenance. No oil filters in land fills and no petrochemical odors. Nice to fill up at home.

[@Firestorm637]

My home is steel frame 2 story with 6 inch concrete fills secondary story. Surprised no increase in steel frame homes. Walls are perfectly square. Earthquake discount

[@ozzmundo1]

Obviously this is a very high end home. Net zero could be had in the desert with 2x4 construction with a little bit of exterior foam. Add a battery and a large solar array. Double glass and blown in attic insulation is fine. Big overhangs and shading on windows will get you where you want. This is obviously a crazy high end house and some of this stuff on this home would not required to get to net zero. IT is super cool and this home will be so nice.

[@davidgreen424]

Yeah it is good to see what is possible on that sort of budget , most of us need better cheaper solutions .

[@sparksmcgee6641]

@@davidgreen424 just do 80-90 percent of the way. In no house within a town does the last 20 percent pay for itself. Salespeople will say otherwise but 100 percent of the time thier cost to maintain the system 20 years is off.

[@dwwolf4636]

​@@sparksmcgee6641 figured insurance costs in that as well ? No wood construction typically shaves a fair amount of insurance costs off as well.

[@sparksmcgee6641]

@@dwwolf4636 yeah is can save some but maintenance by skilled trades for the HVAC or hot water heater in 15-20 years will cost triple what they estimate. And no "net zero" targeted products should be used, standard products with a big company behind them is the way to go. Know a guy that did geo loops and heat pumps. They stopped doing them at all because every company making units for that market turned out to be crappy that had to be completed pulled and replaced sometimes in less than 5 years all the service calls to try to make it work as promised $$$$, then they replaced most of them with Bosch units that are off the shelf.

[@stevecuthbert8856]

I wish you guys were around when I was starting out with home purchases. There are so many great advances now with cost saving measures and efficiencies it's crazy. I'm 67 now and on the down side slope of life. If I could do it over I would be a builder with these factors in mind. I love your channel Matt. I refer you to many of my friends including one who is building in Arizona right now. Keep it real brother I'll be watching.

[@jacobsladderpa]

Mrs leavitt is a lucky woman!

[@Prorex1911]

These videos make me want to become a builder so bad. I love the nerdy details! Matt, can you come visit Abilene sometime? I want to have lunch.

[@NickValinski]

Matt, I'd love for you to check out EcoPanels of Tennessee - they are SIP panels I am using on a new addition right now that have even higher R value, higher flame resistance, camlocks for joining panels, huber Zip exterior, and electrical prerouted in the walls. It's a really nice upgrade over traditional SIPs.

[@jaredleemease]

Thank you Matt, Brad and Mark 👍

[@MikeHarris1984]

I have a 2900Sqft in Phoenix and have a 5 ton - 3 zone A/C system... I couldn't imagine only a 2.5 ton system to keep cool! Holy crap at that insulation... I really want to take some of these points when I build my next house. Gotta find a contractor that can build to this standard... I think i'll have to look at hiring AFT

[@joemurphy4517]

We are building a house in SC roughly 2,500 sf sized for a 1.5 ton unit. We are doing ICF walls R-10 slab, R-40 walls and R-80 roof. It's possible. It's my first build but it's not a big deal. I call it my side project. We are running 3 panel windows, geothermal, solar hot water and electric. It's not a net zero but it's a high performance.

[@snowgorilla9789]

That is very impressive, am in Canada where cold/wet is the issue but looks like these products/systems will excel here as well

[@frostman9661]

I feel those "energy sticks" for the fox blocks would be a hassle and seem silly... Nudura simply has blocks with thicker outer portions giving even better r-value. Way easier in my opinion.

[@michiganengineer8621]

Quad-Lock does as well up to 4.25". It seems like every ICF maker has at least ONE thing that is a stand out over the other guys. Whether it's the footer system, decking for a floor or roof or making curved forms in various radii.

[@bropitt]

so basically you built the Yeti of homes, sweet

[@christophergarland5891]

Awesome tutorial by the architect on how he designed the house and also I’m a huge fan that he can actually say that he made a mistake but fixed it. Notice his age. Not going to find to many of those people that are so intuned with the attention to detail in the next coming years

[@D2O2]

Agree. This is a product of the "do more faster and cheaper" mentality. Entropy is increasing at an exponential rate.

[@sparksmcgee6641]

Or it's how many houses they've done hands on. I've met some good ones that were taught the attitude, basic structure before products.

[@d.e303-anewlowcosthomebuil7]

nothing like inhaling toxic burning plastic with my coffee in the morning!

[@rogerwhiting9310]

Love the extendable 6 foot roof shade

[@ed1pk]

Yes. But I wonder about long term maintenance issues.

[@texasRoofDoctor]

Another great video and such a cool house. I really do enjoy learning of the best technology to make a passive house. Note: the Austin Roof Doctor would have strongly advised him to put a greater slope on that Roof. He was wise to avoid the internal scuppers. With the recent plague of Mid Century Modern (yes some are beautiful and yes,some have Frank Lloyd Wright rolling in his grave) houses in Austin...we have already been called to repair several low slope roofs on new builds. Save yourself some tears and go with a 2/12 minimum slope. 3 is better. Or call us when it leaks.

[@ToddBizCoach]

Show us a comparison of using rebar vs Helix micro rebar to reduce costs and increase concrete strength.

[@sparksmcgee6641]

Loved it on an entry level slab on grade we just did. If we had planned it out to remove the standard rebar before the bidding it would have been a wash on cost.

[@ToddBizCoach]

@@sparksmcgee6641 that does not include the labor savings?

[@sparksmcgee6641]

@@ToddBizCoach yeah it did. I don't know what ready mix charges for Helix but I had to order a pallet and with shipping and setting everything up it was close to $4 a pound. Had a company that wouldn't lete put it in on site so I had to pay for 20min of truck time on site after dosing Helix on another job

[@IndigenistVoices]

Glasses-kun, you shall not be forgotten...

[@jefflartigue9110]

Very Good I live here in the North Phoenix area (Scottsdale) and it's nice to see these type of builds.

[@ehhhhhhhhhh]

Definitely would like to see the house when it's close to finished, if they'll allow it.

[@buildbali2552]

Great job. I learned a lot, thank you

[@buildbali2552]

Is there any kind of course for a few months I could move to USA for make it??

[@davidchristian2071]

Matt what a great video....very cool 😎 👌 👍

[@JaydeAsh]

Thanks for sharing ..I really liked the clip

[@KevinSmith-qi5yn]

Matt in the Atacama Desert: So how do you mitigate water?

[@Ghostdogsurvivalist]

Kind of an eye roller. Should have been corrected by the builder.

[@samfish6938]

Polystyrene is highly flammable and ignites at relatively low temperatures. It has been linked with huge fires, often in commercial buildings and warehouses, where its use is more common.

[@stuartbrock7586]

Do you recommend any other insulation?

[@ed1pk]

@@stuartbrock7586 I personally would stick to rockwool as much as possible.

[@mikaeldusthall5755]

Here in Sweden I have windows with u-value on hole construction with frame and window 0.8

[@sparksmcgee6641]

We have that also. Presume you mean the window unit only. Also Imperial U value is different than metric U value

[@MrEARS23]

Great video!

[@shubinternet]

You could easily do clear UV and IR blocking sheeting over the glass, if you want to block that year-round. In Alaska, they do two layers of windows, with a foot or more between them. Each window is double or triple glazed. So, you could get even more insulation value in the windows.

[@MorryB]

Cardinal's window units typically have UV and IR reflective (low- E) coatings included.

[@sparksmcgee6641]

And vacuum glass will perform better than a system like that for way less

[@shubinternet]

@@sparksmcgee6641 -- vacuum glass has the problem that it's much more expensive than simple triple pane glass, and when it's 20 degrees below zero for months and the window breaks at the beginning of winter, it's going to be real hard to get someone out there to repair or replace it. If you're running McMurdo station in the Antarctic, then maybe it makes sense to invest in something like that and make sure it's as bulletproof as possible. Million-dollar windows make sense in that kind of environment. I'm not convinced that they make sense in most other environments outside of that.

[@sparksmcgee6641]

@@shubinternet You need to reach out to glass manufacturers if you think vacuum is more that triple. I don't know about the past but in the last few months i was priced 15-30 a face foot including shipping from Japan. So a 2'by3' window with .08 for under $200. Buy your windows without glass and have a tech install the glass, it's true some companies don't want the hassle and price it high enough no one will buy it. On my personal house I'm going to use commercial cladding and source the glass myself.

[@goofyroofy]

always admire how building in hot climates is similar to the very cold climate, I guess insulating is insulating XD

[@roberto.peterson9917]

I would tempted to fill icf with expand foam insulation or a cement with insulation materials in the mixture

[@jkennedy1819]

God damn it matt. Sometimes doesn't align.

[@ShieAyla]

GUESS WHAT!? I knew that was a hot knife! I'm used to using a smaller version, but I thought I recognized it lol

[@ScienceFuturist]

Awesome

[@nekotherion7317]

Big toys n tools, I like :3

[@cesargonzales4819]

Only watched one min if the video n I love it already

[@ezdeezytube]

I would love to hear more about these sloped trusses for flat roofs. Is it just a truss that has the bottom parallel with the ground, and the top at a slight angle? Or are the bottom and top of the truss parallel to each other and the whole truss is sloped? Sorry for perhaps a silly question. What angle would you be aiming for?

[@donnybrasco6321]

You out here today?! Welcome!!

[@FairleyTrashed]

Are the slab edges and footings insulated? If it’s a continuous slab without that you have thermal bridging which makes the foam under slab less effective.

[@EstructuraDura]

Wow 😯

[@rickrudd]

What's the moisture resistance/vapor permeability of that LP Product? It would be great to have that Flame Block-type technology married with a WRB like Zip, so you literally get everything in one panel.

[@mitchdenner9743]

Dam, I feel pretty good with my new construction garage ended up at 1558 sqft per ton and my renovation home at 1250sqft per ton.

[@jmcdonne]

I like the idea of adding insulation with the "Energy Stick", but I'd definitely run that change by the architect or structural engineer. Reducing the amount of concrete is not a trivial change to the building structure!

[@mitchdenner9743]

I don't think the sips carry any load in this house, looks more like a commercial/industrial building with steel vertical beams with attached microlam beams.

[@frostman9661]

Nudura has options for thicker exterior panels built in while keeping the concrete thickness the same. Fox block system seems like a pain...

[@MikeHarris1984]

Welcome to my home, Phoenix! Should have come around late July/Early August to really get a taste of the 118 daily temps with HOT air blowing. then a sudden Haboob dust storm to zero visability and massive winds that rip buildings and trees up

[@KevinSmith-qi5yn]

I thought the entire population of Arizona relocates to San Diego in the Summer.

[@mitchdenner9743]

Luv me some haboob.

[@invictus_1511]

Matt excellent video. Do you by chance have a list of building science builders for areas across the country. I want to build a net zero house and I'm located in Hershey Pa. Looking for recommendations for builders and architects

[@Element_Z48]

Matt, love your videos, love some of the projects you've done, especially the Japanese style house from a couple of years ago. I would love to do it myself some day. How can someone from outside the industry get started on building houses?

[@sparksmcgee6641]

HAHAHA. Money. You need to build yourself a house and then do it again and sell the first one. Additions can teach basis but the permitting and utilities is more work than doubling the size of a house. No other way than money, of you have a family friend that builds spec 1 in ten chance they would let you work two years for free. If you hire them to build a house then quit your job and work labor on site every day that would be better than building yourself on the first one. You never know if you are learning from a hack the first couple years so you have to relearn half of what you learn in the first 2 years. Plumbing water lines are easy do that on the first house. Drains are not easy. Pay for that. Concrete is easy but you learn if you have it in you when you order 160,000 pounds of wet concrete the first time, once you order it's yours and its setting up as soon as it hits the truck. Good luck, if you don't have at least 50 percent the cost of a house in cash with a 760 credit and a spouse that can cover all bills and sign for the construction loan you can't start solo.

[@provaporfagotti291]

9:30 but what about driving rain like we get here in Tucson and Phoenix? is there a large over hang patio cover thats going up?

[@mdalerodger8844]

what is the brand name for the 4" ductwork that Mark is using in the HVAC system?

[@Sylvan_dB]

Energy efficiency is important. Arizona has little water. Of course this is a building channel, but *where* you build is important. And a pool? Maybe the fire department can use it.

[@thebarntender5530]

Where is the balance point of building with more insulation etc or buying more solar panels to achieve net zero, cost wise?

[@profitecturebydesign3646]

Curious about the roof SIPS panels: why not screw UP from the truss top members? 4" vs. 14" screws? Not a tornado warning zone, right?

[@stevehoge]

@Jake Krokowski And why such density of trusses when the SIPs should be perfectly fine load-bearing on much wider centers?

[@stevevice9863]

Don't breath the fumes coming off that melting foam. Should probably do that outside wearing a respirator.

[@mjrtensepian1727]

Does that narrow, outer thermo-isolated rim of slab go deeper than the main floor pour, like a traditional footing might?? Seemed like the whole weight of the building(glazing, roof/steel posts)is resting on it…

[@johnfitzpatrick2469]

G,day Matt from Sydney Australia. The polystyrene foam (IPC) is a fantastic product with so many positive aspects. However, one very big negative: it's lacking fire retardation. 🤔🇦🇺

[@stuartbrock7586]

Any other recommendation? What are you going to do about wood framing?

[@aaronbounds1336]

Totally possible to build enough power plants to accommodate a 100% electric future. Precedent has been being set for the past several decades: roughly 4% growth per year in our power grid and a lot of that occurred with the Advent of air conditioners and so on and so forth. It is not only possible but well within possibility to electrify everything and not collapse the entire grid because of any kind of overload situation. Also, it can be done entirely with solar and other renewables.

[@sparksmcgee6641]

Not without massive increase in electric cost and it does nothing for the other 7 billion people on the planet that can't afford it.

[@billjenkins687]

That's a great question.

[@JoshuaRes]

Are bugs, ants etc an issue with ICF’s? I always figured critters might make it their home.

[@brearlymason4903]

I wonder why they used Fox Blocks when Perfect Block is local.

[@variancewithin]

I think it's time we start thinking about quadruple and quintuple paned glass

[@teamlight8567]

Anything known on recycling/ end of life recycling /energy consumption of all these foam products used?

[@sparksmcgee6641]

Yep look it all up. You'll find the documentation. Even going straight to a landfill the carbon offset by the energy savings makes insulation pay off. Number one on all cost benefit analysis

[@Ashphinchtersayswhat]

Grew up there.

[@davidgreen424]

The slight angle of the solar panels is going to mean more cleaning as what little rain you get will not wash the panels clean easily , but the the owners seem wealthy enough to pay someone to clean the every six months .

[@laloajuria4678]

would have loved more info on solar + battery backup given the location. missed opportunity!

[@sparksmcgee6641]

So common there it's boring.

[@dunep6465]

One of the best video's you've done Matt. A lot of very interesting stuff. I'm extremely interested in the details of that thermal break at the threshold. How can I get my hands on the design??? I'm building ICF (without the SIPs) out in high desert of California (Seismic Design Category D2) with large porches that wrap around 3/4 of the house. They are shaded of course, however, the thermal bridge will exist with current design between the porches and interior slab. I'm trying to reduce or eliminate that thermal bridge. I've come up with a design using the "Corbel" blocks for the porches which reduces the bridging but wondering if I can do better.

[@j67160]

Green home made of petroleum based plastic foam?

[@mikejf4377]

Why aren’t they using a WNDW (d1) solar window film making all the windows a solar panel and still be able to see through them. He should put 20 to 30 Kw in solar and add a few good batteries so it further proof the house to have electric cars also. Solar water heat for the pool also. Nice video.

[@jayhardway23]

I had no idea Net Zero Internet was still around!

[@Starfish2145]

How much to build? $500 per foot?

[@jennifer9528]

With all that foam, how is the air quality? Is there any risk of cancer?

[@3000gtwelder]

I wonder about the off gassing of all that foam, when it heats up in the summer🤔

[@ja1971chevelle]

Almost all off gasing is done when its made from small bb's and ejected with steam and formed in a press. Only if its burned does it off gas.

[@AresGodOWar]

I don't understand why you wouldn't put solar on the entire roof , Wouldn't you want to sell the energy back to the grid ? And wouldn't it block the sun from hitting the roof so you are using less energy to cool it ?

[@shubinternet]

It all depends on the utility company and how much they pay for power. If they pay much less than you would pay them if you were to buy your power from them, then solar on the roof would only make sense if you were completely off-grid. Many states will pay very little after you cut your bill to virtually zero.

[@daveklein2826]

Cost is always a factor

[@davidgreen424]

With that much space why not use a sun tracker system ? , less panels and easier to clean.

[@frostman9661]

@@daveklein2826 not in a house like this...

[@daveklein2826]

@@frostman9661 LMAO

[@JohnnyFireShore]

Matt can I send you my dream house for an estimate of which type of construction and parts would be best to have installed?

[@roberto.peterson9917]

Wouldn't breath the fumes from the zips when cutting with hot knife

[@kaptincrazy]

Pest control issues with icf.... Super hard to stop pests and treatment

[@Phat737]

What’s the estimated cost of this build?

[@Firestorm637]

Everyone in AZ with pools

[@teddickert3902]

Insulation or Fire Hazzard ???

[@bluesolarmx]

Sunpower all black solar panels up there, with an Enphase Storage Systems... in that gorgeous large roof... (just install the feet to support the rails before the TPO) ... and no monthly electric costs! =)

[@radarriau]

Energy efficiency A+ however, forensic engineers and toxicologists say these buildings are too tight and toxic. Time will tell after a few decades of data. OSB is problematic if there is a moisture issue In terms of decay and or live load creep. I sleep really well in traditional adobe or air leaky houses with loose insulation.

[@charlesrodriguez7984]

That’s quite a bummer. I think maybe we should use as many natural materials as possible to achieve the same amount of performance and energy efficiency without toxic chemicals

[@tjam4229]

at 7:32 he states "this is where architecture has come really far"....well, not really. The original desert dwellers knew the basic importance of "Building Science"...the sun, the different times of the year and how it shined on the house, and took this into consideration when designing "windows" to let light into the dwelling, huge overhangs to block direct sunlight from entering the building, installing natural tall cooling towers etc. They used LOCAL materials to build, which held trapped the heat of the day, and released it when needed in the cool nights of the desert. The local natural materials also stored moisture, and released this moisture as the day progressed, which caused natural evaporation, which cooled the dwellings naturally. So....we aren't really doing anything new in architecture. We've just lost sight of it, and now we are bringing it back with a 21st century twist 😊

[@jroar123]

I wonder if log homes work in the desert?

[@Ashphinchtersayswhat]

Termites👀

[@mitchdenner9743]

Sure why not.

[@joequixotic3039]

Not many logs in the desert.

[@Ashphinchtersayswhat]

@@joequixotic3039 yea, but lots of termites. Subterranean termites.

[@jimyeats]

@@Ashphinchtersayswhat to be fair, half the country or more is in the same “high risk” category as Arizona. California coast and the southeast being “very high risk”. Just need to be careful with your foundation and treat appropriately.

[@kevinbarry71]

So, no black metal roof?

[@kbbb4227]

How about some shows for the other 99%

[@Will_JJHP]

I suddenly want to eat some s'mores. No idea why...

[@OceanofMaya]

A pool? ...when efficiency is paramount? A typical, non-commercial size pool,16'x36', in AZ. loses 4ft-6ft of water annually! Given the growing reality of water 'deficits' - we Americans are not taking what we need to do seriously. As an ex. (there are too many to list) if Lake Meade drops another 36ish feet (it's dropped 100' ft. in 36 mo. so don't think that's an unrealistic projection) 5,800,000 (yep 5.8 million) will lose power. Given the dynamics between water in AZ, Cali., NV, etc...while I applaud and admire the house - I have to wonder if our inability to curtail 'what we want' will be reigned in in time :(. Beautiful house though -and great tour. TY.

[@1voluntaryist]

"...you won't even be able to see the PV panels..." So, old style panels that "some" find ugly? I don't. But, if you do, why not use the new panels, that look like beautiful, modern tile? Why stop at R48 roof? Wouldn't R60 be better, require less energy? How about the highest rated insulating foam, poly-iso? As for design, I lived in a house on the beach, S. Lake Tahoe, CA, for 3+ years, with wrap around windows facing the lake/shore. A realtor friend told me no matter how spectacular the view, the value fades to ZERO, within a month or so. I found this hard to believe. He said, "It sells the house, so that's great. But if that's your main reason for buying, you'll regret it." I didn't listen. It didn't take long, maybe two weeks, before I stopped noticing the view. Visitors would gasp and remind me of my reason for getting the house, but I had learned the hard way, my friend was 100% correct. The view is way, way overrated. I have since come to the conclusion that windows are so overrated that they can be replaced with the telescope skylights for daylight, and save a lot of money on construction, maintenance, energy.

[@JeremySpidle]

That's not a house. That's a MANSION.

[@AlchemyAles]

Why don't people build partially underground to escape the heat in this climate?

[@sparksmcgee6641]

It's costs more than insulation.