May 9: ERV System installed

Above is shown the Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) [ temporarily displayed on a garbage can pedestal prior to being mounted on the framed wall ], which is designed to pre-heat and humidify incoming air by transferring energy from ventilation air that is exhausted through the ERV to fresh air that is brought into the residence through the ERV.  The temperature fluctuation between the intake and exhaust air through the ERV will only be 2 deg. F. 

Above, supply and return ventilation air manifolds are shown mounted to the SIP ceiling with ducts connected to their respective manifolds, which will in turn connect to the ERV unit (connection to the ERV not completed, at the time of the photo) 

The following photos show ventilation ducts being placed in soffit locations throughout the residence. 

Below, a frame is completed for a site-built air register for the Kitchen.

April 11- 19: Site-built Windows Installed

Since glazing plays such a vital role in an energy efficient residence, I decided not to compromise the design with the use of factory manufactured windows, but rather to design a more dependable, higher performance, lower maintenance, less expensive, and more user friendly window, which we assembled on-site, as shown in the photos above and below.  

For experts in the field of solar design, window manufacturers provide a very limited selection of high performance glass and energy efficient glazing components available for their window products, and in general, have begun a disappointing shift away from quality control in favor of a less expensive business strategy of reducing what is returned to the factory because, according an industry source, many consumers don't understand the subtle differences between a good and a bad window.  So, I decided it was time to design a better window.

The crew and associated construction canines take a lunch break.   Sonny is wearing a red bandana because he is shown recovering from a puncture wound after a kick from a deer on one of his rounds around the site.