Page 39 - Flathead Beacon // 5.25.16

ENERGIZING THOUGHTS DAVID BOPP NET ZERO ENERGY HOMES
BUILDING PERMITS
BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED IN KALISPELL AND WHITEFISH IN APRIL
IMAGINE A HOME THAT HAS NO hot or cold spots and is more com- fortable than any home you have ever lived in, has the best indoor air quality to keep your family healthy, and costs you virtually nothing in utility bills. Sound pretty nice? A dream of a better future or a reality you can live now?
The average American spends 90 per- cent of their time inside and potentially 73 percent of this time in their home. Why settle for poor indoor air quality (most homes and their occupants su er from this)? Or poor comfort? Or high monthly maintenance and utility costs?
Net Zero Energy Homes (NZEH) can drastically improve your comfort, indoor air quality, and have many other bene ts. These homes are connected to the electric grid and produce enough of their own power over a year to equal the power they consume from the grid. At the end of the year their energy use from the grid is zero.
No home reaches this goal by acci- dent. As Antoine de Saint-Exupery said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Zero Energy Homes are planned in detail. Once the all-encompassing plan is complete it has to be followed. Other- wise it is like being on a road trip where you don’t follow the directions on your GPS. You end up somewhere else-not at your goal. For a road trip this could be spontaneous and fun. For a house this could be costly and deeply regrettable.
How do you achieve Net Zero Energy? There are many paths but they all follow a similar trend. 1. Locate the home to create its own power on site. 2. Create an energy model and upgrade all items that consume energy or a ect energy consumption until the cost to upgrade those items costs more than installing the renewable power necessary to run them. 3. Use the model to create a nal plan. 4. Follow the plan. 5. Sit back and enjoy your amazing home.
All NZEH homes have some similar items. They all have an excellent plan to keep water out, are close to airtight, an excellent ventilation system, upgraded insulation and windows, high-e ciency heating and cooling, and e cient lights
and appliances. Any home design can become a NZEH.
Do NZEH homes cost more than a house built to code minimums? Of course they do. You can’t have the bud- get to build a car when you want to build a plane. How much more do they cost and is it worth it? This depends on what you value, when you value it, and if your builder of choice meets or exceeds Mon- tana energy code standards to start with (four out of ve new homes fail to meet all state code requirements).
The increased upfront costs to build the house and the increased monthly costs for a higher mortgage do have tradeo s that can help balance these costs. For example, higher insulation levels and better air sealing reduce the size of the heating system. Lower monthly operating expenses can bal- ance the higher mortgage.
Other savings are less tangible but potentially even greater. What is your comfort worth? Your spouse’s comfort? What is the value of the reduced chance of sickness or asthma in your kids due to better indoor air quality? If you save hospital visits, costs for medicine, time o from work to care for your family what is that worth? What is the value, to your children or society, of a legacy home that will last for century’s rather than one that will need to be torn down and rebuilt in 50 years? What is cleaner air outside your home worth since you no longer have to burn wood or pellets to a ord to stay warm? What is the value of a home that will have a smaller ecolog- ical footprint worth to your kids or our society?
Net Zero Energy is not a goal that is limited to new homes. You can retro t an existing home to meet these goals too. Since you are working with an existing building this requires even better plan- ning but is attainable. It follows the same principles and steps.
When will you choose to live better? As Abraham Lincoln said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Cre- ate the future and the home you want. At Flathead Electric Cooperative we are here to help.
KALISPELL
RECIPIENT: Glacier Land and Development; 91 Financial Dr.
CONTRACTOR: D&H Builders
FOR: Apartments
VALUE: $600,000
RECIPIENT: Kalispell Regional Healthcare; 202 Conway Dr.
CONTRACTOR: Swank Enterprises
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $86,904
RECIPIENT: Owl Corporation; 142 Taelor Rd.
CONTRACTOR: Recipient FOR: Single-family residence VALUE: $180,000
RECIPIENT: Ron Terry Construction; 190 Short Pine Dr.
CONTRACTOR: Recipient
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $129,100
RECIPIENT: Immanuel Lutheran Communities; 185 Crestline Ave.
CONTRACTOR: Swank Enterprises
FOR: Addition
VALUE: $4,000,000
RECIPIENT: TKG Spring Prairie Dev.; 33 Treeline Rd.
CONTRACTOR: R&O Construction FOR: Restaurant
VALUE: $750,000
RECIPIENT: Flathead County; 40 11th St. W CONTRACTOR: Stellar Integration and Safety FOR: Alarms
VALUE: $22,345
RECIPIENT: Rebecca Wilson; 233 Third Ave. E CONTRACTOR: Owner
FOR: Addition
VALUE: $25,000
RECIPIENT: Mark Fischer; 550 Triple Creek Dr. CONTRACTOR: Owner
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $160,000
RECIPIENT: Vivienne Green Properties LLC; 410 First Ave. W
CONTRACTOR: Z Works
FOR: Remode
VALUE: $10,000
RECIPIENT: Kyladi Properties LLC; 575 Sunset Blvd.
CONTRACTOR: Hammerquist and Casalegno FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $146,00
RECIPIENT: Clay Kyler; 197 Ali Loop CONTRACTOR: Owner
FOR: Addition
VALUE: $600
RECIPIENT: Phillip Neuharth; 115 Rimrock Ct. CONTRACTOR: Lakeland Building Enterprises Inc. FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $178,000
RECIPIENT: Paisley Real Estate Holding LLC; 221 Parkway Dr.
CONTRACTOR: Roof Works Inc.
FOR: Repair
VALUE: $9,000
RECIPIENT: Milbrandt Building Co.; 11 Whitebark Ln.
CONTRACTOR: Milbrandt Building Co. FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $210,000
RECIPIENT: Ron Terry Construction; 170 Short Pine Dr.
CONTRACTOR: Recipient
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $108,500
RECIPIENT: Silvermont Properties LLLP; 115 Antler Peak Ln.
CONTRACTOR: Westcraft Homes
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $275,000
RECIPIENT: Ron Terry Construction; 35 Muskrat Dr. CONTRACTOR: Recipient
FOR: Townhouse
VALUE: $113,765
RECIPIENT: Ron Terry Construction; 37 Muskrat Dr. CONTRACTOR: Recipient
FOR: Townhouse
VALUE: $113,765
RECIPIENT: Adventure Church of the CMA; 348 Second Ave. W
CONTRACTOR: Owner
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $1,000
RECIPIENT: J&F Construction; 15 Wheat Grass Ln.
CONTRACTOR: Recipient FOR: Single-family residence VALUE: $265,000
RECIPIENT: Flathead Hospital Development Co.; 160 Heritage Way
CONTRACTOR: Swank Enterprises
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $132,270
RECIPIENT: Kalispell Regional Healthcare; 310 Sunnyview Ln.
CONTRACTOR: Swank Enterprises
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $298,925
RECIPIENT: Marise Johnson; 1280 Burns Way
CONTRACTOR: Hammerquist and Casalegno FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $385,097
WHITEFISH
RECIPIENT: Christ Lutheran Church; 5150 River Lakes Dr.
CONTRACTOR: Eisenhart Builders
FOR: Addition
VALUE: $2,549,050
RECIPIENT: Badrock O ce Building; 284 Flathead Ave.
CONTRACTOR: Hammerquist Casalegno FOR: Building
VALUE: $2,500,000
RECIPIENT: Ibex Properties; 403 E Second St. CONTRACTOR: Malmquist
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $10,000
RECIPIENT: Culver Careers; 403 E Second St. CONTRACTOR: Malmquist
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $20,000
RECIPIENT: Craggy Range; 10 Central Ave. CONTRACTOR: Hammerquist Casalegno FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $180,000
RECIPIENT: 1820 Baker LLC; 1820 Baker Ave. CONTRACTOR: TBD
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $50,000
RECIPIENT: Glacier Medical Associates; 1111 Baker Ave.
CONTRACTOR: GP Enterprises
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $40,000
RECIPIENT: Virginia Axen eld; 166 State Park Rd. CONTRACTOR: Clark Craft
FOR: Townhouse
VALUE: $363,500
RECIPIENT: Virginia Axen eld; 144 State Park Rd. CONTRACTOR: Clark Craft
FOR: Townhouse
VALUE: $363,500
RECIPIENT: Timberland Real Estate LLC; 732 Edgewood Pl.
CONTRACTOR: Seven Hills Const.
FOR: Townhouse
VALUE: $150,000
RECIPIENT: Timberland Real Estate LLC; 730 Edgewood Pl.
CONTRACTOR: Seven Hills Const.
FOR: Townhouse
VALUE: $150,000
RECIPIENT: Steve Rizzolo; 443 Park Ave.
CONTRACTOR: Glacier Timberline FOR: Addition
VALUE: $150,000
RECIPIENT: Barbara Mikolajczyk; 526 Scott Ave. CONTRACTOR: Dan Thompson
FOR: Addition
VALUE: $4,000
RECIPIENT: Hill Champion; 130 Miles Ave. CONTRACTOR: Joe Bruce
FOR: Addition
VALUE: $6,500
RECIPIENT: Je Mironuck; 206 Vista Dr. CONTRACTOR: Owner
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $240,000
RECIPIENT: Denman Construction; 199 Wild Rose Ln.
CONTRACTOR: Denman Const.
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $316,000
RECIPIENT: Philip and Rachel Sutsos; 435 W
Fifth St.
CONTRACTOR: Sadino Construction FOR: Single-family residence VALUE: $165,000
RECIPIENT: Craig and Mary Jo Beyer; 3016 River Lakes Dr.
CONTRACTOR: Pickering Family Homes
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $500,000
RECIPIENT: Bighorn Development; 797 Aspen Grove St.
CONTRACTOR: Recipient
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $250,000
RECIPIENT: Gardner Construction LLC; 108 Great
Northern Dr. CONTRACTOR: Recipient FOR: Single-family residence VALUE: $200,000
RECIPIENT: Rob Pero; 167 Brimstone Dr. CONTRACTOR: JS Construction
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $200,000
RECIPIENT: Rob Pero; 159 Brimstone Dr. CONTRACTOR: JS Construction
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $187,000
RECIPIENT: Rob Pero; 151 Brimstone Dr. CONTRACTOR: JS Construction
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $175,000
RECIPIENT: Rob Pero; 143 Brimstone Dr. CONTRACTOR: JS Construction
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $145,000
RECIPIENT: Ron and Jan Brunk; 640 W Fifth St. CONTRACTOR: John Opatz
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $30,000
RECIPIENT: Ron and Jan Brunk; 640 W Fifth St. CONTRACTOR: John Opatz
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $370,000
RECIPIENT: Art and Kelli Bowden; 429 Spokane Ave. CONTRACTOR: Owner
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $5,000
RECIPIENT: Dan and Cora Arnold; 659 Copperwood Ct.
CONTRACTOR: Seven Hills Const. FOR: Remodel
“HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE NET ZERO ENERGY? THERE ARE MANY PATHS BUT THEY ALL FOLLOW A SIMILAR TREND.”
David Bopp is energy services representative at Flathead Electric Cooperative
MAY 25, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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