McMansions (heating, painting, couch, ceilings)

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by SWB

I'm very pleased to see that some discerning builders, such as yourself, are beginning to develop ways to make your homes more ecologically-friendly. Unfortunately you're in the West. In Eastern PA nearly EVERY one of those homes I photographed utilizes nonrenewable sources of energy. I didn't see one solar panel on any of those properties (although you do see them now in the city proper). You sound like you really ought to be commended for what your company is doing. Unfortunately, you must also admit that builders like you concerned with long-term quality and viability as opposed to just short-term quantity and inexpensiveness are a dime a dozen in most parts of our country.

With that being said there is indeed one ecologically-friendly exurban subdivision being developed by Outlook Construction and being built near Scranton, PA known as Stonefield Estates. The subdivision encourages the usage of propane for energy.

StoneField Estates (Mt. Cobb, Pennsylvania)
http://www.outlookconstruction.net

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by SWB

I'm very pleased to see that some discerning builders, such as yourself, are beginning to develop ways to make your homes more ecologically-friendly. Unfortunately you're in the West. In Eastern PA nearly EVERY one of those homes I photographed utilizes nonrenewable sources of energy. I didn't see one solar panel on any of those properties (although you do see them now in the city proper). You sound like you really ought to be commended for what your company is doing. Unfortunately, you must also admit that builders like you concerned with long-term quality and viability as opposed to just short-term quantity and inexpensiveness are a dime a dozen in most parts of our country.

I am an Architectural Designer, not a builder ;p

If you are concerned with the size of the lots in your area, you can go and talk to the city building department, they approve each sub-division that is placed in your city. They sometimes set the limit for lot size, and what is able to be built on the lots. They will decide the setbacks, the building height limit, and easements within each lot. The builders are not the only ones to blame for the lot sizes, they share that responsabiltiy with your local government.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by Noahma

they share that responsabiltiy with your local government.

...which is only concerned with $$$.

[sbd78]

We recently moved from a 1300 sq. foot condo to a new 2000 sq. foot single family home and our utility bills are half of what they were in the condo because our new house is energy star qualified. Some of the highest utility bills I've had were in small turn-of-the-century apartments. Size and energy costs do not always go hand in hand, often newer structures are designed to be more energy efficient.

[NewToCA]

Plenty of new homes in Sacramento are McMansion sized with low utility bills. Lennar is building very large homes with SolarPlus features, solar heat, air conditioning and electricity, virtually eliminating utility bills for the home (except water).

For example, here is a 4,700 sq ft plan with 5 bdrms, 4.5 baths, 3 car garage and large courtyard, with solar electicity:

The Windsor - Plan 6035 New Home Plan in Dimora At Kavala Ranch by Lennar

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by NewToCA

Plenty of new homes in Sacramento are McMansion sized with low utility bills. Lennar is building very large homes with SolarPlus features, solar heat, air conditioning and electricity, virtually eliminating utility bills for the home (except water).

For example, here is a 4,700 sq ft plan with 5 bdrms, 4.5 baths, 3 car garage and large courtyard, with solar electicity:

The Windsor - Plan 6035 New Home Plan in Dimora At Kavala Ranch by Lennar

My BF owns a Lennar home in the Dallas suburbs that's between 3000 and 3400 sq ft (can't remember the exact figure) that has had electric bills over $600 per month in summertime. The lowest he managed to get it one summer was $400. So...if you don't have those features, it's pretty punishing. Those features are rare around here. So...at least for this area...it's appropriate to associate McMansions with wasted electricity.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by nativeDallasite

Those features are rare around here. So...at least for this area...it's appropriate to associate McMansions with wasted electricity.

Ditto with my area and with most areas around the nation. Apparently the "progressive" cities where builders, designers, architects, etc. are attempting to minimize energy consumption are few and far between.

[sbd78]

You can do a search on the Energy Star website to find builders that build Energy Star homes. There are many across the country:
Find an ENERGY STAR Partner : ENERGY STAR

[evilnewbie]

I plan to build a big house 6-7k square feet... and I suspect anyone, like myself, wants to minimize as much in utility bills. Who wants to pay that much for utilities, if you don't like it, neither do we and there are MANY ways to reduce the cost of utility bills and I plan to do them. I like a large lot, not because I want to "waste" space. I like it because I like my privacy, besides that, devoting it to green trees and grass is very eco-friendly IMO...

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by evilnewbie

Thats your preference, not mine... you can opt to live there but don't try to force everyone to live your way.. its alternative way to live but it is certainly no the best way...

Never said it was the best way. It's what *I* prefer. How could I legislate that? Besides, I think the cost of gas will legislate it for me....