Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The most thermally efficient home has no windows. Unless they throw me in jail, I have no plans to live in that.
Jails have windows - just not operable.
[grin]
And, yes, windows represent a thermal leak, even high tech R4+ models. But you can augment them with insulated shutters (for night and temperature extremes).
Well, you may not live in your forever home forever.
I won't have a forever home unless I am dead, lol. I've had 17 houses in the past 20 years and a lot more before that. I think I have gypsy blood...but I still prefer a one story and a small house.
I happen to prefer older, two-story homes, which is what we have now. That said, we're already talking about selling and moving into a single-story home. The knees just can't take the stair climbs for much longer. Has nothing to do with weight, and everything to do with age and genetics. Some people are blessed with strong joints for life; others are not so lucky.
I said, "I live in a 942-s.f. condo." You should have seen their heads swivel toward me and both their mouths drop open in unison. It still cracks me up when I remember it.
Hah, absolutely spacious compared with more than a few Hong Kong, London, and NY apts.
Having lived in both, I prefer single story homes. Unless there is a separate a/c system for the second floor, it's just too darned hot upstairs when it's the perfect temp downstairs.
In some parts of the world, people do live over their livestock. They do in South China, where they keep pigs and ducks penned up under their houses, which are on stilts. ...
... I read that in National Geographic years ago.
"National Geographic years ago", eh? In a decade+ living in various mainland China locations, traveling extensively across south China and elsewhere, in Hong Kong with frequently trips north of the border, etc., I saw a whole LOT of things. Based on what some westerners read or so years ago in National Geographic, it's often interesting to learn what more some think about China and Asia. Undoubtedly, all south Chinese farmers and families live over their livestock.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.