Out of Focus

As a builders' we're passionate about building responsibly and about helping our clients to understand and realize the value of investing resources in a super-insulated building envelope.
We're always thrilled to find ourselves collaborating with a client that understands the long term energy savings that they will reap and the environmental impact that they will impose by building a vacation or retirement home in our beautiful region of Northern Wisconsin.
I recently provided a Serious Window quote, for a builder that was involved with bidding on a US Forest Service project.
Serious Windows save more energy than any other window and are Made in America.
Windows contribute 25% to 30% of heat loss in most structures.
It was disappointing to find that the window budget was not able to support a super-insulated windows and the the builder would most likely use a run of the mill window with no more than a R-3 insulation value.
The priority was to ensure that the glass have a blast film applied to the interior or the glass.
I'm having difficulty in understanding the perceived level of threat that a U.S. Forest Service building in the Upper Peninsula would be under.
I like to think that our government would have the foresight to see the value in long term energy savings and the amount of tax payer dollars that could be saved and would specify nothing but energy efficient components for all of it's projects going forward,.Not to mention the fact that our dependence on foreign oil should be considered a matter of National Security.
My strong belief is that the single most important investment in any structure is in the energy efficiency of the building envelope, as there is typically only one chance to get it right.
This means a structure such as a Structural Insulated Panel building envelope and Serious Windows.
It will greatly reduce the cost to operate and allow for proper management of ventilation, in order to achieve healthy indoor air quality.
Perhaps my thinking is flawed, but I believe that it's time to stop living in a world of paranoia and start thinking about the future of our country and our environment.
We need to stop doing business as usual and looking first to the bottom line and the cheapest ways to get there.
Thinking long term and planning for a energy efficient future is our only hope for a secure future.
I'm looking for help in getting our message, and our products to those that see the value in acting responsibly, when it comes to putting a structure on our planet that will last 100 years, if built properly.
Visit us at http://www.greatlakescarpentry.com/
We love to talk about building science, energy efficiency and healthy indoor air quality.
Stay tuned for more....

Rather than investing in the future