I have been investigating log homes and came across a company that has an interesting concept. They heat and cool the home using the earth's thermal mass. It is enviromentally sound and touted as the home of the future. The company is Enertia Building Systems. Does anyone out there know of someone who has one of these homes and if so how do they like it? For anyone else interested their website is enertia.com

-- Vaughn Clark (vdcjm@ix.netcom.com), January 01, 2000

Answers

A quick glance at the web page, and it looks like this is the old "enevelope home" of 25 years ago, but without the insulation that actually made them work, when they did. I think that this concep is too complicated for what it does-- a straight-forward super-insulated house does a good job without the complex "envelope".

-- Jim (jiminwis@yahoo.com), January 04, 2000.

The insulation is the mass of the pine logs. The sun room heats the air in the winter and the basement cools the air in the summer. My question really was "Does it really work?" and if so how well?

-- Vaughn (vdcjm@ix.netcom.com), January 06, 2000.

I've written for more info, but at first glance, it appears that it is basically a passive solar house. I have a hard time believing that no heating othe than solar is required, especially where I live in the cloudy, rainy northwest. Unless it is considered acceptable to add lots of clothing in lieu of heat.

-- jumpoff joe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), January 24, 2000.

I emailed Enertia and they said they aim for an interior temperature of 68 degrees year round. That would be effected by sun/shade and other site conditions. They recommend radiant heating under the ground floor to keep your feet warm. If it is done with solar panels you could still escape high electric bills or the need for gas furnance.

-- Vaughn (vdcjm5@juno.com), February 05, 2000.

See my Countryside article Mar/Apr `98. I have been living in a passive solar, earth sheltered home for 15 years.This is simpler and cheaper than the Enertia System.

-- Douglas Kalmer (sunart@netease.net), May 19, 2000.