If you are going to build a new house then we have some very important instructions for you. Building a new house is a dream for everyone. When we make it, it brings us happiness, joy and lots of compliments too.

Some people believe that it brings a good luck too. May be you do not believe it but in some countries like India, these people used to believed that your life is very much influenced by the way you make your house.

In ancient India, people used to follow a literature that was called ‘Vastu Shastra’. This literature describes how directions are important while making your dream house. If a house is designed properly, it will surely bring good luck for you and a badly designed home can cast bad vibration on you.

In China also people used to follow certain literature to describe house architecture. However, it is not scientifically proven but there are a lot of incidents when people have to believe that the architecture of a house is very important and influences our life.

Here are a few guidelines about the shape of the house you are going to build. The rule is that the shape of the house should a proper shape. It must not be uneven or zigzag type. Even if you did not pay heed to this thing when you bought the area, the best way is to consult an architect and ask him to give it a proper shape.

The next thing you can pay heed to is which direction your main gate will face. The houses that face to east direction are said to be the best. We recommend you to study more about this Indian literature before you are making your house.

The sun is a very powerful source of energy which powers natural cycles on earth like wind, water flow and plant growth.. Solar power is the technology of obtaining energy from the sun. There are three approaches to gain maximum benefit of solar energy in our buildings.

Passive Solar

Passive solar technologies convert sunlight into usable heat without the assistance of other energy sources. Passive solar architecture is a design approach which seeks to:

- maximise solar gains in the building (through orientation such as a south-facing site, layout, glazing etc)
- avoid the loss of heat from the building through high quality insulation
- ensure a high degree of comfort by using controlled ventilation and daylighting

Passive solar systems have little to no operating costs, often have low maintenance costs, and emit no greenhouse gases in operation. Passive solar principles can help reduce heating requirements of a home by up to 80%.

The Passive House Standard can be found at www.passive.de

Active Solar Heating

Active Solar technologies are employed to convert solar energy into usable heat, cause air movement for ventilation or cooking or store heat for future use. Unlike Passive Solar, Active Solar uses electrical or mechanical equipment such as pumps and fans to increase the usable heat. The most common use of active solar in Europe is Solar water heating. It is estimated that a correctly sized solar water heating system can provide for up to 60% of your water heating needs. Indeed, studies have shown that one square metre on your roof receives the equivalent of more than 100 litres of oil in free solar energy per year. Solar panels, generally located on a south-facing roof, transform solar radiation into heat which is stored in a large hot water cylinder for whenever you need it.

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System Photovoltaics, or PV for short, is a solar power technology that uses solar cells or solar photovoltaic arrays to convert energy from the sun into electricity. Solar cells produce direct current electricity from the sun’s rays, which can be used to recharge a battery or to power equipment. When more power is required than a single cell can deliver, cells are generally grouped together to form “PV modules”, or solar panels, that may in turn be arranged in arrays.

Solar arrays are increasingly incorporated into new domestic and industrial buildings as a principal or ancillary source of electrical power. In a typical installation, an array is incorporated into the building (roof or walls). In this way, Solar PV can be used to provide free solar electricity to houses. Recent developments in regulation mean that it will shortly be possible to connect solar PV systems to the grid, opening up a new era for solar PV in Ireland. Arrays can also be retro-fitted into existing buildings, normally by sitting them atop the existing roof. One new feature of note came in August 2006 when Currys, the major high-street retailer decided to stock PV modules at a cost of a thousand pounds sterling per module.

Paul O' Connor runs the popular Irish Websites http://www.selfbuildinireland.co

After weeks, maybe even months of searching, you’ve finally found your dream home. It’s everything you wanted and more. You’re already envisioning how your favorite chair will look in that charming little corner by the window. But before you move in, it’s important that you get better acquainted with the property you’ve fallen in love with.

While the hardwood floors are to die for and you love the bay window in the den, some of the things that may not be visible to the typical buyer’s eye need to be taken into account. Are the electrical systems up to date? Is the home properly insulated? Are there any signs of deterioration on the exterior of the home? Are there any areas of concern in the crawl space or basement such as mold or fungi? These are all questions that should be asked. However it will take a trained professional to answer them. That’s where your new best friend, the home inspector, comes in.

A home inspector is trained to diligently assess damage, deterioration and potential danger in a home. “A complete home inspection covers all of the major systems of a house, including structure, exterior, roofing, electrical, heating, cooling, insulation, plumbing and interior,” says Scott Dana, owner of Dana Home Inspections in Roswell, Georgia and an officer in the Georgia Chapter of the National Association of Home Inspectors.

Once a home inspector evaluates the home, he or she writes a comprehensive report, including photos, which explains in detail any defects or hazards that are apparent. Unfortunately not every report will be favorable and high hopes can suddenly become deflated due to bad news. But regardless, a home inspection is critical to the safety, security and sealing of the deal in any real estate transaction.

Naturally with every major transaction there are risks involved. Even home inspectors can’t guarantee every aspect of the property. “Inspectors are limited by what they can see and touch. Thus, there may be issues inside walls or in inaccessible areas that may have problems that inspectors will not be able to see,” says Scott Dana. However, as the buyer you can rest easier by doing your due-diligence and taking every measure to ensure that your dream home doesn’t turn into an unfortunate nightmare.

SAFETY

While style, location and affordability are all important factors when purchasing a home, safety comes first. There’s nothing more important than being assured that the property you purchase will be free of harm for you and your family. A home inspection will help you determine that there are no hazardous conditions. Something as simple as a defective safety reverse mechanism on a garage door or a garage door opener installed lower than the manufacturer recommended 60 inches from the ground would probably not be noticed by an eager buyer. But these oversights could be potentially dangerous for a small child in the home. Buyers also may be unaware of problems in crawl spaces or basements such as pests, infestation or hazardous substances such as mold. Inspectors will know to look in these areas and determine if there is cause for concern.

“When an inspector finds something that appears to be mold, they typically tell their clients that they have detected a "mold-like" substance and that further testing is needed by a company that specializes in mold detection and remediation,” says Scott Dana. These precautions are critical and are imperative in determining that the home you’re buying will be a safe and healthy environment for your family.

SECURITY

Because your home is one of the largest investments you will make, you want to be sure that your investment is secure. What may seem initially like a charming fixer-upper could turn into a money pit if substantial needed repairs are not discovered before the deal is closed. A home inspection will allow buyers to make more informed decisions about the soundness of their investment by determining exactly how much work and money may be required to resolve any issues. Homes that are in need of a little TLC can still be great deals as long as the repairs required are primarily cosmetic and affordable rather than structural and costly. Major issues can be a real deal breaker.

“By far the biggest deal breakers are those requiring the most money to fix, including problems with the foundation or structure of the home. Conversely, deal breakers can also be lots of little cost items that, when taken as a whole, cause the buyer to not feel good about the home. Lastly, if a house has a more-than-minor mold problem, or high levels of Radon gas detected, that might cause the deal to fall through,” Scott Dana remarks.

SEALING THE DEAL

Once your home inspection has been completed, what next? If the home inspector’s report doesn’t note any serious problems, you’re well on your way to moving into your dream home! If the report lists a number of issues and areas of concern, you still have a few options. Firstly, you can ask the seller to make repairs. A motivated seller may be eager to appease a willing buyer and work to remedy areas of concern noted in the inspection report. Secondly, you can negotiate. “[Buyers] can get estimates of repairs and place a bid on the property taking into consideration those potential costs,” says Scott Dana. Lastly, if the inspection report lists a large number if issues, you can continue your home search and find a property that will require less maintenance and attention.

Off Grid Living has been our mission for over 13 years. When my wife Jane and I set out in 1994 to live without the monthly bill to the power company we were not prepared for the difficulties we would face, or the ultimate joy in having achieved our goal. Our Neighbors, who once scorned our efforts, now wonder about making the same choice we have. It’s no wonder, as local household electric bills average from $150 to $300 a month. Off Grid Living looks very appealing now.

In 1994 we moved across the province of Ontario to settle on our 20 acres of woodland and make our dream of off grid living a reality. Back then we were known as ‘those people who live down that road without hydro’. It took some time, but most of our neighbors now embrace our lifestyle. We built our own timber frame home cutting most of the lumber ourselves. Our gardens are now among the best in the area. But, by far the most important point about off grid living is our commitment to renewable energy usage. As long as our power source ( and heat) is renewing itself, we are not depleting resources of the planet. Sustainable living is possible by using off grid living techniques.

Granted, off grid living is not for everyone. Read no further if the well-being and maintenance of our planet earth is no concern to you. If you are addicted to fossil fuel guzzling gadgets then our lifestyle would not interest you. If you don’t want to eat fresh organic produce or feel the wonderful radiant heat of firewood burning in your woodstove then read no further. If you don’t want to power your home with clean solar power or the power of the wind , and would rather live next door to a nuclear power plant then just stop reading. Finally, if clean fresh air and water for your children, and their children, and their children is of no interest to you then off grid living is not for you.

Are these things important to you? They are very important to Jane and I , and a growing list of subscribers to our newsletter. We welcome input from all interested people. And it is free.

We have been working at off grid living for over 13 years. Come and see our website full of helpful tips on how to make your lifestyle more relaxed and free from stress. Off grid living is what you need to help your family today.

When it comes to financing the purchase of land for upcoming constructions, constructions loans are the solution to your problems. These loans are called Land Loans or Lot loans and are actually constructions loan specially designed for that purpose.

These loans, since there is not that much money involved, have very few requirements for approval. Yet, it is important to understand what you need to meet in order to obtain them as it will also determine whether a particular lot is suitable for getting hold of a construction loan later on. That means that if a particular lender offers you a land loan for upcoming construction, provided that you meet the further requirements, you’ll also be able to obtain the corresponding construction loan.

Lot Characteristics Needed For Loan Approval

There are some characteristics that the lot needs to meet for most lenders to approve your loan. This is due to the fact that as long as you are financing the purchase of the lot, it is not only your investment but also the lender’s (usually the lot guarantees the loan). Thus, the lender will want to make sure that the land purchased will not lose its value or be useless for the construction of the property.

The land you plan to purchase must be standard for the zone, which implies no excessively long extensions or very small lots. It needs not have characteristics that turn construction more onerous like inadequate soil components, etc. Also, most lenders will require at least one or two utilities available from the surroundings (i.e. water pipes, gas, electricity, communications, etc.).

Land Loans And Stated Income

Similarly to regular construction loans and other loan types, you can obtain a land loan without having to show proof of your income. This implies that the loan approval and terms will be determined taking into account the income amount that you state to have on your application instead of the one you can prove by providing the proper documentation.

This doesn’t mean that you won’t be required to provide any documentation as some lenders claim. Truth is that you’ll have to show proof that you have a source of income with letters from your CPA or employer. But the amount of income will be disregarded and only the amount you state on your application will be taken into account at the time of loan approval. Bear in mind though, that this increases the risk and thus, you’ll end up with less advantageous loan terms.

Repayment Programs And Limitations

Most of the loan repayment programs for construction loans can last up to 30 years depending on the applicants credit score and history. Also, since most people use these loans and later combine them with construction loans, after 2 to 5 years these loans can be repaid fully without penalties so as to take a construction loan instead or sell the land to be used for construction.

Loans with full income documentation can finance up to 95% of the purchase price or even more. If you cannot fully prove income you’ll only be able to get 80% financing or less. There are some exceptions for these limitations for excellent credit applicants.

All roof contractors are not the same. Most roofing jobs look great from the street. But did you know that one out of two composition shingle roofs installed today are not installed properly?

The number one installation problem will cause your roof to blow off before your neighbor’s roof does in a wind storm. Well, assuming your neighbor’s roof is installed right.

A starter course, when installed right, is designed to keep the shingles at the eave from lifting at the edge of the roof when the wind blows. Once the wind gets under a loose shingle, you can guarantee that the next strong wind will take it off, perhaps along with many others, and deposit them in the next county.

Here’s the Test
You can quickly determine if the starter shingles were installed correctly. You don’t even have to get up on the roof. Lift the first shingle at the edge of the roof. There should be what looks like two shingles stuck together. If you can’t lift more than three or four inches of shingle at the edge of the roof and the first row is stuck down to the starter shingle under it at the edge, you have a pro for a roofer.

If the first shingle is not stuck down or you can lift more than 4 or 5 inches of the whole business off the roof edge, you have a problem.

Here’s the Fix
A qualified roofer will be able to lift the shingles in the first row and nail down the starter course near the roof edge. He will then apply roof adhesive to seal down the bottom edge of the first row of shingles to the starter.

The Starter Course Quiz
If you are having a new roof put on, you can ask a couple of questions of your roofer. “What are you using for a starter course?” and “Are you installing the starter course according the instructions from the roofing manufacturer?” Every composition shingle roofing package will typically have basic installation instructions on the back. Review them with your roofer.

Here are the key words to listen for when your roofer answers the starter strip question: “We always use a standard shingle and turn it 180 degrees for the starter strip.” Wrong answer.

The right answer is: “We always use a starter course, manufactured for that purpose. We install it with the seal-down strip at the edge of the roof and nail it 3-4 inches from the edge of the roof.” Right answer.

An alternative answer is: “We cut off the exposed tabs of a standard shingle and install what’s left along the edge of the roof with the seal-down stuff at the edge of the roof and nail it 3 or 4 inches from the edge of the roof.” Right again.

The Bottom Line
Just so you know I am not making this up, the people in the know can tell you themselves. The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA), and all roof manufacturers have specific and tested installation methods that work when you follow them. Use a qualified roofing contractor and make sure they follow the instructions.

Next time you get a strong wind, look at the shingles on the edge of your roof. Are they waving good bye?

The most critical component of custom building is obtaining the right budgets – Yes Plural - “for you.” I can not emphasize this point enough. Every family has different needs and objectives. You are allocating resources (monetary, emotional, time, etc.) to your custom home and you expect to maximize your return on investment.

However, a custom home’s return on investment is not the same as a stock holder’s return on investment. Your return on your home’s investment is personal. Yes, it should have financial implications, but it “MUST” reflect your family’s lifestyle, values and personal sense of style. Your home should be an oasis. A place for entertaining, retreat, and solitude.

Therefore, you should require two budgets. One budget that outlines what you expect to pay for your home. No More, No Less. This is the financial budget. The second budget is a personal budget. This budget defines how your home will reflect your lifestyle, values and personal sense of style.

The personal budget outlines your requirements for items such as views; The style of architecture you want; How you entertain; What type of privacy your require; Do you work from home; Is there a need for a play area; How many Bedrooms do you need; What floor would you like the Master bedroom on; Etc.

It is “critical” that you are honest with the architect and your home builder regarding what you expect to pay and your requirements for your new home. No More, No Less. Without open, honest communication, the architect and your builder can not do the job they are hired to do – Design & Build Your “Custom” Home.

You should have both your financial and personal budgets prior to meeting with an architect. Your builder and the architect will work with your budgets to maximize your homes return on investmen

The use of energy in our homes is inescapable, providing heating and electricity within the home. Traditionally, we have been reliant on fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil to provide for our energy needs. Fossil fuels by nature are a finite resource and will eventually run-out. In addition to this, they are damaging to the environment contributing greatly to the production of greenhouse gases. The most significant of these greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide (CO2) - almost half of the energy related to CO2 emissions derive from energy use in buildings.

There are numerous ways of reducing energy needs within the home without comprising on warmth, comfort and general standard of living. Renewable energy sources can help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and also are good for the economy given the issues surrounding the longer term availability of fossil fuels.

Renewable energy options for a homeowner include solar energy (the sun), heat generated from below the earth's surface (geothermal) and wood and energy crops (biomass). In Ireland, several of these resources are in good supply. The homeowner can do their part for the environment by opting for a renewable heating system that meets their need in terms of heat demand, budget and environmental considerations.

Biomass
Biomass is all plant and animal matter on the Earth's surface. Bioenergy is the term given to harvesting biomass such as crops, trees etc. to generate energy.

Indeed, Biomass was the first fuel that mankind learned to use when the first primitive fires were started. Biomass has achieved a significant share of the energy market on the Continent. Ireland has one of the lowest uses of Biomass in Europe but has one of the largest resources. Biomass provides about 1% of the country's energy needs in the form of domestic and industrial wood heating. Wood is a 'carbon neutral' fuel in that it absorbs as much CO2 when it grows as it releases when it is burned.

The main types of wood fuel are chips and pellets. Wood chips are a clean, low moisture fuel made from wood in its natural state. They are a high energy, low-smoke fuel. They are a bulk fuel meaning that they are generally unsuitable for domestic purposes due to storage issues. They are used in larger buildings or to heat clusters of domestic properties through a heating scheme. Wood pellets are a clean, dry fuel made from a mixture of sawdust and wood shavings. The Wood pellets are 6-12mm in diameter and 6-20mm in length. Pellets are easy to ignite and leave little ash. A feeding mechanism such as a hopper can be used to feed the Pellet Burner.

In a similar vein to traditional oil or gas burners, a Wood Pellet boiler will provide full central heating and hot water. Wood Pellet Stoves provide heating for a single room. They produce a small fire that, concentrated in the center of the unit, burns hot.

In a similar vein to traditional oil or gas burners, a Pellet boiler will provide full central heating and hot water. Pellet stoves provide heating for a single room. They produce a small fire that, concentrated in the center of the unit, burns hot.

One important consideration when opting for a Pellet Burner is storage. Pellet are a bulky fuel meaning that more storage space is required than that for oil. The store must also be kept completely dry and free from damp.

Hydropower
Hydropower is the capture of the energy of moving water for some useful purpose. The energy of moving water has been exploited for centuries but was first used to produce electricity in the 1870's. Power generated from a hydro scheme depends on the height the water falls and the volume of water available. Water is diverted from a given point on the river through to a turbine house where a turbine converts the kinetic energy of falling water into mechanical energy. Then a generator converts the mechanical energy from the turbine into electrical energy.

Given it's nature, the resource is very site specific (even more than solar) but if you are lucky enough to have a stream nearby and you have enough head (height between your source and your hydro turbine) and enough flow, then it is a viable option. Issues to consider are the capital required on civil engineering work such as the weir and water channel. Building a diversion and intake that effectively screens out debris and can stand up to high seasonal flows can be challenging.

Wind Power
Ireland is blessed with an abundance of wind energy. More and more large-scale wind turbines can be seen around the country to provide for the country's electricity needs. Wind energy is clean, free and of course, infinite.

For remote locations that have no connection to the energy grid, a power supply based on a wind turbine will produce electricity much cheaper than the costs of bringing in power lines. Turbines large enough to provide a significant portion of the energy needs for the average household require at least half an acre of land. Factors determining the viability of turbines for the home include wind speed and direction. Wind speed increases with height so turbines will give a greater output if placed at a higher level. The site must also have a good 'aspect' to the prevailing wind.

Buying one of the Las Vegas condominiums for sale has been compared to many things. Some would tell you it’s like buying stock in a condo corporation. Others would compare it to marrying into a family you barely know. Others still would more cynically say it’s like marrying into the Mob.

Now some feel it’s a different kind of animal for two reasons - the condo association and the fees they charge. This is what some say puts condominiums in Las Vegas into a different league when it come to Vegas real estate.

You see, unlike a single family home, when you buy an attached dwelling like a condominium, you get exclusive ownership rights to the interior space within the walls of your specific unit. The condo association is set up to take care of the rest.

In other words you don’t own title to the land. And it’s up to the association to maintain so called common areas, keep up the landscaping, water the grass and fix the roof when it leaks. In essence the fees are a type of forced savings that homeowners don’t have to deal with. This can be advantageous to you the Las Vegas condominium owner, or not.

You see, unfortunately too many homeowners don’t set aside money for future major repairs. Result? When the day comes that the roof needs replaced they have to scramble for the money. So the benefit of these fees is you avoid that panic. Because the funds should be there. At least if the association has set the fees properly.

So you can budget better knowing there won’t be any unpleasant surprises associated with ownership of this type of Las Vegas real estate down the road.

The downside of course is you don’t have a choice in the matter. You have to pay the fees whether or not your child needs emergency surgery that month and you're pinched for money. So you give up some financial flexibility for avoidance of the unexpected.

Of course that’s not to say there may not be special assessments if something unexpected happens. Just ask condo owners in Florida about those after a hurricane goes through.

So if you’re considering Las Vegas condominiums as a housing option you should at least stop to think if this wrinkle is good or bad in your situation.

Many homeowners are desiring and some insisting that their home be earth friendly, affordable to operate, and healthy to live in. In recent years the method of building homes based on Green building principles has grown incredibly.

The term Green building refers to a practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings use energy and materials, while also reducing the impacts on the environment and human health. Quality home builders have been wise to note this trend in more environmentally conscious consumers.

The practice of Green building, also called sustainable building, can lead to benefits including reduced operating costs by increasing productivity and using less energy and water, improved public and occupant health due to improved indoor air quality, and reduced environmental impacts by, for example, lessening storm water runoff and the heat island effect.

Green design often emphasizes taking advantage of renewable resources, including the use of sunlight through passive solar, active solar and photovoltaic techniques and the use of plants and trees through green roofs, rain gardens, and for reduction of rainwater run-off. Many other techniques, such as using packed gravel for parking lots instead of concrete or asphalt to enhance replenishment of ground water, are used as well.

For existing buildings, indoor air quality is a major consideration, and will be addressed through specifications for characteristics like ventilation and moisture control, as well selection of indoor materials like paints, carpets and furnishings that minimize indoor chemical emissions. Installing insulation is the most cost-effective way to improve the comfort of the home, especially when used together with good passive design. A home without proper insulation, leads to excessive energy cost for heat and air conditioning. Insulation can also help if you have problems with damp; some types also have soundproofing qualities.

The goals Green building are designed to reduce maintenance and utility costs, improve energy efficiency and water conservation, provide safe, healthy and productive environments and promote environmental stewardship.

Sovereign Homes is dedicated to building homes that are health conscious and environmentally friendly. Our emphasis on green building standards is demonstrated by our 100 percent recyclable ThermaSteel™ structural panels. Sovereign Homes will meticulously design and implement a program tailored to your specific needs. From the inception of architectural and interior design to the completed project, we offer a full gamut of building services, undertaking projects as small as a kitchen remodel to a full scale renovation.