Electrical Service to Ag lot/Contractor's Service

[peteadams]

The foam in the SIPs is a very dense styrofoam (I think). No evidence of insects anywhere in the building materials after six years. Use wood for your construction if you want to invite insect damage and heartache. Pink fiberglas is a haven for mice as well as insects. Constructing the house using Rob's semi-eternal materials was one of the best decisions we made about building here.

White Cloud Nursery
www.whitecloudnursery.com

[hamlet]

IHO, styrofoam is good. Open cell foam, a nightmare.

Structural panels are cool, but expensive. Borate treated wood will resist
most insect attack, especially with attention to detail.

[OpenD]

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Originally posted by TrevorKane

The 7/12 slope makes a decent loft space, lots of light and air coming in the east/west sides, and is still very close to optimal solar performance.

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I'm wrestling with the question whether it makes the most sense to adjust roof slope for solar panel mounting, or to plan for adjustable solar panel angle mounting that can be changed during the year for best energy capture.

If I use a fixed angle mount, I'm thinking it would be best to set it for optimal winter angles. Seems to me that's when I need max efficiency the most. What say y'all? I'm also adjusting my roof overhang to optimize shade in summer, maximize solar heat gain in winter. Guess I should mention I'm in Volcano.

For a number of reasons I am planning east-west orientation of my house even though it means canting the house 15 degrees to the lot because the boundaries are angled to cardinal directions. Windows and ventilation will be concentrated on east and west walls to catch the prevailing breezes in my micro-clime. The largest portion of the lanai will be on the north side, the shady side, the cooler side.

quote:

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The 3/12 slope still has "normal" walls on the north/south sides and slows down the rain runoff.

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Yeah, CTAHR recommends maximum of 3/12 slope for rainwater catchment, and I've seen water splashing out of the gutters on steeper roofs... so that's why I'm thinking in terms of 3/12 roof overall, solar panels on adjustable mounts.