Saturday October 19 from 10 am to 5 pm: Please join me at the building site to talk about how we can transform our homes from energy-wasters to energy-producers.  See how our first model home plans to solve the problem of cold, drafty rooms and high monthly fuel bills, and if it’s a sunny day watch the electrical meter “spin backwards”.

And check out our latest project: “in-ground gutters”.  Instead of conventional gutters and downspouts, I had my excavation crew lay down a 12″ deep layer of washed river stone in a trench under the eaves.  The trench prevents erosion at grade and splash-back on the siding.  Rainwater flows freely through the gaps in the stone and seeps through the sand bed below.  If I had a basement and/or heavy clay soils, plastic draintile run downslope to a drywell or daylight would be in order.  This strategy would serve the same function as downspouts with extenders—getting the water away, fast.  My site is easy: no clay, no rocks, no standing water, no muddy boots.  The Village is built on the ancient bed of the Wisconsin River.  Life is a beach!