M. Adam Davis <stienman <at> gmail.com> writes:

> 
> So I'm moving to a bit of dirt about 15 miles south of ann arbor and
> building a home.  I've long been interested in home automation and
> other such projects, and it'll obviously be wired for 1000baseT,
> phone, cable, etc with space for future wire runs.  It'll also be
> suitable for wireless use, but frankly I hate moving DVDs across slow
> wireless connections.
> 
> So I have a few questions to brainstorm about:
> 
> 1) What would you change about your house if you could?  Or more
> specifically, what would you change that is easier to do at the start
> than it is to retrofit later?
> 
> 2) Assuming unlimited "dreaming" budget, what would you build into a
> custom designed house?
> 
> 3) Any new or old homebuilding technology that I should really look into?
> 
> 4) What would you do with 10 acres of land?
> 
> So for my first thoughts:
> 
> 1) I like home automation.  Would be cool to be able to control
> electrical items using more than just a switch on the wall.  Would be
> nice to have whole house sound, security...

In addition to telecom, put at least a conduit to 2 walls in each room, and 
also a conduit or wire to windows and doors.  Later you can install e.g. remote-
controlled blinds on windows, helps with heating/cooling bill.  Another us is 
for security system.
> 
> 2) Theater, rooftop gazebo or sod roof, passive solar heating,
> cooling.  Geothermal heating/cooling.  Skylights, lots of natural
> light.
> 
Separately controlled HVAC for each room.  At the very least, pul a wire to 
vents so that you can later install a remote controlled vents.

> 3) Insulated concrete forms, steel frame construction, pole
> construction, log home...
> 
If you use concrete walls, it is possible to make them 2 layer ones 
(concrete/air/concrete).  Then you can pump hot/cold air inside the wall for 
heating/cooling.

Also, think about ventillation in the attic, just a simple fan help reduce 
heating in the summer (not that summer is too long in Michigan. I know because 
my son in at UM in Ann Arbor) 

> 4) Orchards, gardens, animals, wood/metal shop, english gardens (hedge
> maze!), small landing strip (land is around 1200' x 350'), wind &
> solar electricity...
Basement is nice for a workshop, but if you have enough land, a workshop on the 
same floor is better, easier to pull in all that wood for the shop.

> 
> Of course, I won't be able to implement much dreamy stuff(time and
> money), but the more stuff I think about before designing/building it,
> the better off I'll be in the long run.
> 
> This is brainstorming!  No negative stuff!  I really do want to hear
> your wacky unobtanium ideas.
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> -Adam

Best of luck on your dream house!

Sergey Dryga



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