Hi: I'm responding to Michael's question about the windows. Since my last post, we had two of the fixed triples develop cracks. They are located in our entry, on the south side, and there's no sign of structural problems in the drywall, floor, or anywhere around the windows. Our one thought is that the tightness of our entry room, combined with some freakishly high winds that we had in January, might have caused them to crack under stress. I called PVC, and the rep was out within days. He said no problem, they'll get us new windows. Now, that was three months ago, and I'm still waiting. But the reply from service is "they'll be there before the end of the month." Their initial turnaround time for our builder (and all 52 windows) was incredible: 2 weeks I think!

So, like you Mike, while I would rather have had the fiberglass windows, and some of the glazing specs offered by the Canadian companies, the real hurdle was price. We just couldn't pay, in our case, nearly three times more for our windows. It made more sense for us to increase our wall R-values, air seal the ducts, and put in solar hot water to help improve our efficiencies. Someday, some company might come up with replacements that have more ideal performance characteristics for our house. But at present, I'm pretty satisfied with the casement/awning and fixed window performance. The hardware seems decent, they shut tightly, and while the triple fixed seem to flex a little, you won't feel anything cold or hot coming through.

Make sure you talk to PVC about the VT for your windows. They can improve their standard VT on the glazing a bit, without compromising your U. Depending on where you live, it could be important for you to have some more visible light. Our builder used the standard Earthwise triples down the street, and because of that home's orientation and window configuration, it seems SO dark inside. So, try to view some units if you can so that you're not surprised when you get them.

Just a quick report: the triple glazed windows really do make a difference! We have doubles on the south side, and while they do let in the heat during the day as planned, they also feel cooler when the sun goes down. By comparison, the triples are noticeably more consistent in their temperature. They don't get warmer with the sun, nor do they really cool when it is chilly out.

We are still waiting for the solar thermal to be hooked up, and should have something to report by the end of the month.

We are also waiting to hear back from the civil engineer who is calculating the irrigation efficiency for our landscape plan which was finalized last month. So far, the fifteen trees that we planted prior to Thanksgiving have endured abnormally high winds, and the rest of the low shrubs and perennials should weather this unusually warm winter just fine.

A review of the LEED Homes rating system is to come, as we are finalizing the documentation to submit for our LEED Homes certification. It takes time!

Solar thermal panels go up with the help of a crane. 

A red 4" red maple in the foreground, with two conifers behind, are some of the new plantings on the south side.

A River Birch will do well downslope of the house in an area that receives runoff from the slope.