Midori Haus: Transformation From Old House To Green Future With Passive House [Paperback]

Managing a major remodel of your home involves learning various aspects of a construction project: permitting; hiring contractors; clarifying what you really mean and want; managing a budget; overseeing quality, avoiding regrets; doing whats right for yourself and standing up for yourself. Its a big job. The learning curve is high and often we homeowners dont get to apply the skills we learned again. In this book, the stories of a couple going through this learning curve is told through the lens of a novice just like a conversation with a homeowner over a cup of tea. What they thought they wanted (a brand new house in modern minimalist style with solar panels and recycled materials) is very different than what they ended up with (remodel of a 90-year-old house in the classic Arts and Crafts style to meet the stringent international building standard called Passive House). What caused this shift? How did they choose the contractor? How did they navigate out of overwhelm of green building choices? How did they manage the relationships? What would they do differently? Was it worth it? This book chronicles the journey by a couple from choosing the location through living in the house after the renovation completion. It wasnt all about finding smart people and following expert guidance. When expert opinions diverged and they got stuck in analysis paralysis they had to trust their judgment and chose what they felt was right for them. After all, theyll be living in the house for years after the experts are gone.