Can a “High Performance Home” be designed using Solid Log and Insulated Half Log construction?

In short the answer is yes! First though, let’s look at what a “High Performance Home” is. A high performance home, to me, is safer and healthier to live in, utilizes today’s technologies to use less energy, is built with sustainable materials and has a lower overall impact on the environment. A high performance home will outperform a traditional home that is built only with the goal of meeting code. The ultimate goal of a high performance home is to have all elements work together for greater energy efficiency and comfort, while also ensuring healthy indoor air quality.
Beaver Mountain Log & Cedar Homes has been focused on providing energy efficient homes for many years. I am currently working with several clients who are in the process of designing or building high performance homes (a.k.a. green or eco-friendly). Based on specific site conditions as well as personal preference, some are using solid log walls and others are using our insulated half log wall system. A few of the high performance methods being used include passive solar, geothermal, cool color roof shingles, solar panels and spray cellulose or foam insulation. These technologies combined with Beaver Mountain's expertise and quality of materials will set you well on your way to building a beautiful high performance home. The more natural wood products you use in your home such as logs and timbers (vs. man made conventional materials) the greener your home will be. We do not pre-treat or borate dip our logs so they are 100% natural and don’t emit harmful VOCs or other pollutants. Soil, water and air combined with energy from the sun are all that are needed to grow the trees our homes are made of. The thermal mass benefits of solid log construction better utilize available energy in both summer cooling and winter heating. According to the U.S. Department of Energy website you can save as much as 30-50% on your utility costs by incorporating various high performance or green building principles into the structure of your home. You can save 50-75% on your light bill alone by installing energy efficient fixtures and bulbs. The log and timber components our homes are milled from are not only beautiful they are renewable, recyclable and energy efficient.
Contact us today and find out how you too can benefit by designing and building a high performance home with Beaver Mountain.
John Lanner, Senior Design Consultant