Each year the Minnesota State Fair has an Eco Exhibit that focuses on energy saving technology and products. We always enjoy that part of the fair - and this year we went specifically to see that exhibit.
We talked for a couple of hours with U of M Instructor Dan Handeen (LEED-AP Research Fellow) at the U of M's Center for Sustainable Building Research
We looked at their various wall assemblies. They built an award winning wall from sustainable materials in their OptiMN Impact Home.
Some other resources that we learned about at the fair:
We talked for a couple of hours with U of M Instructor Dan Handeen (LEED-AP Research Fellow) at the U of M's Center for Sustainable Building Research
We looked at their various wall assemblies. They built an award winning wall from sustainable materials in their OptiMN Impact Home.
Some other resources that we learned about at the fair:
- The Natural Built Home - Eco-Friendly building materials. www.naturalbuilthome.com
- Minnesota Building Performance Association - mbpa.us - safe, durable, comfortable, efficient homes - checked the site, nothing in our area
- buildings.energy.gov/zero - list of builders in MN that certify - there are not many!
- Cocoon insulation - www.cocoon-insulation.com
- Re-bath makes a shower entry if the zero clearance shower doesn't work in the pour.
One of the speakers was Amaris Custom Homes - the one builder in the cities that seems to focus on bringing high efficiency homes to the general population. We went to see their new parade of home house in Afton -- there was an article about it in the Pioneer Press.
The builder said they still have to put in $38K in systems - which is something we don't plan on doing at all. Their product selections and focus on low VOC homes was impressive. They used Lion windows out of Iowa and ThermaTru doors.