THE NEW HOUSE - KEEPS ITS COOL

The temperature this afternoon - as I write this - as noted in two locations on the property:  82d at the cabin and the new house (outside).  92d in the garden - outside.

I just checked the temperature in the new house:  66d.

What do these temperatures mean?

The new house does not have air conditioning.  There is no cooling system.  There is no mechanical system that is keeping the house cool.  And, that is the significance of these temperatures.  

The interior temperatures are holding cool on a very hot day without any assistance from any piece of equipment.

To be fair I will check later in the week as the temperature maintains and continues to climb to see where the temperatures get.  If previous performance holds, the house may get to 72d or so depending on how cool I can get the house in the evening and early morning.

Before moving over here we lived in a place in Eagle Ranch - a loft that was pretty much in the central business district.  It had air conditioning.  We fought to keep the temperature at 74d on a day like today, assuming the equipment continued to work and did not overheat.   We would get home late in the day, wanting some relief from the heat, and we would bake, with air conditioning.   

Today, I would bet the temperature in the new house at 6p will be maybe 68 degrees no A/C.  

This means we did not spend money operating any air conditioning equipment.  We aren't going to have to maintain air conditioning equipment.  We don't have air conditioning equipment.  

This is a hot summer so far.  My experience indicates the weather we are experiencing now is weather we would - under normal circumstances - experience in late July.   

So I'm not necessarily going to jump up and down right now, but I am very encouraged, and will do further analysis to share in the blog.

In the meantime - it is really hot outside, and the new house is maintaining its cool without a mechanical assist.

A ROSE IS A ROSE

There is a rose bush by the cabin that has been biding its time while I constructed a whole bunch of stuff on site:  cabin remodel; garden beds; oh, and a house.

This rose bush has been cut, moved and transplanted, suffered through a lack of watering and general neglect - although not the neglect of malice.  This rose was neglected because of other higher priority items to get done.  And, it survived.

This summer season, however, the architect has completed the construction tasks and now is paying attention to the grounds.  We have lilacs that are getting attention, and roses that are getting attention.  We also found a new apricot tree growing in the front yard that is now getting some compost and water and attention so it becomes a happy part of the landscape.

So...the rose.  

For the first time since we bought this place in 2012 the rose blossomed.  And here it is:

The first rose.  

Blog Re-engagement

Original Site Condition - 2012

I just spent the last two years building a house.  I did not write anything in the blog about this little endeavor, because - between doing architecture and being a general contractor - I was fairly busy and down time was used to sleep.

So, I will attempt to make up for this lapse with a few new tales, and an overview of the process, and perhaps some perspectives when an architect builds his own house.

FOUNDATION - MAY 2016

In the meantime, summer has hit the #vailvalley.  Temperatures are consistently warm early this year.  The garden is just about set.  Tomatoes, potatoes, cukes, basil, and a bunch of other good, organic food has been planted.  

The grounds are now getting attention and roses have been planted at the street corner.  The lilacs are being trimmed and cleaned up.  The plants we have been saving and nurturing are being prepared to become part of the landscaping.

So, here is the new house.   There will be more to come as I dive into some important aspects of building the house.  For now, it is functioning nicely as we head into the summer.  Cool inside while hot outside - without an air conditioner.

It is going to be very interesting to see how this #architectshouse performs as we head into what appears to be a very hot and dry summer in the central Colorado Mountains.