I'm in a unique situation where I am looking to build a fairly small, but extremely energy efficient and modern home. If I have to sacrifice sq. footage to get higher quality materials, I am willing to do so. Some influences, but not requirements include LEED for Homes as well as Passivhaus.

As a single occupant, and a minimalist I want to utilize a lot of the space saving and integrated design you find in Europe and Japan. To me this means a lot of built in storage, smart planning of space, and avoidance of common building methods (like using pocket doors instead of swinging ones, etc.) High efficiency windows, active ventilation, natural lighting, and ductless mini splits are a must.

I have about a year to plan and research, then up to a year for construction. My goal is to have my current home sold and to move into the new place before 2016. My max budget is $200,000.

Is what I'm asking too much for what would be available in the Dallas area? A lot of my search on "Energy Efficient" homes in North Texas brings up designers/builders of 3000-4000 square foot mansions and very high end designer homes.

What is the smallest house your municipality allows or does it have any restrictions??

You are entering into a Twilight Zone universe called "custom homes" and it's going to be an interesting journey. Best to stay away from Google searches and the words "custom home." Custom homes and energy efficiency don't go hand-in-hand. Sometimes they are worlds apart.

With that being said, it's best to come up with a strategy on WHAT TYPE of home you want; wood frame, SIPs, SCIP, ICF, etc. After that decision is made, you can then proceed to the next step of design.

Do you have any special considerations? Or you in a termite prone area, high winds, floods, dry or wet climate, etc? Do you plan on doing some or all the construction yourself?

Posted By FBBP on 06 Jul 2013 07:50 PM
What is the smallest house your municipality allows or does it have any restrictions??

I have not checked yet. My current requirements are no less than 750 sq.ft., no more than 1050 sq.ft.

Posted By Lbear on 06 Jul 2013 09:35 PM
You are entering into a Twilight Zone universe called "custom homes" and it's going to be an interesting journey. Best to stay away from Google searches and the words "custom home." Custom homes and energy efficiency don't go hand-in-hand. Sometimes they are worlds apart.

With that being said, it's best to come up with a strategy on WHAT TYPE of home you want; wood frame, SIPs, SCIP, ICF, etc. After that decision is made, you can then proceed to the next step of design.

Do you have any special considerations? Or you in a termite prone area, high winds, floods, dry or wet climate, etc? Do you plan on doing some or all the construction yourself?

I figured that I would be in a tough spot. North Texas is mostly hot and dry but the nice thing is the winters are extremely mild. The soil in the more populated areas tends to be sandy, which I hear can cause severe shifting on concrete slab foundations.

The most common type of construction is wood frame, but with ICF being more common in the south, I will inquire about that possibility.

It sounds like you are suggesting that I make the efficiency improvements on top of an established base, rather than throw everything into my wish bucket and search top and bottom for a builder who can do them all. If so, I agree...

i have a different approach from LBear which is to find a designer or builder who builds the type of house you want and work with their methods. The people you are looking for are learning about the Passive House approach, so go to the PH website: http://www.passivehouse.us/passiveHouse/PHIUSHome.html
then look at PH Consultants
(there is a listing of builders, but none in Texas) and you will find three listed in Texas (plus two with the Army Core of Engineers) :
1116 Moore, Jake Temple, TX
1324 McCormick, Liz LizMcCormick Architecture & Design Houston, TX
1453 Pottorf, Shelly Architend Houston, TX

You can also google (sorry Lbear) Passive House Texas - there are several links there.
One of these people may be a builder, or if not, they probably know builders who understands the principals of good building.

Hey DinkyDonuts, I used to live near White Rock Lake in Dallas. You're going to be as much or more concerned with heat abatement as with heating. Some passive techniques to consider include proper roof overhang length, window placement and total window sq. ft. window quilts, east and west facing porches can help with that killer morning and evening summer sun, site orientation, exterior door air locks, insulation, and elimination of air infiltration. I used 2 on demand water heaters under kitchen sink and in the bath (electric). A trick I learned in Asia, take your shoes off inside the home. If your feet are warm or cool depending on the season your body feels more comfortable. This really works with a heated cement or stone floor. Pocket doors are a no-brainer. All easily explored topics on the internet. With a 705 sf footprint utilize the attic as loft space; if you go with a SIP OR MIP OR ICF or some reasonable combination and inside the envelope will be all the same temperature-wise. You can do 6/12 or 8/12 pitch to gain headroom in the loft/attic. If you install skylights go with round or octagonal ones. I put in 3' square ones and then spent 2 months trying to seal them properly. If you do go with square ones install them with a corner pointing up; this will eliminate water damming along the light. With mini splits and radiant floor heat you will eliminate ducting. If you use a clothes dryer put it in the garage so you don't penetrate your envelope with a 4" hole. One more thing, beware of using open-flamed things like a gas boiler, they burn oxygen and produce carbon monoxide for your breathing pleasure. Dan

Focus first on design. You should be able to find architects and builders in Dallas who, like Not So Big House author Sarah Susanka, specialize in maximum use of minimal floor space. Once you know what you are building, the technologies that best suit it will fall into place.

At some point, you should run the numbers as well, using one of the many free software programs that model energy use and expense. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/tools_directory/ It should be easy to shrink your utility bills to $600/year in the footprint you describe. But reducing energy expense to $200/yr likely will flunk a cost-benefit analysis.You already have a big negative in resale, sad to say (a small house). Unless you are reasonably confident 'that you'll live there for decades rather than years, I'd pay close attention to sunk costs.

Dinky, it's not hot and dry here. That would be too easy. It's often hot and stinking humid, and that's a challenge. Winter-efficient is easy here. Your first concern should be to compulsively avoid any double vapor barriers, and taking badvice from smart folks who build in "primarily heating" areas who sometimes try to put things on the wrong side of the wall for this oven.

If you do this right, you can get more than 750sf out of this. That is a crap size for resale here. You ain't in New York City. First, you have to build your "beer cooler", the shell. I love ICF, but it will be a challenge in this area. Does Dallas Bill ever come here any more? (I think he used Ian Geisler, right?) Before you hurt your brain any longer, think of nothing but the shell. Read this board, and JMHO, make Joe Lstiburek "Building Science" required reading.

Oh..everyone in Texas uses double-hung windows. Be sure to shop awning casements.

Hi, For a extremely energy efficient home you first want to look at the envelope of the building. When that is accomplished the rest is easy. Too find a good envelope system take a look at www.kwikbuildpanels.com Best, David

As a single occupant, and a minimalist I want to utilize a lot of the space saving and integrated design you find in Europe and Japan.

Read any book by Sarah Susanka. Or, read them all.

The original was "Not So Big House", but since then she has published several more with more details, particularly interior details.

Posted By ICFHybrid on 20 Sep 2013 09:45 PM

As a single occupant, and a minimalist I want to utilize a lot of the space saving and integrated design you find in Europe and Japan.

Read any book by Sarah Susanka. Or, read them all.

The original was "Not So Big House", but since then she has published several more with more details, particularly interior details.

In Japan and parts of Europe, it's not as if they have a choice on space. In Japan, space is a premium, and if you venture outside of the major cities you will find larger rural homes. Just like here in the US, for example, New York City. Space is hard to come by and it's very expensive.

As major cities continue to grow exponentially, space will become more and more limited. I believe "minimalist" living will be forced upon the people.

Check out www.buysipsonline.com