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Energy Efficient Log Homes! "How did foam grow in that log?"

Are you like me?

Do you love the many opportunities for new products and ideas being brought forth by the green building industry?

It seems daily I come across people and products that keep this industry fast paced and filled with growth and opportunity. I love the challenge of being able to combine several products into a great package for the consumer.

If you haven't noticed....I love what I do. Combining the health aspects of a home with energy efficiency and green building and providing a money saving package for the consumer is the coolest job in the whole world! In my world I couldn't ask for anything more than providing a quality product to consumers with value added efficiency.

Bringing products and people together....that is my forte!

There are many bright companies out there led by regular Joe's who have not so regular ideas. Every so often those companies come together to manufacture and market a GREAT product!

For the log home enthusiast who loves the logs and would like a home without the traditional issues of shrinkage from moisture loss, chinking problems and energy loss through the walls my partners and I are introducing a new package to the marketplace!

(drum roll...)

The Standale's new insulated log!!

Standale Insulog

You may ask me how a tree grows EPS foam insulation inside!

I asked the same question!!!

Yes, this is a true log home. This amazing process takes regular logs, cuts and dries them through a specialized kiln drying cycle (fired by waste materials, no less!), then laminates them with an EPS foam core.

This log solves many of the issues that log home owners have faced with shrinkage from moisture loss and the Standale Insulog keys in on energy savings to boot!

A healthier home, a better constructed home!

There are other fun parts of Standale's insulated log which allow a homeowner to mix and match species and log profiles. Are you looking for Eastern White Pine on the outside and Cedar inside? Round logs outside with flat walls inside? This process allows your dream home to be built the way you dream it!!! You dream it...we create it!!!

NOW...let's build this energy efficient home up in the mountains of North Carolina or Tennessee or Montana....or in Michigan overlooking the beautiful Great Lakes! How much will you have to pay to run power lines?

How would you like to pay NOTHING for that! We can design your home to be powered by RENEWABLE ENERGY!

Because we start with a structure that is sealed well and highly energy efficient, because we use triple glaze windows, because we properly seal the attic with insulation it makes sense to add renewable energy...possibly a hybrid wind and solar system to power this home!

The products are coming together for MY dream home, how about you!

Home with Standale Insulog

How would you like to know the energy savings this homeowner enjoys?

How would you like tremendous savings in a beautiful log home!

How would you like to live OFF THE GRID!

Beautiful, healthy and GREEN!

A Made in MEECHigan product.

Wood is good....

we just made it better!

Let me know if you or a client want more information! I have a special CD I can mail with your name on it!!! I also have builders who can build it!!!

Your home...your property...your energy savings....

Your dream home on energy efficient steroids!

Posted by Mary Bigelow, '09 will be FINE! on 07/25/2008 07:30 PM

Comments (19)

log home, green building, energy efficiency, wind, solar, renewable energy, solar hot water, new construction

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19 Comments on Energy Efficient Log Homes! "How did foam grow in that log?"

JUL

2008

Mary,

What a great product! How comparitive are the cost of these materials in building a home with traditional building materials? Have they built any out in California yet, cause I can see myself living in one of these up in Tahoe! Perhaps an idea for retirement!

That is pretty cool. Not that we really sell log homes out in Hawaii, but I would be interested to see costs vs standard log construction.

Hi Michelle - Thanks! We thought so also! It is important to keep in mind when costing that apples to apples must be compared. This system eliminates the need for some of the building materials in standard construction such as insulation, interior walls/sheetrock, etc. Labor is also reduced as the home built with a Standard Insulog "assembles" much quicker and with less intense labor.

Hopefully, our prelim costing studies will be done within the next few weeks! I'll get the boys on it!

In the meantime I will be sure and get you a presentation on disk later this week. We are looking at nationwide distribution of packages! I'd love to retire in one for sure!

Thanks for the comments!

Hi Pete - it is pretty sweet! Maybe it is just what you need to get a niche product going for all the mainlanders moving to Hawaii!!! I'll be happy to send you a cd also!

JUL

2008

Mary--- another home run for you today! And I would like a CD - believe it or not, people in Florida build log cabins too! Mostly out in the woods for hunting lodges... And besides real estate I also have a company called EarthSTEPS that provides consulting services to homes and businesses on energy, water and waste consumption. This is definitely a product I want to be able to share when the situation calls for it! I will email you my address. Thanks!

Hi Eva ~ Perfect! I was wondering about Florida. When I was researching markets last week I saw a company doing log home seminars in Florida. I found it somewhat odd but then again, not really. I know many from the north have always dreamed of living in a log home in retirement and many have retired to your state!

I will be sure and get you a cd. Please send information on your consulting business also. I would love to hear more!

With stuff like that it is really mostly for people who don't really care about the cost. It is just something they want.

Hi Denise - I am inclined to agree, to a point! As energy prices continue to increase energy efficiency and cost over time will become more and more important to people. The log home market is a niche market for sure, but I wouldn't say people purchasing them aren't concerned with cost. Certainly I would find them more discriminating buyers. Thanks for the comment!

JUL

2008

Mary,

Looks very nice, I can't wait for the CD. Save some money, I'll pick it up at the builders show in August. I assume you'll be at a booth.

HI Gary -

It's quite a system! Yes, I'll be at a couple of booths! Great Lakes Green is going to be a great event! I'm really looking forward to dealers showcasing the new products we have introduced this year!

Glad you will make it down! It will be good to see you! Once a year, not bad! LOL! Hope the fishin' has been treating you well!

AUG

2008

Nice home, Mary! Are you or Chris going to be at the Green Builder's Exhibit going on this week at DeVos? Sounds like it's going to be very informative.

It is great to see that log home energy loss may be mitigated some what by the use of EPS foam insulation.

AUG

2008

Hi Ed! This is a great system! I will be at the show with two of my dealers: FCB Solar and Standale Lumber. I'll be splitting my time between the two booths. I think Chris is doing some volunteering for USGBC West Michigan Chapter. Our LEED for Homes circle group has a booth also. Speaking of which! you should see if you can make our next LEED for Homes circle group! Great organization and we would love to get you involved! Thanks!

Hi Sabrina! The EPS foam core is a GREAT way to mitigate the energy loss! This is one of the first steps to creating a Zero Energy Log Home! The next step is Sherwood Triple Glaze windows with krypton gas - I call them my superman windows - that have a u-factor of .20. By creating a very tight and energy efficient shell we are able to make an off the grid home more possible.

Thanks for the comment! It's nice to see interest.

AUG

2008

Mary,

I received your package with the CD. I will let you know my feedback after I have had a chance to view it! Thanks for mailing it out!

AUG

2008

Hi Michelle, I can't wait to hear from you! We are showcasing the log home this weekend at Great Lakes Green 2008. Prelim feedback from the VIP Reception was tremendous!

AUG

2008

Hi everyone! As a builder, I believe that these logs are the best out there! With their energy efficiency, ease of construction and array of customization they can't be beat!

Check out my website at pristineengineeredloghomes.com

Thanks!

Hi Randall!

It was great talking with you! Thanks for the comment. It is nice to hear from a builder who has been using these logs! I look forward to meeting with you about our highly efficient Sherwood window!

That is an amazing process. I would never have thought of something like this. People's creativity in the green movement is unbelievable!

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