Green Cottage Kits News!

Prefab Cottage House Kit Goes Up In West Virginia

2010-09-14T10:24:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let our enthusiasts know there is a new prefab cottage house kit project you can follow, whose first post went up today: A prefab cottage house kit, a Midway from our Green Cottage Kits.

This house kit project should be an interesting story: this gentleman is going into the prefab house kit construction / contracting business during a recession, and his first project's customer is...

HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW.

Fortunately, he has his licensed contractor brothers as part of his team that will ensure, with our team and community of prefab house kit experience, the cottage will meet his mother-in-law's dreams. : )

Again, thank you all for your kind enthusiasm for our cottages and line of affordable prefab house kits.

Sincerely yours,

Copeland Casati

copeland casati
president
www.GreenCottageKits.com
6902 park ave / rva 23226
804/ 515-7886

...The traditional sister site to Green Modern Kits.

This blog has moved

2010-04-13T13:16:00.001-07:00

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A Reward For Our Prefab Cottage Enthusiasts : )

2009-06-10T13:16:00.001-07:00

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

Cottage prefab enthusiasts, I present... Midway.

To reward you for your patience, the first prefab cottage Midway purchased will be offered at a substantial discount.

None of this is on the site yet. We're still waiting for the final pricing from the factory. It should be somewhere between the prefab large cottage, Bienvenue, and the small cottage kit, The Sinda.

Each kit varies slightly in price depending on which factory fabricates it (East coast is less expensive than the West coast factories, for example, and the factory closest to you fabricates the kit) but we are really trying to stay on these prices and pressure the factories to offer the Bienvenue for $39,280, and The Sinda for $28,053.

That includes the design documents by the award-winning architecture firm Gelotte Hommas (which are then engineered by your engineer to fit your local conditions, hence addressing snow loads, hurricane, etc. if it needs to be tweaked) and the SIPs (structural insulated panels) exterior and roof panels. Kits also come with a window and door schedule to make it easier for you to complete.

(Please note: If your area needs higher R values than for our standard kit, we can adjust the panel thickness and price accordingly.)

Our standard SIPs package includes:

6 5/8" SIP Wall Panels
8 3/8" SIP Roof Panels
8" SIP Wall Screws
10" SIP Roof Screws
Do-All Ply Sealant
Factory Fabrication

EXCLUDED FROM PACKAGES:
Permits and Fees
Engineering
Equipment Rental
Structural Beams and Support
Interior/Exterior Finishes
Dimensional Lumber
Sales Tax
Shipping

…and everything else that are personal choices you would make with your contractor: foundation, appliances, systems, cladding, etc. These Wall and Roof Packages are SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) which provides *excellent* insulation.

The R value the 8 3/8” roof panels have an R-value of 29.3 when tested at 75 degrees F and a 31.6 when tested at 40 degrees F. The 6 5/8” wall panels have an R-value of 22.6 when tested at 75 degrees F and a 24.3 when tested at 40 degrees F. Recently an additive to prevent mold and mildew was added to the manufacturer’s panels (organic fungicides and a borate compound tested to be effective) with a 20 year guarantee. Thanks to you all for being enthusiastic about our prefab cottage house kits built with energy efficient structural insulated panels, *we appreciate it!!!!*

So here is the last side of Midway:

For those of you that want to tour a modern prefab house kit just to see how the structural insulated panels and passive solar works, there will be an Open House in central Virginia for an off grid zero energy prefab passive solar casa ti from Green Modern Kits in September.

More on this later, but if you are interested in touring this prefab off grid zero energy modern house kit, there is a wonderful bike tour going on in the area during the weekend of September 26th.

Bike Heartland is a fun bike tour that goes all weekend long through a gorgeous, historic area of Virginia. I am working with some local farms to have other activities like tours of natural, community supported farms, a winery that will be open for you to enjoy, and more, so pack your tent or secure lodging and come on down!

For accommodations, see here (camping at the Heartland Bike Tour), here (Charlotte Courthouse bed & breakfasts), here (Appomattox bed and breakfasts), and here (Farmville lodging); and also be sure to visit Miss Emily's, where Necia and her husband will show you great English hospitality. (And boy does she know how to cook. Tell her Copeland sent ya. : ) )

Again, thank you all for your kind enthusiasm for our cottages and line of affordable prefab house kits.

Sincerely yours,
Copeland Casati

copeland casati
president
www.GreenCottageKits.com
6902 park ave / rva 23226
804/ 515-7886

...The traditional sister site to Green Modern Kits.

Green Cottage Kits News Spring 2009!

2009-04-21T07:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Green Cottage Kit Enthusiasts,

If you are in D.C., I will be speaking today, Tuesday, April 21st at 6p.m. at EcoWomen.
...Come and see me! I will be speaking about our passive solar house kits and green living.

Europe

We have a partnership in the works for Europe. If you are a European enthusiast, please email me and tell me which house kit most interests you. Vote with your email! We will now be able to work with you most anywhere!

Virginia modern house kit: casa ti

If you haven't been following the blog of the Virginia off grid modern casa ti at http://www.greenmodernkits.com/casa-ti.htm, we resume building the interior in two weeks, and then progress to systems and landscape architecture / a plan for land management.

Then the real fun begins this summer: Interior design!
We will be furnishing our casa ti with many reused and reclaimed items, and after the practicality of building the house kit I am looking forward to some plain ole fun design!

Please do know that as consumers of our own product, we are struggling through many of the issues a family must face in creating their home... one of those issues being... design fights!
; )

...And that's our Spring Update!
In the meantime, I hope you all have a great day!

Sincerely yours,
Copeland Casati

copeland casati
president
www.GreenCottageKits.com
6902 park ave / rva 23226
804/ 515-7886

...The traditional sister site to Green Modern Kits.

Just got pricing for The Sinda!

2008-12-16T10:15:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to let our wonderful cottage enthusiasts know that I just got pricing for our smallest cottage kit, The Sinda:
$28, 053.02
(Yes, in my world, every penny counts! Why round up when you can charge the actual amount? :) )

As with every house kit, The Sinda varies slightly in price depending on which factory fabricates it (East coast is less expensive than the West coast factories, for example, and the factory closest to you fabricates the kit) but we are really trying to stay on these prices and pressured the factories to offer The Sinda for $28,053.02.

The kit includes the design documents by the award-winning architecture firm Gelotte Hommas (which are then engineered to fit your local conditions) and the SIPs (structural insulated panels) exterior and roof panels. Kits also come with a window and door schedule to make it easier for you to complete.
(Please note: If your area needs higher R values than for our standard kit, we can adjust the panel thickness and price accordingly.)

I hope you enjoy the new renderings of The Sinda... we are now working on pricing or mid-sized energy efficient cottage, Midway.

In the meantime, I hope you all have a great day!

Sincerely yours,
Copeland Casati

copeland casati
president

www.GreenCottageKits.com

www.GreenModernKits.com
6902 park ave / rva 23226

The Sinda Elevations Are Here!

2008-11-21T15:43:00.000-08:00

Pssssst! I just got The Sinda elevations!!!!

And since y'all have been so nice and patient I'm sending them to you before they're even on the site.

Enjoy. : )

(This is now being sent to the factory, which will then give us price estimates, at which point I will add it all to the site. The architecture firm, Gelotte Hommas, will also be sending over a revised floorplan which will go on the site as well.)

Hope y'all have a great weekend!

Sincerely yours,
Copeland Casati

copeland casati
president

www.GreenCottageKits.com
www.GreenModernKits.com
6902 park ave / rva 23226

Green Cottage Kits News! Especially to Yahoo Emails.

2008-11-11T15:14:00.000-08:00

Dear Green Cottage Kits Nice People,

So sorry to follow up so quickly after the November newsletter - but many of you have emailed me with further questions, and when I responded to your email, if you were a Yahoo user especially it would reject my response, saying "No Such User." While I clear that up with Yahoo (I suspect it thinks my domain is spam), I thought I'd take the time to answer some of these questions that all of you might find of value.

Again, my apologies for sending out an email so quickly on the heels of our earlier newsletter.

Answers To Your Questions:

Unfortunately the elevations for Midway and The Sinda are just now being completed. Our summer and fall turned out much more busy than we expected (which, is a good thing), and I am reviewing the final illustrations now. They will then be sent to the factory for pricing, and I will notify you all when I put it on the site. : )
There are Bienvenues in the process of being purchased and built. I was waiting to tell you about them because I don't consider a purchase "real" until... Hmmm, I guess once the construction is underway? : ) Please know you *will* see some blogs and more news soon. (I'm kind of a "don't count yer eggs until they've hatched" kind of gal... )
Yes there are tweaks you may do, don't forget your local engineer will need to review the documents to ensure they meet local code so at that time we can make those adjustments as long as they stay within the architect's vision (So a basement? No problem.) What you do need to remember is that we designed to that there is as little waste as possible, hence fitting the design to be as energy-efficient and as least wasteful as possible.
To the nice gentleman in Michigan: This solar federal tax credit website might help you (and all of you): http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits#s1 and for state credits, go here: http://www.dsireusa.org/
I *am* researching cladding options that I might get volume pricing for, as I did for Green Modern Kits. Stay tuned. : )
And to the nice mom who has property in Long Beach, Washington: I enjoyed so much seeing your family, I volunteer for and have family gained through adoption and am very involved in foster care placement. Look forward to speaking with you more.

Again, I apologize for sending this out so quickly on the heels of the last newsletter. Hopefully you will have found it of value-- until then, you will not hear from me again until I have BIG NEWS to share! : )

Sincerely yours,
Copeland Casati

copeland casati
president

www.GreenCottageKits.com
www.GreenModernKits.com
6902 park ave / rva 23226

Green Cottage Kits News! November 2008

2008-11-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

Greetings From Green Cottage Kits!
Here is the latest news and updates for November 2008.

Virginia casa ti

I know you are traditional cottage enthusiasts, but thought I'd share that our own modern house kit construction is well underway- the foundation was framed, the radiant heat tubing laid, concrete poured... and TODAY the house kit arrived!

Our house kit is being put together by the Amish.

So please keep an eye on http://www.greenmodernkits.com/casa-ti.htm if you would like to follow that kit's progress! (There is also a casa ti being built in Oklahoma, you can start to follow project blogs under the "recent projects" area.)

Gelotte Hommas Architects

Award-winning Gelotte Hommas, the architects of the cottage house kit series, have been busy on a local custom home.

Thought you might enjoy seeing the project: (Scott Hommas of Gelotte Hommas Architecture did this beautiful illustration)

Tumble Creek Cabin
Roslyn, Washington

Blending seamlessly with the environment, this recently completed Gelotte Hommas Architecture project provides the perfect retreat for a Seattle family. The 2,600 square foot home is designed for entertaining and can accommodate multiple families. For quiet separation, the bedroom pod is set apart from the active areas by the entry hallway.

Texas

After much hard work, we signed a TEXAS factory to offer the same low price for our house kits in this key state!!! I know a bunch of y'all are in Texas, so now you have a local business that would fabricate your house kit. Yay!

Well good thing we signed that Texas factory, 'cause *that day* a nice Texas gentleman confirmed that yes, he would like an R1 Residential. : ) He is right outside of Houston, and we will keep you posted on that as it develops. He is in the process of soil testing to determine his house site and possibilities.

Rainwater filtration / collection / gray water / potable solutions expand!

Our original partner, Rain Filters of Texas, has joined into a larger network (throughout the United States and Canada), Rainwater Management Solutions. I am very excited to announce our partnership with this incredible group, as they are recognized as national leaders using cutting edge technology, while spending the time to educate zoning and government.

This is great news for you, whether you are in Arizona, Canada, or *wherever,* because now we have a much wider offering of rain solutions for you, wherever you may live!

Rainwater Management Solutions brings a common sense, cost effective approach to the escalating issue of water conservation and management through its innovative rainwater harvesting system designs and its experienced, knowledgeable staff.

Their combined expertise encompasses industries directly impacted by water management issues:

Commercial & Residential Developers
Engineers & Architects
Industrial & Commercial End Users
Agricultural Professionals
Local, State & National Agencies

...And that's our November Update!
In the meantime, I hope you are all having a productive autumn.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at copeland@greencottagekits.com.

Sincerely yours,
Copeland Casati

copeland casati
president

www.GreenCottageKits.com
www.GreenModernKits.com
6902 park ave / rva 23226