Energy Rating: 98.3 out of 100! 5 Star+

News just in... the home energy efficiency rating came in to 98.3! Highest rating so far in Alaska.

Weekend

Murphy Dome Road:


Another snowy morning for the Parade of Homes on Sunday:


Stain glass lamps installed:


Dining room:


Kitchen:


The house now has partial power. The batteries and generator are in place. We can use power off the batteries and put power back into them using the generator. Awaiting solar and wind power hookup.

Denali as seen from the top of our new neighborhood:


Picture of the wind tower from the road:


Morning shot of solar panels with a fresh coating of snow:


Fresh snow on the ground:


Finishing work at the back of the living room:


Guts of a stained glass lamp that just screamed to be changed out:


Gutters!


More gutters!


Fog in the valley:


Power controls and batteries underneath:


Close up of the renewable power controls:


Wind tower:


Propane tank installed:


A look from below the solar panels:


Home construction is wrapping up Thursday (that is tomorrow!). Final electrical installation to be wrapped up next week. Very close!

An update and snowy statistics

Center island pendants arrived unharmed straight from China, the last set arrived broken:


Battery bank. A bunch of 2V cells.


Chainsaw action to clear out trees that are in the way of guy wires:


Setting up the gin pole and tower mast onto center footing:


Gin pole is raised:


The rest of the turn buckles are put in place before the tower is fully raised:


Solar array frame:

Autumn is in full swing in Fairbanks:


Snowy statistics:

THE STATISTICS SHOW THAT THIS FIRST SNOWFALL IN THE MIDDLE TANANA
VALLEY IS JUST ABOUT ON SCHEDULE...

THE AVERAGE DATE FOR THE FIRST TRACE OF SNOWFALL IN
FAIRBANKS...SEPTEMBER 21.

THE AVERAGE DATE FOR THE SNOWFALL IN FAIRBANKS REACHES 1
INCH...OCTOBER 8.

THE AVERAGE DATE ON WHICH THE SNOW PACK ON THE GROUND IN FAIRBANKS
BECOMES PERMANENT...OCTOBER 18.

Forecast for Tuesday:

FPAK53PAFG_AKZ222
-----------------
AKZ222-221430-
MIDDLE TANANA VALLEY-
INCLUDING...FAIRBANKS...FORT WAINWRIGHT...EIELSON AFB...ESTER...
NORTH POLE...MOOSE CREEK...TWO RIVERS...FOX...CHATANIKA...CHENA
HOT SPRINGS...SOURDOUGH CAMP
316 PM AKDT MON SEP 21 2009

.TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS IN THE EVENING.
PERIODS OF RAIN AFTER MIDNIGHT...MIXING WITH OR CHANGING TO SNOW
OVER HIGHER ELEVATIONS. SNOW ACCUMULATION UP TO 1 INCH ABOVE
1500 FT. LOWS 30 TO 40. EAST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH. LOCAL GUSTS TO 25
MPH ON THE HILLS.
.TUESDAY...RAIN...MIXING WITH OR CHANGING TO SNOW OVER THE HILLS.
HIGHS 35 TO 45. ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION 1 TO 2 INCHES ON THE
HILLS. WEST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...RAIN AND SNOW LIKELY IN THE EVENING...THEN A
CHANCE OF SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS AROUND 30. WEST WINDS AROUND
10 MPH.

Update

Christmas Chainsaw comes alive! Seth helped Rob get started in his chainsawing career!


Cork insulation for exterior doors:


Wood stove installation materials:


Wood for stairwell installed:


The lights that were missing, found and broken have all now arrived:


The water system is up and running:


One last view of the amount of insulation on the house as viewed on the doorway:

Interior lights

Garage pad, 100lb propane tank:


Front pad, supports for small roof and lights for entrances:


Kitchen lights:


Under cabinet lights:


Tai Chi room lights:


Master bath:


Medicine cabinet:


Master bedroom:


Downstairs bath:


Living room:


Down to a week before the house is declared finished. The wind, solar and batteries (the core electrical system) still needs to be installed.