Building Homes or Extensions/Green home

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Expert: - 12/20/2011


Question
I have many questions.  However, my first must be about where I can find the requirements for building a cinder block house.  I live in WA state.  The home I plan to build will have no pluming other than a composting toilet and a wood stove boiler for heat.  We also plan on solar heat and power for our minimalist life style.  Any helpful web sites and or references would be great.

Answer
Hello, Steven.

Congratulations for wanting to do whatever you can to help our environment by choosing an alternative lifestyle!  There is a lot of information about alternative-energy homes in Washington State at the following website:

http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/index.cfm?re=1&ee=1&spv=0&st=0&srp=1&state=WA

There is unlimited information about all of the different aspects of your intended home, searching for the key words, i.e., cinder block house, composting toilet, solar heat, solar power, etc.

Good luck.

Diane Plesset  

Building Homes or Extensions

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Diane Plesset

Expertise

I will answer questions about designing and building a new home, building an addition, remodeling a home, sustainability ("green" building and remodeling), aging-in-place, kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling. The goal is to help homeowners achieve ultimate satisfaction with all of their choices and decisions.

Experience

Over 25 years in residential design, construction, improvement, and remodeling. Hundreds of completed projects in all ranges of investment. Author of the award-winning book "THE Survival Guide: Home Remodeling," host of "Today's Home" on Lifestyle WebRadio, and public speaker.

Organizations
National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Interior Design Protection Council (IDPC)

Publications
THE Survival Guide: Home Remodeling. Designer's Illustrated, Gentry, Interior Coordinator (Japan), Kitchen-Bath Business, Kitchen-Bath Design News, Oregonian, Portland Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, San Mateo Times, Statesman Journal

Education/Credentials
Degrees in residential interior design, bath design, kitchen design, and lighting design. To improve knowledge about codes, products, and trends that will affect homeowners, I regularly attend tradeshows, conferences, classes, and seminars, and read 7 major trade magazines and newsletters.

Awards and Honors
Certified Master Kitchen-Bath Designer (CMKBD), Certified Interior Designer (NCIDQ), Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (C.A.P.S.). AWARDS: Henry Adams, Chrysalis, Best of the Best, CoTY, Master Design, HBA Excellence. 2003 NABE Award for best how-to book.

Past/Present Clients
Please see the portfolio in my website, http://www.dp-design.com/port.

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