Advantages
We hope you are excited by the idea of a gorgeous, innovative timber home that can keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. However, there are additional advantages to owning an Enertia home that go far beyond beauty and efficiency.
STRONGER AND SAFER
The structure is stronger and safer. An Enertia solid timber home is particularly impact resistant, the danger and devastation from hurricanes and tornados decrease dramatically.
NO FEAR OF POWER OUTAGES OR FUEL SHORTAGES
Solar heating and geothermal cooling keep the interior livable in a ‘worst case’ scenario of a blackout in extreme winter cold, or extreme summer heat - the times when a blackout or brownout is most likely.
COMFORT
The heat in your Enertia house living space is radiant- the most comfortable heat known. Wooden walls are more comfortable to be near than cold hard materials. Not having drafts in the inner shell allows comfort at lower air temperatures. Not having blowing air from a furnace duct means less noise, less dust, and less cleaning. Thermal Inertia dampens out the extremes of temperature and the geothermal loop equalizes conditions around the house.
LOW OPERATING COSTS
If purchased fuel or electricity is used as a supplement, or to maintain a precise set point automatically, the usage of fuel or power is low.
LONG LIFE SPAN
The life expectancy of timber homes is hundreds of years. From wooden temples in Japan dating back to 607AD, to a wooden structure in Europe that predates the 1400's, it's clear that solid timber homes have staying power.
ECONOMY
Many Enertia homes have been built or contracted,
by the homeowners, from our precut and numbered kits. Incorporating environmental architecture, the potential for savings is considerable.
LOW COST PER GENERATION
The home can be passed on to children and future generations without passing on a huge upkeep or heating cost burden. Because many generations of families could live in the home, the long-term cost is very low.
ADAPTABLE STYLES
The home can usually be designed to blend in with nature or fit in with existing subdivisions or historic districts.
FUTURE FRIENDLY
Each house is already designed and set-up for being off-the-grid and capable of generating all its own power. The access provided by the unique Geothermal Loop space means all parts of the house are easily reached, without major renovation efforts. It is easy to upgrade pipes and wiring, or add new technology.
SOUND DAMPENING
The density of our mass timbers result in great acoustics. You avoid the drum effect created by sheet rock along with the noise of forced air. The double wall construction blocks outside noise very efficiently.
GLUE LAM TECHNOLOGY
Laminated timbers are put to their most innovative use. The energy source and the structure are “Sustainable” and “Green” - the latest positive trend in environmentally friendly home-building. Laminated timber is far superior to solid timber due to its high strength and dimensional stability. Where solid timber posts and beams will crack and twist, a gluelam member in the same size (and often smaller) will remain stable for many years as well as retaining its aesthetic appeal.
COOLER AIR TO BREATH IN WINTER
This is a benefit to radiant heating as opposed to forced air heat. Breathing cooler air has been linked to immunity boost, allergy reduction and better sleep.
LACK OF INDOOR POLLUTION
In some very tightly enclosed houses, fumes from particleboard, carpet, and plastics outgassing have been suspected to cause ‘sick building syndrome’. Since the Enertia home breathes, and does not rely on tightness for its efficiency, this is not a concern in Enertia homes.
BUILT IN GREEN HOUSE
The sunspace, both on the main level and in the basement is a natural greenhouse for growing plants if desired. Plants produce oxygen and can enhance the well-being to occupants of the home.
FRESH AIR IN SUMMER
The outer geothermal loop is always vented and
open in summer. Even if the inner shell is closed and air-conditioned in hot humid southern climates, the breathing walls freshen and filter that air.
FEWER SKILLED CARPENTERS
In most cases only one skilled carpenter is needed. The bulk of the kit construction is by assembly, following the numbers of the precut kit.
LESS CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS
Only what is needed is shipped. Siding, insulation, house wrap, and far less sheet rock is used so all the waste from those unnecessary products are avoided and don't end up in land fills.
BETTER BASEMENTS
Enertia basements are bright, sun filled spaces with a constant supply of fresh air.
BUILD OFF GRID
Because the Enertia building system requires so little additional power, our homes are the ideal choice for the off grid homeowner seeking an energy independent home.
PREPARED FOR THE APOCALYPSE
Our massive walls have even proven to be bullet resistant in ballistic testing!
FIRE RESISTANCE
The density of our mass timber construction provides superior fire resistance. A stick built home has roughly 4 minutes of fire resistance. While our massive walls give you roughly 2 hours of fire resistance.
MOLD RESISTANT
The Enertia home is built from naturally antimicrobial pine timber. In addition, we eliminate the need for mold feeding fiberglass insulation and sheetrock on exterior walls. The plastic wrap that is currently used to attain the "airtight" homes that further encourage the growth of mold is also eliminated. Finally, our basements are designed with sunlight and airflow in mind to further discourage the growth of dangerous molds.