![\"IMG_6324\"](\"http:\/\/buildingfromscratch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/IMG_6324-1024x656.jpg\")
<\/p>\nI was surprised when I saw the extent to which they dug footings for the foundation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A quick review of the foundation plans shows that there are quite a few load bearing walls in the basement that require footings.<\/p>\n
We are still scrambling to nail down the details of all the plumbing that will need be embedded in the concrete – we are expecting to do the first pour this Friday or the following Monday.\u00a0 Some optional upgrades we are talking about are adding a whole-house grey-water system and eventually adding a fuel cell for power.<\/p>\n
The grey water system requires separate plumbing for black and grey water throughout the house.\u00a0 That is the simple part.\u00a0 The hard part is figuring out storage, filtration, and how to water parts of the yard in accordance with state and local laws on grey water use (i.e. no above ground spraying).\u00a0 For now, we need to determine where we are going through the foundation wall and plan for that.<\/p>\n
The fuel cell<\/a> is a slightly different story.\u00a0 Fuel cells produce electricity from natural gas using a catalyst.\u00a0 With today’ natural gas prices, the cost of producing electricity with a fuel cell is about $.06\/kWh by one estimate I’ve seen.\u00a0 As I understand it, as a byproduct they produce hydrogen gas which can then be used heat water.\u00a0 With this hot water, we could keep a pool warm year-round, and heat all of our bathing and cooking water.\u00a0 But we have to plan on how to get the hot water to and from the pool.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I was surprised when I saw the extent to which they dug footings for the foundation. A quick review of the foundation plans shows that there are quite a few load bearing walls in the basement that require footings. We are still scrambling to nail down the details of all the plumbing that will needRead more about Foundation footings – planning for future efficiency and conservation<\/span>[…]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":247,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,9,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-246","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservation","category-energy-efficiency","category-foundation"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t