Solar Analysis for Design

Optimizing for solar is a prime principle in sustainable design.

Based on climate data I have seen for our proposed house in Sullivan County I need to be most concerned about minimizing solar gain from mid-May through mid-September.

The best tool I have found for visualizing solar paths on our site is SunEarthTools.com.

On that site you can find your site on a map and overlay the solar diagram on it:

Once you measure the azimuth (angle from true north) and the angle of the elevation of top of any obstacle in that direction from a level angle of 0 for a variety of points in 360 degrees, you can enter them into the website to map any obstacles that might block sunlight over the course of the year (see below for a random set of points I selected):

These obstacles then get plotted on the solar chart so you can see when they cast shadows at different days of the year and times of the day:

Interior Finishes

We are gathering thoughts for interior finishes for the house.

Tile:

Years ago I was in a first-class airline club in the Alaskan airport and I saw a bathroom with black subway tile with red grout. I was hugely impressed!

This is a great site for testing grout colors with tiles: https://www.grout360.com/pages/meadow-green-tile-grout-simulations

Right now I like these two:

We might use this Princeton Glaze Elm Alley Green 3x12 Glossy and Matte Ceramic Subway tile by Oasis Tile in our kitchen because it is reminiscent of the lichen on the bluestone cliffs in our forest:

Flooring

Our builder has told us that Simplex Homes, the home manufacturer for our building, uses Bruce Hardwood Engineered Floors and these may be limited to those with the Locking installation method ("Locking: Flooring locks together and floats over the subfloor. If flooring does not have attached padding, an underlayment pad must be rolled out over the subfloor.")

Of these we like the below:

I am curious about Bamboo Flooring, which is supposed to be more eco-friendly and less expensive than hardwood.

This site seems to be a good source:

https://www.calibamboo.com/bamboo-flooring.html

Currently I like this one:

Boardwalk Fossilized Wide Click Engineered Floor

I doubt we can afford this kitchen from Leicht, but it is a great inspiration:

But this apartment is a great inspiration:

Building Code Search for House

Zoning Info about Neversink NY

• Zoning Map (our property is in a Rural Conservation (RC) District)

• The Schedule of DIstrict Regulations for Neversink, NY

• Neversink 1991 Master Plan with information about Zoning Districts

• Neversink has a Comprehensive Plan, Zoning, Subdivision, Site Plan and Planning Board according to this NYS study

Below is some information from the Town of Neversink:

• FEMA Flood Community: # 360828

• NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Region 3 (I doubt this applies)

• Agricultural District 4 (It does not look like this applies to our lot)

• Climate Zone 6

• Wind Speed: 90 MPH

• Snow Load: 74 psf

Chapter 3 Building Planning

R301.2 Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria

o) [NY] The ground snow loads to be used in determining the design snow loads for roofs are given in Figure R301.2(6) for sites at elevations up to 1,000 feet. Sites at elevations above 1,000 feet shall have their ground snow load increased from the mapped value by 2 psf for every 100 feet above 1,000 feet.

From Figure R301.2(6), the base snow load for Sullivan County is 50psf. Our site has an elevation of 2,200 ft.

• 2,200 ft - 1,000 ft = 1,200 ft.

• 1,200 ft /100 ft = 12.

• 12 * 2 psf = 24PSF

• 50PSF + 24PSF = 74PSF

• Frost Depth: 48 inches

• Insulation (IRC -N1102.1.2) R-49 Ceilings R-30 Base Ceiling R-20 + 5 walls (new wood frame)

Building Department Approvals

For the Permit application we need:

• 2 sets of stamped Construction Plans

• Truss Package - Fire Department Placarding (?)

• Approved Septic Design NYS Stamped

• Foundation Plan NYS Stamped

• Electrician - Sullivan County License only - Copy of License

• Third-Party Inspections for LP Gas and Electrical

• NYS Workman's Compensation Blanket Insurance Policy from all contractors

For Energy Code we need:

• RESCHECK Compliance Report

• Air Exchange System Design, Model Installation Manual

• Heat Load Calculations, Heating Unit Model, Installation Manual

• Cooling Load Calculations, Cooling Unit Model, Installation Manual

• Basement Insulation Code Compliant

• House Blower Door Test, 3rd Party Contractor Copy of Certifications

• Duct Blasting Test, 3rd Party Contractor Copy of Certifications