Well water every time. No water bills.

I would love stationary bikes in your house to be hooked up to the grid. Instead of miles biked, you can see kWh’s produced. Won’t save much money but it will add motivation to work out. Avoiding a heart attack is the cherry.

Totally agree. Without Act 250 the natural beauty of VT would be ruined. Act 250 is the only thing keeping large development from going crazy. Around me a big developer wanted to expand a airport runway which would have destroyed over 12 vernal pools and wetlands. The runway was totally unnecessary for the planes he was bringing in. Luckily Act 250 stopped that expansion.

My other neighbor wanted to build 146 short term rentals with one parking spot per 3-4 bedroom rental. That didn’t fly either because of Act250.

That same developer has to fix 2 streams that can’t support aquatic life due to their prior construction work. No remediation would be happening without Act 250. Thank god it is the law of the land.

If towns don’t want Act250 determining smaller development then they only need to adopt local zoning regulations. That makes the thresholds to trigger Act250 jurisdiction way higher, ie 10 house/lot subdivisions or more.

Definitely go with a pellet stove to supplement the oil. Don’t replace the oil burner if it runs fine. At 5 dollars a bag it is cheaper to run than oil at 2.50 a gallon. Buy it by the pallet and it is even cheaper. No special venting needs other than the small pipe. Always nice to see a flame if you place the pellet stove in your living room or use an insert in existing open fireplace. Propane is just as expensive as oil if not more so and follows oil prices. Pellets can be sourced more locally like Maine and gives you an alternative option to lean on if oil/propane shoots up in price.

My neighbor put it in the only affordable housing in my town around 20 years ago. She donated a portion of her land to the Windham/Windsor housing trust. That housing trust put in around 40-50 mixed/affordable housing units and that same trust manages the complex.

If towns were serious about housing, they would identify and keep land that is suitable for development when it comes up for tax sale and then bring in a housing trust to build and manage.

Act 250 is necessary to ensure big business provides housing for employees or donates to a housing trust when they do develop land. Also necessary so that affordable housing isn’t placed in a wetland or floodplain.

I just did this. Run a snake in the conduit through where the water line enters the basement. Put a piece of tape where your snake stops. Then map a radius (pipe can turn not always a straight shot) and dig that line.

If metal cap use a metal detector along that line and that can potentially reduce digging time.

There may be a map or coordinates where the water line enters in the basement.

Also town office should have a map.

Get one of those silent debarking devices and attach it to a tree aimed at the dog. Whenever he barks, a high pitched frequency will emit. He will start to bark less. Humans can’t hear the sound so it’s good for a stealth operation whereby you don’t end in terrible relationship with your neighbor. These devices can be purchased online for 30-50 dollars.

Definitely blow out your pipes first if you turn the heat off completely. Water will sit in low spots within pipes and they will break. I would suck it up and leave the space heaters on. When you turn the water back on make sure it has been warm for a while in the house and be ready to turn the water back off if there are splits.

Also power use could be hot water if it’s an electric tank.

Work for fed ex.

Built a ~ 1300 sq ft house (above ground sq ft)with finished basement (~600 sq ft). Cost a total of 350k to build without cost of the land. 100k was excavator work (septic/driveway/drainage/basement hole etc) 250k was materials and labor. I did a lot of the work myself with friends and hired a builder to put up the shell (walls, roof, decks). This was in 2012.

2012

Geo (all electric house) gmp bill $199. No other fuel/wood burned. Avg temp 67. About 2000 sq ft.

8k for three poles and the line to go 650 ft 10 years ago.

I’ve always thought that hotels and motels that can’t compete would be the best candidates for affordable housing.

Had mine installed in 2012. My all electric house uses about 10,000 kWh/year. Cost less to install than regular furnace because of recovery act subsidies covered 30% of installation. I love it.