From Guest-Blogger Don Harmon: Prototype Green Home
Linked here is a prototype Green Home just done this year in California (of course). (Note: Clicking the link downloads the file.) It has 3 bedrooms / 3 baths, is 1,700 sq. ft. and targeted to sell for $ 300,000.00. Backers of the demonstration project say that the Craftsman-style house just finished at the Orange County Great Park can be reproduced for just $85 to $125 per square foot — equivalent to what most tract homes cost to build today.
I’m going to ride over today and take a tour of it!
Oh we pine for the good old days, in 1963 I built mu own design and self contracted a 6,000 sq-ft home on a lot in Clearwater, Florida and total cost including the land was $112,000 (Appraised upon completion at $188,000) Of course I did the general contracting and architecture and that is a typical 15% for the Architect and 35% for the General Contractor’s profit. so I saved about 50% of total cost of the home, and I bought the lot from the owner directly so I saved the 10% Real Estate Agent’s fee(Typical for vacant land.)I provided about 500 hours of my own labor, and luckily I possess many building skills. But I was working full time as an adult vocational teacher at the same time.
I would add we built it in wood frame with concrete floor slab completely covered the floor with ceramic tile. Included a fireplace we seldom used, and air-conditioned all 6,000 sq-ft to 75 degrees with outdoor temperatures in the mid 90’s degrees daily eight months of the year, but the utility bills were under $175 monthly and friends in a 600 sq-ft apartment were telling me their electric was over $250 the same months.