Katahdin Cedar Log Homes

Passive House Series: The Envelope

Skip to content
Menu
  • Plans
    • Back
    • Design Your Own Log Home
    • Package Contents
    • Cedar Log Garage Kits
    • Solar Ready Design
  • Gallery
    • Back
    • Showcase Homes
    • Room Types
    • 360° Photos
  • Education
    • Back
    • The Katahdin Difference
    • Cedar vs. Pine
    • FAQ’s
    • 7 Steps to Your Dream Log Home
    • Log Home Kit Construction Details
    • Energy Envelope System
    • Environment
    • Log Home Lenders
    • Log Home Turnkey Construction Solutions
    • Handicap Accessible Log Home Design
    • Ready to Assemble Logs
    • Custom Design Services
    • Landscaping
    • Building Guide
    • Maintaining My Log Home
    • The Katahdin Challenge
  • Dealers
    • Back
    • Become a Dealer
    • Become a Builder
  • Blog
  • About
    • Back
    • David’s Message
    • History
    • Eco-Friendly
    • Newsletters
  • Contact
    • Back
    • Free Custom Price Quote
    • Visit Us
    • Events
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Online Store
    • The Katahdin Club
My Account

Log in to save your favorite plans and gallery images

Lost password?

Not a member? Sign Up

Sign Up for an account to save your favorite plans and gallery images

Already a member? Log In

Lost your password?
Don't worry, we'll send you a new one.

Log In

Home|Newsletters|Passive House Series: The Envelope

Passive House Series: The Envelope

October 12, 2011

One of our favorite activities in Maine this time of year is apple picking. It’s a great time of year to experience sunny days, crisp evenings and pumpkins. A Katahdin Cedar Log Home certainly offers an exceptional base from which to explore the changing seasons.

Fall also is a prelude to winter, which turns our attention to keeping warm and comfortable. One interesting concept is the Passive House, a highly insulated, airtight home that uses 90% less fuel than a conventional home. This month we explore some of the elements that make up a passive house. We’ll continue to examine the components of passive homes in the coming months, and how those components might translate into energy savings for your log home.

In another comfort and energy saving story, this month’s Green Tip offers some tips on adding a three-season room to reap passive solar warmth in the cooler months. We also take a look at a novel treatment for deck rails and balusters that uses marine technology to open up your views and keep your family safe.

August proved to be a wild month for unusual weather. You’ll learn more about how one Katahdin Cedar Log Home survived an unusual event on the east coast. And finally we take a look at ways to add movement and sound to your log home in a most pleasing way.

Passive House Series: The Envelope

In the first of a three-part series, we take a look at Passive House construction. The goal of passive house design is to reduce overall energy consumption by 82%, while still maintaining a comfortable living environment. Some of you may find the measures extreme, but we found that there are plenty of ideas that can significantly reduce your fuel consumption in a log home-without breaking the budget or sacrificing comfort. Learn more here.

Log Homes are Well-Built Homes

When dreaming about a new log home, most homebuyers consider rain, snow temperature and other meteorological events as something to plan for. How a log home weathers the unexpected can be a true measure of its strength. Learn how one couple found out how sturdy their home was here.

Sound and Movement

Decorating is often dictated by the static visual tableau: furniture, fabrics, lighting and views. Elements that incorporate movement and sound can add a new dimension to interior and exterior spaces. Click here for ideas!

Deck Solutions with Wire Rigging

Decks can be terrific places to enjoy at your log home. However, if your view is one of the aspects you’d like to include in your enjoyment, safety requirements for railings and balusters can effectively block your seated panorama. One way to meet safety codes and open up the views is to use stainless steel wire to run horizontally. Check out this view!

Green Tip: Saving Energy with 3-Season Rooms

Porches and decks are a great way to include the outdoors in your log home amenities. Many people are maximizing this transitional space with some simple steps. Click here for tips on creating your own three-season room.

We’ve Added Two Fall Log Home Seminars!

If your looking for some answers to your log home questions, you’ll want to make a reservation for one of our Log Home Seminars. Each event will cover a wide range of information about designing your log home, selecting sites, financing and other questions. We’re also planning to visit four log home shows through November. Check out the schedule!

Newsletter Signup

Recent Newsletters

  • 2015
  • Texas Seminar! Customizaton, TIle, New Appliances

    February 12, 2015

  • Windows, Native Plants, Heavy Equipment

    January 12, 2015

  • 2014
  • Energy Envelope, Indoor Air Quality, Dishwashers, Survey!

    December 12, 2014

  • Purlins, Getting Power to Your Home Site, Utility Vehicles

    November 12, 2014

  • Kitchen Cabinets, Spa Bathtubs, Mini-split Heat Pumps

    October 12, 2014

  • Show More

How To

  • Site Locations
  • Sketching, Plans and Pricing
  • Wells and Septic Systems
  • Selecting Insulation
  • Green Approaches
  • More

Galleries

  • Exterior
  • Outdoor Living
  • Living Room
  • Kitchen
  • Bedroom
  • More

Katahdin Difference

  • 7 Steps to Your Dream Log Home
  • Cedar vs. Pine
  • FAQ’s
  • Ready to Assemble Logs
  • Building Guide
  • More

Contact

  • Newsletter Signup
  • About Us
  • Request Free Info
  • Free Custom Price Quote
  • Design Your Own Log Home
  • More
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map

© 2025 Katahdin Cedar Log Homes.

Katahdin Cedar Log Homes produces the highest quality log homes through a network of certified Katahdin dealers and builders in the most efficient and sustainable way, while helping our clients build the home of their dreams.

We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience, analyze site traffic, and personalize content. Read about how we use cookies and how you can control them in our Privacy Policy. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.