We built an ICF home that barely needs any energy to heat or cool. We have full records on all energy usage since the home was built if anyone wants to see the data. The solar panels fully power the entire home, and even the electric lawn mower. We pay MidAmerican $8.50 per month, 12 months per year to use their lines and to trade electricity with them. From March through October we produce almost twice as much energy as we need, and then from November through February we draw down our stored kilowatts.

If you study the front of the home you will see long south facing windows that are shaded all summer (this photo was taken in late July) by the 3' overhangs. Once September arrives, the sun begins to come into the windows and by mid-November, we have enough solar heat from the windows to fully heat the home on a 20 degree day with sun. The shades are cellular shades with tracks on the side. When closed, they have the R value of a door. They can be opened from the top or bottom so that we can fully control how much heat and light come through the windows.

We built a simple ranch style home with a full basement that could be converted into an apartment for a live-in caregiver. We split the heating and cooling ducts so that the basement and first floor have their own thermostats. The fully insulated basement varies from 68 degrees on the coldest day of the winter to 72 on the hottest day of the summer - and we only turn on its thermostat when we have company who like it warmer by a degree or two.

We can get from the street to every room on the first floor without lifting our feet more than an inch. The fully insulated garage is neither heated nor cooled -- but when the garage door stays down, its temperature ranges from 40 degrees on the coldest night to 85 on the hottest day of the year. Upstairs, the super quiet home's temperature is whatever we set the thermostat at -- in every room and in every corner of the home. Another advantage of the tight home that Dan builds is that we seldom need to dust. What dust we do need to remove, mostly comes in on our clothes and shoes. Dan's electricians placed all of our electrical sockets higher on the walls so we don't need to reach over so far - and could easily reach them if we are in wheelchairs someday.

Finally, we had a small lot with a steep back yard. Dan worked with us to design a wonderful east facing screened in porch, and to put in the walls and corner garden shed to allow us to have a raised bed garden.

Mary and I spent the next two years designing the home and interviewing potential contractors. Two years seems like a long time since all one really has to do is find a ‘cookie cutter’ design or completely leave it up to the home designer to fill in the blanks after some initial inquiring questions. However, this home was and needed to be special; it was going to be completely handicapped and wheelchair accessible not only on the first floor, but also to the walk out basement.

The interview with five different home contractors was interesting. The summary conclusion of the first four was our project either to much for them to handle, they did not build with ICF, or the price was prohibitive. Enter the fifth contractor and his wife, Dan and Shari Bush. We met the bush team at the Des Moines Home Show. Twice. Two years apart. Following multiple informal and formal get togethers at our home and countless meetings with the home designer, Dan concluded that our project was doable.

Thursday, September 25th, 2014 Mary operated the tractor that moved the first load of dirt on our building site. Friday, July 29th, 2016 we moved in. Pictures are worth a thousand words. See ours and decide for yourself. We believe no one else could accomplish this task but Dan Bush and his team. We are grateful for his time, talent and patience. More than once he had to calm us with his reassuring words, "we will get there;" and we did!

With gratitude and joy.