Why?
Comments from Michael Sykes- inventor of a new form of architecture, and a new form of energy
This year is our 25th anniversary. One of our most often asked questions has been WHY did you go down this unconventional path to building and heating houses?
This year is our 25th anniversary. One of our most often asked questions has been WHY did you go down this unconventional path to building and heating houses?
Like most inventions it was a response to “I can do better.” Before the 1980’s I had framed houses for a major speculative builder, and was under constant pressure to “use less wood, use fewer nails...” Living in North Carolina I had seen the effects of hurricanes and tornados, and I knew the buyers of stick-framed houses were under a false sense of security.
The early stick-framed houses were leaky - several changes of air per hour. With the increasing cost of fuel, efforts were made to increase energy efficiency. But with stick frame, the only way is to insulate, and tighten them up. This brought on indoor air problems, not enough air-changes, and illnesses, and the new term “sick-building syndrome.”
But I had been exploring other methods. The energy efficiency of log homes comes not from tightness, but from “thermal inertia” - the ability of the heavy massive structure itself to store energy. Leave the door open for a while, no problem, as the massive logs are slow to release heat.
But I had been exploring other methods. The energy efficiency of log homes comes not from tightness, but from “thermal inertia” - the ability of the heavy massive structure itself to store energy. Leave the door open for a while, no problem, as the massive logs are slow to release heat.
One day, Christmas eve, we got a morning delivery of large Southern Pine Timbers on a Cary, NC job-site. When I went to tarp the pile at dusk, I noticed and felt heat radiating from the pile- much like you feel heat radiating from a recently-parked car. The timbers were storing solar energy.
I filed away this fact, it was Christmas after all, until a few days later I was reading about solar homes, and that the key to their success was how to store the solar energy. That was my light-bulb moment.
I never, in my wildest dreams, thought I would achieve all my goals - an architecturally beautiful, disaster-proof, legacy house that heated and cooled itself. Later it proved even better - 100% renewable and as-green-as-it-gets. We did not set out to be “green” but compared to others, there is no building system that is greener. Many of our customers produce more energy than they need - and get a monthly check or credit.
I will never build another “stick” house again - they are obsolete before they are started. As Robert Frost said - we went down the road and at the fork, took a different path. You will be glad we did.
