Advantages
We hope you are excited by the idea of a gorgeous, innovative timber home that can keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. However, there are additional advantages to owning an Enertia home that go far beyond beauty and efficiency.
STRONGER AND SAFER
Solid timber structures are more robust and safer than stick-frame homes. An Enertia home is particularly impact-resistant, dramatically reducing the danger and devastation from hurricanes and tornados.
NO FEAR OF POWER OUTAGES OR FUEL SHORTAGES
Solar heating and geothermal cooling keep the interior livable in the worst-case scenario of a blackout or brownout in extreme winter cold or extreme summer heat.
COMFORT
The heat in your Enertia house living space is radiant—the most comfortable heat known. Wooden walls are more comfortable to be near than cold, rigid materials. No drafts in the home's interior create comfort at lower air temperatures. The lack of blown air from a furnace duct means less noise, dust, and cleaning. Thermal inertia dampens out the extremes of temperature, and the geothermal loop equalizes conditions around the home.
LOW OPERATING COSTS
Solid timber homes have excellent natural insulation. Purchased fuel or electricity can be used as a supplement, allowing fuel or power to cost considerably less than in typical stick-frame houses.
LONG LIFE SPAN
Timber homes have a life expectancy of hundreds of years. Whether you look at wooden temples in Japan dating back to 607 AD or wooden structures in Europe that predate the 1400s, solid timber homes have staying power.
ECONOMY
Homeowners have built or contracted many Enertia homes using our precut and numbered kits. The potential for savings is considerable, as our kits incorporate environmentally friendly construction.
LOW COST PER GENERATION
The home can be passed on to children and future generations without a massive upkeep or heating cost burden. The long-term cost is meager because many generations of families could live in the home.
ADAPTABLE STYLES
The home can usually be designed to blend in with nature or fit in with existing subdivisions or historic districts.
FUTURE FRIENDLY
Each house is designed and set up to be off-the-grid and capable of generating power. The unique Geothermal Loop space provides access to all parts of the house without significant renovation efforts. Upgrading pipes and wiring or adding new technology is accessible.
SOUND DAMPENING
The density of our mass timbers results in excellent acoustics. You avoid the drum effect created by sheetrock and the noise of forced air. The double-wall construction blocks outside noise very effectively.
GLUE LAM TECHNOLOGY
Laminated timbers are put to their most innovative use. The energy source and the structure are “Sustainable” and “Green”—the latest positive trend in environmentally friendly home-building. Laminated timber is far superior to solid wood due to its strength and dimensional stability. Where standard timber posts and beams will crack and twist, a glulam member of the same size (often smaller) will remain stable for many years and retain its aesthetic appeal.
COOLER AIR TO BREATH IN WINTER
A benefit of radiant heating to forced air is cooler temperatures. Breathing cooler air has been linked to an immunity boost, allergy reduction, and better sleep.
LACK OF INDOOR POLLUTION
In some very tightly enclosed houses, fumes from particleboard, carpet, and plastics outgassing have been suspected to cause ‘sick building syndrome’. Since the Enertia home breathes, and does not rely on tightness for its efficiency, this is not a concern in Enertia homes.
BUILT-IN GREEN HOUSE
In some very tightly enclosed houses, particleboard, carpet, and plastic outgassing fumes have been suspected of causing sick building syndrome. Since the Enertia home breathes and does not rely on tightness for its efficiency, this is not a concern in our houses.
FRESH AIR IN SUMMER
The outer geothermal loop is always vented and open in summer. Even if the inner shell is closed and air-conditioned in hot, humid southern climates, the breathing walls freshen and filter that air.
FEWER SKILLED CARPENTERS
In most cases, only one skilled carpenter is needed. The bulk of the kit construction is by assembly, following the numbers of the precut kit.
LESS CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS
Only what is needed is shipped. Siding, insulation, house wrap, and far less sheetrock are used, so the waste from those unnecessary products is avoided and doesn't end up in landfills.
BETTER BASEMENTS
Enertia basements are bright, sun-filled spaces with a constant supply of fresh air.
BUILD OFF GRID
Because the Enertia building system requires so little additional power, our homes are ideal for the off-grid homeowner seeking an energy-independent home.
PREPARED FOR THE APOCALYPSE
Our massive walls have even proven to be bullet-resistant in ballistic testing!
FIRE RESISTANCE
The density of our mass timber construction provides superior fire resistance. A stick-built home has roughly four minutes of fire resistance. At the same time, our massive walls give you approximately two hours of fire resistance.
MOLD RESISTANT
The Enertia home is built from naturally antimicrobial pine timber. We also eliminate the need for mold-feeding fiberglass insulation and sheetrock on exterior walls. The plastic wrap used to attain an airtight home further encourages mold growth and has been eliminated in our construction. Finally, our basements are designed with sunlight and airflow in mind to discourage further dangerous mold growth.