I have had this current format of blog up for 10 years. Doesn't mean it has been active per-se for the entire time, but I think it is about time for a restructure. Why? Well... Many reasons:
There are other reasons as well, but over the years there is so much that I could see changing on this site, but I haven't had the motivation to do so. Sometimes ADHD sucks in that regard. Nothing like finding out that the webhost I use is upgrading PHP version to light a fire under my rear to get it in gear and get me motivated to upgrade.
So, over the next few months Quixjote.com will see a full upgrade - all aspects. From my blog to my message board... to even my webgame. Something that has been desperately needed, but severly lacking.
To Growth!
PROST!
]]>House I Sold in 2015:
When I first Moved here in October 2015 to this house that will built in 1955 it sported the following:
The Original Plan: Move down to Eugene, OR and go through the Energy Management Associates Program and get my Foot in the door to eventually move back north to Portland/Yamhill area by 2028. As of today the changes to the house are:
Total estimated upgrade cost: 88k
Total estimated cost of house now: 317,000
House estimated list price: 405,000
Total gain: 88k
--- And now ---
In July I will have been with the same company for 5 years after graduating my Energy Management Associates. I am an Electrical Designer for a local Engineering Company, and over the last couple years with COVID, our strength in working Remotely has grown exponentially! Meaning that I am now closing on a blank slate of land back up north where I started to be closer to family. Instead of having to using my Education and "Getting my foot in the door" to be able to get in with a company in an area that is saturated for the field that I am in, I can just focus on building a house new, and continue to work remotely, with the occasional travel 2 hrs south for certain learning events, etc.
What does this mean? Well, in 2 weeks from today, I close on a plot of land back in the same town that I left back in 2015. I am working on designing a house right now, and as it stands I am looking at the following features:
The property is extra flat, making even more availability for a zer0-threshold house for Wheelchair accessibility. Where the house I am in now has 7.75' ceilings, the bedrooms will have 10' ceilings, and the living area will likely have 11-12 ft ceilings. The house is being designed from the ground up to be able to support up to 21kW solar system, with 10kWh battery backup option. Because of the size of the property, yard space is minimal, but there are some nice trees along the edge of the property, including a beautiful Redwood, and Cedar. In addition to being wheelchair accessible, there will be a cement path around the edge of the property allowing for 340 ft "track" to get extra exercise in on nice days right at home. Most of the largest windows are north facing, towards the Chehelem Mountains, so to bring in extra light into the main area of the house, I will be utilizing solar tubes.
Speaking of lighting, all rooms of the house will utilize White-Attunable lighting, so day/task specific settings can be taken advantage of.
Another benefit of this house is I will be designing it so that it will use rafters instead of web trussing. The Attic has the potential of a 1600 sq ft bonus room, that someone someday will be able to convert into rooms, etc... especially by placing dormers on the north facing roof line. At that point the Pantry can be converted to Staircase, and the Laundry room will even have an extra 220v stubout in the event a machine-room-less elevetator needs to be installed. - Thus turning the entire house into a 4400 sq ft beast.
Hoping to get some pictures of possible design up soon. Getting excited about the desgin phase!
]]>Last October I moved out of, and sold, the house that I built back in 2007 in Newberg, OR... and bought a house in Eugene, OR that was built in 1955. I consider this kind of my practicum house. As many of you already know I have a passion for making things more efficient, more sustainable. The house I was in was already pretty good for what it was, and I didn't feel I could aptly find ways to help people become more sustainable in a price efficient way, by already being at the higher end that I was on my journey.
I needed to start at the beginning, or close to it.
So to start things off, here is my baseline:
Lets start by doing a comparison of what I moved from, to what I moved into:
House Built in 2007 (Old House) |
House Built in 1955 (My New House) |
|
Market Price | 309,900 | 229,000 |
Heated Square Feet | 1800 | 1550 |
Rooms | 3 | 4 |
Bathrooms | 2 | 2 |
Property Size | 6,500 sq ft | 11,250 sq ft |
Heating | Central Furnace | Central Furnace |
Cooling | Central AC | Central AC |
Water Heater | Gas Heated Tank | Gas Tank-less |
Range | Gas | Gas |
Oven | Electric | Gas |
Electric Utility | PGE | EWEB |
Natural Gas | NW Natural | NW Natural |
General Insulation | R19 | R8 (*1) |
Garage | Double Car Wide | None |
*1 Most of the old portion of the house is still Lath and Plaster R8 insulation that hasn't been updated. However the addition from 2006 has R19 batt insulation, and the old Master Bedroom has dense packed blown in insulation.
My main goal is to make the 1955 house more sustainable than the 2007 house, as well as accessible. The difference between the two houses was $59,000 and that is my primary starting seed to get things going. Since I moved in on October 20th, 2015 I have had to make some adjustments and spend some $ already just to fix a few issues. I also had some moving expenses to take care of which took even more out of my starting seed, but this IS a learning experience.
So, right now: I have roughly $21,000 left to work with after moving, having a front ramp installed, having to replace the furnace and AC (Had a Carbon Monoxide issue, so did one update earlier than planned. Converted from the furnace and AC to a ductless mini-split system)
I have also started classes at Lane Community College for the Energy Management Program. Last year I started back in school for Electrical Engineering, but determined I wanted something that I could have more potential to be able to work within the residential sector more than a basic EE degree.
]]>Already I have noticed a speed increase so I look forward to seeing how my site does now!
Again... WELCOME BACK! We are here to stay!
]]>
Made in the USA
Black color is over 90% recycled material
Advantages of its use-
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Put forth own ideas on marketing plans,
Create personalized image which in turn leads to higher customer loyalty,
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Give their own inputs, additional materials, logos, tag lines, etc.
Customer's changing preference - drive towards private label products.
These points provide an edge over the other brands. Private label brands are available in a broad range of varieties from food to cosmetics. These brands help create a personalized and unique brand for retailers. Retailers with pretty good private label brands will be able to create better sales opportunities for themselves. They can build value and recognition from the customers. Private brand products allow retailers to differentiate their products from competitors' products, and provide consumers with an alternative to other brands.
Pricing and availability subject to change without notice. All logos shown in product photos are for demonstration only. Your products will have your own custom imprint.
This post was contributed by Larry Moad. This Post is Un-Altered and is still in it's original state. As such, the views expressed here may or may not be the same views as Charles Siegfried. To submit your own articles, send them to articles@quixjote.net
I may just stay with this one but find a way to better optimize the database usage from my end, weather with a cron job or otherwise. I would like to be able to log all of the data long term, but do not want to diminish the ability of the server.
I thank everyone that has been using the site and hope to add more content here in the near future that you all will enjoy!
]]>Brought to you by: Everyone that has ever posted a political picture to try to make an argument on a social media site, the Number 42, and the letter 'M'.
I think that FaceBook and other sites have increased exponentially over the last few days the number of people that just either like, or only know how to regurgitate pictures with a political message as their best arguments. If this keeps up, we are going to have to include Memes as valid works cited for large research papers, because obviously since the words are on a picture with something famous, or was caught at just the right time, it must be accurate.
Hang on just a sec, I think I hear sanity leaving the building. Let me go walk it out. I am sure I have a picture here of me still walking somewhere so that MUST mean I can still walk, right?
In all honesty though, I have more respect for the posts that people write that are controversial in nature and long winded. Even if they are opinions, or completely mis-information; They took the time to express what they believe to be correct, and I will always do my best to not give them a bad time… Me giving people a bad time is bottled up and reserved for those people that like to post… and repost… and repost… things like the Meme "You're a special kind of Stupid, aren't ya."
Friends will tell you, I love a good debate (DEBATE! Not Argument). Debates are full of good information, and are a great opportunity to share relevant information about a subject, without making personal attacks, claims on someones intelligence or political/religious beliefs, and are usually full of references. I cannot stress that last one enough. References are key.
Get over which ones are reliable. Fox, Snopes, Huffington Post, CBS, NBC, Oregonian, etc., etc., etc... They ALL have some biases. They ALL also have some correct information. I have yet to find a source that is 100% accurate 100% of the time. Hell, I love Wikipedia. Even though it is a 'community' style site for information, it is riddled with references to other sites so information can be checked and often those sites ALSO have references... Go Figure!
Now, you start telling me my reference is not relevant when it is a primary source of information, then the debate is over and done at that point. I am not going to waste my energy trying to validate the resources a majority of sane people fine relevant in some groups, just because others in other groups don't.
The only resource I will accept with a grain or five of salt is personal blogs. Just as I would expect this post to be taken with a grain of salt if it was more than an Opinion piece. A reference blog with resources or works sited - sure. I will accept that. A personal blog about how the Marshmallow Man from the first Ghostbusters is actually real and roaming through the sewers of New York, but there are no references and the person is really being serious… well, I will let you figure that last one out.
IF you don't provide references then your argument is an Opinion. As an Opinion, (Like this entire post) everyone is entitled to their own... and I can respect that (And Expect others to do the same), as long as that Opinion isn't further pushed as truth.
Thank you for joining me on this Wednesday Morning Rant.
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