Chris Briley is one of the principals at our Climate Positive partner, BRIBURN, and he has co-authored a book with three other Mainers (Dan Kolbert, Emily Mottram, and Michael Maines). Titled “Pretty Good House”. Here are two important things to think about when building a PGH – the material with which you build, and the cooling/heating source you’ll use throughout the ups and downs of Maine’s four seasons:

• Use wood and wood-derived products as construction materials. Just make sure the wood is sustainably harvested, locally if possible. Otherwise the trees are better left to remove CO2 through photosynthesis. The more materials are processed, in general, the higher their carbon footprint.
• Use air-source heat pumps. Mini-splits can be efficient to -15°F or below, affordable (especially for the sizes needed in a PGH) and relatively simple to install. For those who can’t stand the look of an appliance on the wall, there are slim-duct, ceiling cassette, and floor-mounted versions. But the wall-mounted units are the most efficient, so learn to love them. Heat-pump water heaters are a no-brainer for most homes.