So as not to hijack another thread ....
40% of the lower level 1500 sq ft walkout are two adjoining guest bedrooms, then a third bathroom with shower and the rest is fairly typical basement space with an area for additional sleeping space if needed. This level is heated with electric baseboard and a fan forced air electric wall heater, 6000 watts total. The space is only heated in the winter to maintain a 50F temperature, but the guest bedroom area is heated to a comfortable level only when occupied.
Total annual electric heating bill would be around $300, but this is fully covered by our solar PV, which also fully covers all of our other electricity needs for our all electric house. In other words, since I c/s/s wood from our land for the wood stove, we have $0 utility bills. Water from our well and a septic system for the waste. Of course we pay for phone and internet service.
We feel very comfortable having near minimal guest bedroom space along with a large entertaining space. Although a couple times each year the whole family is here (13 additional people) and bedroom space gets crowded, during the great bulk of the year all guest bedroom spaces are empty. We never felt the need to provide multiple separate bedroom spaces for everyone. Adult children and grandchildren pile up and make do, with some opting for a living room sofa if they wish. Our large living room, dining and kitchen area is very comfortable for guest entertaining, and easily handles groups much larger than our family group.
A mini-split remains for the future, particularly because we have solar PV and we would not incur any cost in operating it, as we have excess kWh available, at least until a future electric car enters the picture. A mini-split neat source probably would reduce our need for stove wood to 2-3 cords per heating season vs the 4 cords now required. Both my wife and I really like the wood stove radiant in the living room which we have enjoyed for 27 years, along with the cool bedroom for sleeping.
As for down-sizing, we never up-sized. In fact one of our adult children bought a very modest house close to work and schools for their children, and they intend that to be their house for many years. Another of our adult children just sold their up-sized house and bought a modest home close to schools and closer to their work. In our thinking having a house which never needs to be down-sized is a very wise choice.
Really close in key respects to what we now have after the "thinking" back in 1990. The ground level of our 1500 sq ft walkout is our fully livable space: large living room (40 x 15), dining and kitchen area (25 x 16) in an open space "L" with the living room. Then a modest master bedroom, small guest bedroom, main bathroom with soaker tub and 2nd bathroom with shower, and a utility area with washer/dryer and a large closet for coats, boots, linens, etc. This level is heated by a small wood stove in the living room, with backup electric baseboard.
40% of the lower level 1500 sq ft walkout are two adjoining guest bedrooms, then a third bathroom with shower and the rest is fairly typical basement space with an area for additional sleeping space if needed. This level is heated with electric baseboard and a fan forced air electric wall heater, 6000 watts total. The space is only heated in the winter to maintain a 50F temperature, but the guest bedroom area is heated to a comfortable level only when occupied.
Total annual electric heating bill would be around $300, but this is fully covered by our solar PV, which also fully covers all of our other electricity needs for our all electric house. In other words, since I c/s/s wood from our land for the wood stove, we have $0 utility bills. Water from our well and a septic system for the waste. Of course we pay for phone and internet service.
We feel very comfortable having near minimal guest bedroom space along with a large entertaining space. Although a couple times each year the whole family is here (13 additional people) and bedroom space gets crowded, during the great bulk of the year all guest bedroom spaces are empty. We never felt the need to provide multiple separate bedroom spaces for everyone. Adult children and grandchildren pile up and make do, with some opting for a living room sofa if they wish. Our large living room, dining and kitchen area is very comfortable for guest entertaining, and easily handles groups much larger than our family group.
A mini-split remains for the future, particularly because we have solar PV and we would not incur any cost in operating it, as we have excess kWh available, at least until a future electric car enters the picture. A mini-split neat source probably would reduce our need for stove wood to 2-3 cords per heating season vs the 4 cords now required. Both my wife and I really like the wood stove radiant in the living room which we have enjoyed for 27 years, along with the cool bedroom for sleeping.
As for down-sizing, we never up-sized. In fact one of our adult children bought a very modest house close to work and schools for their children, and they intend that to be their house for many years. Another of our adult children just sold their up-sized house and bought a modest home close to schools and closer to their work. In our thinking having a house which never needs to be down-sized is a very wise choice.
![[Hearth.com] Down-sizing](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/201/201279-65323bc8b6d641b45ef0a885d2599c6b.jpg?hash=1fGrgteJtn "[Hearth.com] Down-sizing")
