Video: Two Weeks Of Green Dream Building Time-Lapsed Into Two Minutes

There must have been a lot of down time. I noticed the trees skipped fall. Green to dead.

I wish my mom didn't give away all my legos now..

I love people who comment/write articles who have no idea how the construction industry actually works. This is why my company don't do residential because the client is almost always completely clueless.

The contractor who built this is surely on a priced figure to complete the works, therefore its in their best interest to complete these works as fast as possible because the longer it takes the more it costs them (not you).

If you paid them by the day then you are the fool not them lmfao.

This strikes me as a rant by someone who has been ripped off.

"Skillet" & jamesbrett12"

The time lapse video shows 14 days of actual build time- I removed frames when the project was idle- The idle time includes both "idle hours" during the 14 days of active building AS WELL as "idle weeks" that I was waiting on material. I shut the job down for weeks at a time as I waited on certain hard to acquire material. When the job was shut down and nothing was being done the camera system was not active- If all the material was available at the time that the time lapse was started you would have seen all "green trees" and guys in tee shirts- As it ended up we had jackets on by the end...

Staff Photographer
Popular Science Magazine

Ha ha, so the down time was caused by yourself. Nice house tho, very innovative, yet still a quick way to go about things regardless.

Hope you enjoy it.

Made in Germany no doubt :o)

"jamesbrett"

I shut the job down when material was delayed- The down time was caused by my vendors- On one day we had 28 panels arrive that were damaged on the way to the job - they were sent back to be remade- I don't enjoy down time but when your the first to use new material you gotta expect some issues- The panels were made in Rhode Island with Neopor that was formed in CT.

Staff Photographer
Popular Science Magazine

We sure did have fun doing it….and when the wheels were on - the bus rolled – JC, Neil Cassidy himself would be proud of the way you drove the project. A build is a build regardless of material type; EVERYONE on your team contributed ideas, sweat and effort….you my friend now have a near carbon-neutral “System” (i.e. house)

I have been reading PoPSci since I was a child and enjoyed many long discussions with my dad about the articles. In fact I thought I’d become an inventor one day but took a different path into architecture, which brings me to this little gem.

While obviously well intentioned, like much of the green movement, this "dream house" is an embarrassment. The desire for a house to be energy efficient does not mean it has to be designed by students and other amateurs and look like a human storage unit. Architects spend 6 years in college learning how to understand design, then another decade before some of us become good at it and others give it up for less tortuous pursuits.

Homes are where American families bring babies to grow into children and healthy adolescents, do homework and one day introduce their future husbands or wives. Where people fall in love and live their dreams as they grow old together. This looks like a little chemical plant that tests fertilizer on the roof.

I don't disagree that your view of built world is partially our fault. The American Institute of Architects is famously bad at communicating with the public. One reason for that is that it's mostly run by those with time on their hands - which is rarely the best us. ..and the public has little interaction architects. Unless you're wealthy or a high level executive, you may never meet an architect your entire life, let alone know what we do. But I can tell you with great confidence that what we spend all that time learning cannot be cranked out by Joe 12 pack who just spent $49.95 on do it yourself house maker software any more then a taxi driver can design a race car.

Whether Pop Science or anyone else, I urge you to spend a little time learning about how important architecture is to our daily lives and where it really comes from. If you are truly interested in the potential for the "Next American Home", refuse to leverage your position by indulging in donated components and systems for your house in return for coverage in the magazine. I don't know that you've used this approach, but it would not be unusual. The problem is that while accepting these freebies saves you money on your house, this approach is often void of experienced professional design opinion and therefore the structure is more likely to look as it does - an odd collection of product samples rather then anything tasteful or otherwise useful to readers.

So while it's too late for this project, perhaps next time Popular Science considers looking up the local AIA chapter and search for 'design awards' to find firms near you that would be happy to help. If you're serious about wanting to see what the next generation of American home could become, don’t be so cheap. Hire a talented architectural firm to design and engineer the real thing. Have him include mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering consultants who will design those systems around the latest technology available for the goals while he focuses on designing the house for people who will actually want to raise a family there. I am confident that you will be very pleasantly surprised by the talent and knowledge that resides within even modest size architectural firms in your city.

shepard150

I'm amazed that you have taken a few images some computer created graphics and concluded that the design sucks- Have you seen the site? Do you know how the house relates to the site? Have you been inside the house? Do you know how the house is designed to interact with my family and our needs?
In regards to the material that I selected and who paid for it- That is me-
I'd be delighted to take the time to walk you 360 around the house and to take you inside the house- But until you have been to the site - seen the interior of the house and fully understand how it serves the needs of it's owners I don't really think that your in a position to judge a book by it's cover- or maybe that is the only skill set that you have? Make another comment that says SHOW ME THE HOUSE and I'll have the POPSCI staff connect us- Cheers, John

Staff Photographer
Popular Science Magazine

I appreciate your position and of course you will love your house for many reasons – not the least of which that it’s an expression of your ideas. You took on a fascinating endeavor and worked through the challenges as you went, which is what the magazine is about. My frustration is not really with your house as a project– it’s about the notion that it represents some kind of advancement in materials, systems and design. I’m disappointed that this Popular Science “next American home” discussion is taking place without the profession that knows most about the subject. Popular Science should have worked with a highly qualified architectural firm to create a design that addresses today’s design challenges. Even without Popular Science, since the government seems to be throwing our tax dollars around like we work for them, I would like to see an architecture firm awarded a grant to design and supervise construction of such a home on a common urban or suburban site, tasked to incorporate a high level design and innovation but constructed on a more conventional homeowners budget. No donations or discounts would be allowed and the utility bills would be tracked and measured against a typical home over several years. We need to get past the absurd notion that unique ideas come from college students, amateurs and others who are unburden by professional knowledge and experience and free to innovate.

Upon reading the second cranky posting by shephard150 I knew it was time for me to weigh in. As the Green Dream designer, I was filled with joy because of the strong reaction created by the design. Innovation often stirs the pot of conventional thought. American architects such as Frank Gehry, Thom Mayne and Steven Holl are consistently pushing the edge of architectural design. This is not done to be different; that’s easy. They are on the forefront because they are rigorously responding to the change in materials and systems with uniquely poetic solutions. I have been inspired by the above to work toward a similar result. Freedom to innovate omits the presupposition of a “style”.

I was educated at both SCI-Arc (Southern California Institute of Architecture) and RISD (Rhode Island School of Design). From the latter I received a Bachelor of Architecture degree. I am currently an Architectural Registration Exam candidate, meaning I have qualified, through training, to proceed toward professional licensure. I have worked for more than 15 years for a few exceptional, award winning firms; Richard Meier and Partners among them. At present, I am the sole proprietor of my own design firm.

John Carnett asked me to design his house because he believed in my ability to create a home for he and his family that would respond well to the physical conditions of the site while utilizing the kama EEBS (Energy Efficient Building System) in a way no others have. We achieved those results within the functional program of the project. The house is a happy expression of life and possibilities. In an attempt to debase the house as an “embarrassment” shepard150 asserted a strong judgment based on a lack of relevant information.

In designing the Green Dream home my first and foremost responsibility was to the client, John Carnett. As a DIY (Do It Yourself) man he wanted to handle the integration of the systems himself, not because he is cheap, but because he is thrilled by the process. It is Mr. Carnett’s money, he is free to do with it as he pleases, and it is by no means someone's place to call a client cheap because they didn’t opt for a full service contract. I was honored that he chose me to assist him in my limited, albeit, essential role. The acerbic reaction by shepard150 sounds more like a sour grapes response for not being hired himself.

Finally, in response to the bit about awards, anyone would be honored to win an award for their earnest efforts, though it should not be a means to an end. Nor should a shortfall of awards inhibit someone from looking for a particular architect. There are plenty of capable designer professionals who have not been recognized by an award. The true value of an architect/ designer is to resolve a design challenge for a client, whatever the involvement, with aplomb. For John Carnett, I have successfully accomplished this goal.

Sincerely,
Timon Phillips AIA Assoc.

As a Realtor and also the son of a builder it comes as no surprise what you experienced with your camera. There are many occasions where there will be down time while building a home and it seems like there is nothing being accomplished when in fact there is.

I remember on many occasions there were times where deadlines needed to be met and there would be contractors practically working on top of one another. Of course they were never happy.

Good luck with your Green project. I hope it comes out just the way you planned!
www.sellmyhomeinmetrowestma.com

Wow. I know that know one is going to read my comment since this page is so old, but I am so pleased that John's friend spoke up for him. It made my frickin' day. I wish that I could tour that home and learn about it's designs and stuff. But I live in AR and have no experience with any building or designs or anything anyway. -sigh- I would love to become a solar contractor or whatever you call them. But my college just got a renewable energy major this year and I'm already a psych senior. There's really no point in digging my debt hole deeper just to follow my dream when I don't even know who I could work for or how I'd make a living installing solar and wind power. Or even who the major licensed contractor/companies are that I could work for/be licensed by. Anyway, I just needed to rant somewhere where practically no one would see it and there's, like, 1% chance of someone responding.

Are you going to update the progress of your green home at some point?
www.massrealestatenews.com

I subscribed to Pop Science SPECIFICALLY to follow John Carnett's Green Dream. Picked up the magazine that described his project on the cover, big fan since.
I look forward to every issue to follow the building progress, and log on often to catch up. My husband's been a Pop Sci guy of many years.

I watch/read with fascination as John continues to plow through product versus market versus criticism versus his 'soul-ution finding' thinking to resolution.

I'm particularly interested in the wall structure material and did contact Kama Eebs. Got the literature, described my needs. Suited for Alaska weather? Yes, the designer I corresponded assures me. He has family 30 miles up the road from where I live: the snowiest place on the planet 2000 ft up a wind soaked valley.

Of all the products so far, the wall structure system posed the most problems re: sizing, fit, retrofits.
John, anyone who's used the Kama Eebs system, has it been put through its paces enough now so you feel confident recommending it for your home building project?
Kama Eebs, your thoughts at this point into such a featured build using your product?
My husband and I will be completely any rough in during our EXTREMELY short build season this season: mid May start. Costs are a concern. Additional handicap: my husband has physical disabilities that challenge his time/strength meaning a shorter work days to not injure him. A workable wall system accelerating rough-in into insulated too really appeals to me to 'save' wear and tear on his body.
Thoughts fellow green dream warriors?

Go John Go!
Go John's team go!!

Colleen

Hi John,
How many 40 foot containers do you think I would need to export ALL the materials I would need to build a home like yours outside the USA?
Is your building project now completed , if so how can I get a complele guide from start to finish?
Go Green!

"chukiboy" Where do you live? I may have a local solution for you- J

Staff Photographer
Popular Science Magazine

Your design for the water system and tank are not completely fool proof.

Very clever approach to demonstrating the process and building of the house. I note with interest some conflicting comments. Techincian vs artist. Surely there is room for both in the production of a series of how to and look, see! Without each other we would not be discussing the strengths and weakness of each!

www.colorcoat-online.com

Hi- I noticed in the most recent (nov?) issue you mentioned that you found it was going to be too expensive to use radiant-floor heating on the first AND second levels.
The upshot I got from that is you were going to use radiant flooring on the first floor only. Do you find that this arrangement gives off enough heat to warm BOTH floors, or am I misunderstanding something here?

CJ Wilson
jwilson@unctv.org

I like that idea of capturing something that clearly took up most of your waking life for a long time. To even consider the effort of setting up your camera each day is awesome and as you say a great insight into how we live. You need to do your washing more often!
pembroke.floorcoveringsinternational.com

Very clever approach to demonstrating the process and building of the house. I note with interest some conflicting comments. Techincian vs artist. Surely there is room for both in the production of a series of how to and look, see! Without each other we would not be discussing the strengths and weakness of each!
www.promdresspicture.com

أنا أحب الناس الذين يعلقون / كتابة مقالات الذين ليس لديهم فكرة عن كيفية صناعة البناء والتشييد في الواقع يعمل. هذا هو السبب في الشركة التي أعمل بها لا تفعل السكنية لأن العميل هو دائما تقريبا جاهل تماما.
http://www.autonewstoday.net

Vi hade säker ha roligt gör det ... och när hjulen var på -. Bussen rullade - JC skulle Neil Cassidy sig vara stolt över det sätt som du körde projektet. Ett bygge är ett bygga oavsett material typ, alla i gruppen bidragit med idéer, svett och möda ... du min vän nu har en nära koldioxidneutral "System" (dvs huset).

www.hotcarz.net
www.PARKCARZ.COM
www.thaicarnews.com

Très approche intelligente de la démonstration du processus et la construction de la maison. Je note avec intérêt des commentaires contradictoires. Techincian artiste vs. Certes, il ya place pour deux dans la production d'une série de comment et de regarder, voir! Sans eux nous ne serions pas discuter les forces et faiblesses de chacun!

www.AUTO-CRAZY.COM
www.AUTOEASY.ORG
www.autoexpressinfo.com
www.thaicarnews.com

Molto approccio intelligente a dimostrare il processo e costruzione della casa. Noto con interesse alcuni commenti contrastanti. Techincian vs artista. Sicuramente c'è spazio per entrambi nella produzione di una serie di come e di guardare, vedere! Senza l'altro non saremmo a discutere i punti di forza e di debolezza di ciascuno!

www.topcarsite.biz
www.VEHICLEBLOGS.NET
www.VEHICLE-SITE.COM
www.thaicarnews.com