Upper framing

In the last few days, the I have come to really understand how truly inefficient our current home is. With a few adjustments to the thermostat, I realized that the temperature in my house frequently drops by at least four degrees with all the doors and windows closed and nobody home over the course of just a few hours -- and it may well cool off more than that if we didn't have a minimum temperature setting. We heat it, it cools down. We heat it, it cools down. And we pay significant electric and gas bills. I can barely contain my glee at the thought of living in my new super-insulated passive house, where the temperature will vary by a measly degree or two all year round with a practically nonexistent heating bill. Can I really stay warm and comfortable all winter long for pennies? I'm ready! I'm looking forward to seeing how this constant-temperature house actually feels.

In the meantime, it's taking shape:

Looking through the great room windows.

The stairway windows from the upper floor.

The great room windows, kitchen and master suite.

Standing in the master bedroom on the west side of the house, looking east through the house.

The front door wall still needs to be finished and raised (looking from the great room toward the garage).