andrewksu

6 ms·

1.
by andrewksu 4y ago
I help do recruiting at LANL if you are looking for something specific, just let me know.
2.
by andrewksu 8y ago
Average US build time is 4-6mos for production builders. In areas like CA, it's closer to 12mos.
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by andrewksu 8y ago
The vast majority of lots can be addressed with a handful of designs. No need to solve for all outliers. Complete bespoke design can be wonderful, but comes with high cost and time. Fixed designs can also be wonderful, and much more access
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by andrewksu 8y ago
Labor is still quite high in most major metros. NorCal is $250/sqft just for labor, $350+ turnkey.
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by andrewksu 8y ago
Metal goes 100+ yrs. Doing the same thing (asphalt) and expecting different results = insanity.
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by andrewksu 8y ago
Recent CA costs for a framer range $65-125/hr. That adds up fast.
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by andrewksu 8y ago
Most modular just does it wrong. Doing fixed design is a great opportunity for better, deeper design. Think Apple or Tesla type design and engineering. Not many complaints around cookie cutter Audi RS7's or even Hyundais The status q
8.
by andrewksu 10y ago
Most of the value is in the land, and the homes are no different than $200K homes in the midwest. However, they are worth more and cost more because of very high demand and limited supply of labor and land. Putting a standard new home on a
9.
by andrewksu 10y ago
Certainly in the short run those are more cost effective and less intensive options, but homes built 50 years ago do have a very short lifespan remaining and will consume gobs of energy every day until they are plowed under. Zero Energy re
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by andrewksu 10y ago
Yeah, KC and much of the middle of the country, there is very little fat in pricing and slow growth. Our first home built in KC was for $145K. Same general concept and performance, but a much more simple/affordable material and finis
11.
by andrewksu 10y ago
Embodied energy is certainly worth considering, but major retrofits of homes built in the 60's or earlier are hugely inefficient and result in a home that looks better, but performs no better energy wise. You CANNOT retrofit to Zero En
12.
by andrewksu 10y ago
It's all relative. In Des Moines it's outrageous (although still worth it!), but in the Bay Area or similar market it's a steal. Comparable homes out here can be 2-3x. We did our fist home at $145K for 1200 sqft and can off
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by andrewksu 10y ago
Here, take a look, pick your options and we'll stuff it in a stocking! http://bit.ly/acrecatalog
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by andrewksu 10y ago
Thanks! We're toiling away to that end. Here's our home guide to see more detail of what's inside. http://bit.ly/acrecatalog
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by andrewksu 10y ago
Prefab is a struggle and why we specifically avoided it. For us it makes much more sense to focus on product and supply chain and partner with local builders to execute in the various markets. Our system is built for speed and that is wher
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by andrewksu 10y ago
Hey, this is Andrew (Acre Founder). Thanks for the comments. Price is entirely depended on location, in Kansas City (our original hometown), our homes are in the upper most price tier. In the Bay Area we are at or below market rate for ty
17.
by andrewksu 11y ago
If you're really interested in a home, we should talk! Would love to have an advanced user to help showcase the tech features. Email me: andrew@acredesigns.com
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by andrewksu 11y ago
R-Values. Exponential going the wrong direction. After R-15 or so you slip into the long tail. Good article here- http://www.energyvanguard.com/blog-building-science-HERS-BPI... PH is performance based, but the religion
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by andrewksu 11y ago
Nice. We have a Crestron Pyng as the central hub with attached goodies. We also have our own Raspberry Pi based data logger that captures up to 40+ channels of temperature, humidity, luminance, occupancy, and thinking about a thermal imagin
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by andrewksu 11y ago
6 sales total with a couple of developments and a influx of individual buyers in the wings.
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by andrewksu 11y ago
Please do, we've got some options right in your lane. Thanks
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by andrewksu 11y ago
Clarification: The current version (Origin series) is the Tesla Model S of homes; high end, luxury, max performance, premium tech, blowing most Mercedes and BMW's out of the water in every way. Next year we will offer the Tesla Model 3
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by andrewksu 11y ago
Agree, there would only a handful of days where the combo of temps and solar gain would provide the right boost. PCM's (phase change materials) might work better in this application. However, air tightness and a consistent insulation l
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by andrewksu 11y ago
LEED is not my fav. Yes, blogging is due, much to share. Reducing consumption is first step, not getting caught up by what's cool is a big factor too. Rigor is required Imo, air tightness trumps r value. Hard to do either consistently
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by andrewksu 11y ago
Herein lies the business model magic that hopefully give us an edge. We work with local builders, providing the fully designed/engineered packages, with ALL materials needed to build that specific high performance home. You are right,
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by andrewksu 11y ago
Not so much at scale or at a good price. Less than 1000 in the country built over the last 8-10 years. California will have to switch to building 40,000 per year in the next 4, so major pain point. Just like there were a few electric cars b
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by andrewksu 11y ago
The model would work, but it's a volume game. Not quite there yet. We would probably license the model and tech to regional organizations that could better respond to specific needs.
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by andrewksu 11y ago
We should have the second design with 3 new sizes up next week and a 3rd design in March. Check out the news section for a home we just completed with video of the build process. Maybe we'll push that up front a bit more. It's at
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by andrewksu 11y ago
We'll get there next year, but to take the price leap, we have some new tech to get ready for market. CA has Title 24, which mandates net zero for new homes, so that is the long term focus. Check out the home we just completed for $145
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by andrewksu 11y ago
Yes, started with PH and applied a formula to value engineer the end result. PH is a bit academic and we are exploring where diminishing returns kick in for R Value. For us air tightness takes a bit of precedence. Note taken: Point was to s

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