Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: ability to heat upstairs W/O installing heat upstairs

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Mar 23, 2006, at 5:08 PM, Cher Stuewe Portnoff wrote:

> Do you have financing that would preclude this choice? Money people 
> can be picky about this kind of unconventionality in construction.

The view of your financial institutions is important but some people 
have been able to sell units with "undeveloped upstairs" in order to 
lower initial costs. As long as the downstairs is completely livable, 
it may not be a problem.

On whether it is wise -- do a test.  Find some people with two story 
homes similar to the ones you are planning and turn off the heat 
upstairs. I think heat rises no matter what kind of heat it is and many 
people prefer to sleep in cool rooms. An electric heater in the 
bathroom may be sufficient.

Then if it is livable, you can just include the connections people need 
to install heat upstairs as they wish.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Building Community: A Guide to Creating New Neighborhoods
http://www.buildingcommunity.info