This is one of those things that really does take a lot of research and most GCs won't even bring it up (unfortunately for home owners who are then stuck with the energy bills). Since we wanted (and could do on this site) passive solar, we went a step further than most. For those who might be building a new home, here are just a few of the things we did for energy-efficiency. We have Low-E squared , which is more advanced than Low-E, having to do with the layers of silver, reflective capabilities, etc. We have a passive solar design and the Low-E squared is so important for hot summer climates. It may not be as important in cooler zones. There is a slight green tint on our windows which you won't have on Low-E. Energy cost savings in monitored field testing have shown a 30%-50% improvement over regular double pane windows. In addition to zoned heat (upstairs and downstairs), we have a dual-fuel system. The electric heat pump is used until the outside temperature drops below 38%, then the natural gas kicks in. We use programmable thermostats so that we have automatically set heat and a/c for "wake up" "leave" "return" "night" temps. We never go above 71 degrees on the heat or below 75 on the a/c and are very comfortable. We also have insulation that is Guardian, Green Guard Certified, SuperCube II fiberglass. Energy efficient and green certified. We are currently replacing most incandescents with CFLs. The kitchen and master bath are 100% CFL now. Our energy bills are half the cost of previous, much smaller homes that we have owned. We happen to have the cheapest electricity provider around here, too. That helps. I hope this information will help someone. I'm happy to provide more details in an email if needed. Cameron

Here is the recipe for scones that I used. It comes from a National Trust Traditional British Recipes book I bought from the BBC.. Measurements have been converted to US. (Only to be eaten with a large hat on, a cup of tea, and listening to the English national anthem of course.) Scones: 1 cup flour 1 tsp baking powder One half stick butter (I used low fat) One half cup brown sugar One half cup raisins 1 egg One quarter cup milk (again, low fat is fine) Milk to brush the tops Preheat oven 450. In large mixing bowl, sift flour and baking powder and gently combine. Rub in diced butter w finger tips until like breadcrumbs. Add sugar and raisins and combine evenly. Make well in center of mix and slowly add milk and egg (already mixed together) Stir mix w fork to make smooth dough. Knead slightly to make ball and put on floured surface. Roll to about 1 inch thickness and cut into circles w cookie cutter etc. Put on greased baking tray; brush w milk. Bake 15 mins. Also works if you add nuts, cranberries etc� (but less English that way!) Serve warmed up and cut in half, with butter then dollop of strawberry jam, and some type of whipped cream on top. Yum. Oh, and DH is a fully trained professional Dignitary Protection person... It's like having my own body guard. :-)

If it is cupping, it looks pretty slight to me. Cupping--unless it's evident shortly after installation--is usually the result of moisture imbalances which are due to environmental conditions outside the contractor's control. Cupping is more evident the wider the flooring width which is why I recommend engineered hardwood for widths greater than 3" As a point of calibration, the performance standard published in NAHB's Residential Construction Performance Guidelines for Professional Builders and Remodelers is: "Cupping or crowning in hardwood floor boards will not exceed 1 /16 inch in height in a 3-inch maximum span measured perpendicular to the long axis of the board. Cupping or crowning appearing after installation may result from fluctuations in the moisture conditions in the house, causing a noticeable curvature in the face of the floor boards. Cupping or crowning caused by exposure to moisture beyond the contractor’s control is not the contractor’s responsibility." If the OP wants to minimize cupping, they'll need to control the relative humidity in the living space as well as the space below the floor. If it's a basement or crawl space, moisture controls need to be in place and some amount of conditioning may be required.

Afraid we don't have access to another room for TV use. We're also both quite big film buffs so a decent TV set up to us is essential. I've looked more at the idea of a 3-seater sofa and 2 arm chairs as shown in the previous arrangement and the compromise might be, as you say, an adaptable living space; where we can move chairs around to suit our needs. Not ideal though and permanent arrangement would be soo much better.