Looking at land and what we want

[solargeek1]

Kukota, we built what you and others are describing. They are called ICF walls - insulated concrete forms. We wanted a common looking home, that blended into the area so as not to be a big target.
But we have solar PV,
solar thermal,
a wood burning (interior) stove that we can cook on but which also heats our entire place easily.
25 acres of hardwood,
other acres cleared for crops.
Fenced gardens and orchard (not all planted yet as we just moved last year in summer).

So much information I willgive you. I researched properties for over a year and we actually went to 40. Each was hundreds of miles away from where we were living so this took most of a year to find.

I then researched ICFs, builders, AGGRESSIVE passive solar structures, solar thermal mass in a house, and best fiberglass, impact resistant windows.
Please don't feel overwhelmed. Much of my life was spent researching environmental law and yet I was knocked over by choices, decisions and PRICE. Set a budget and assume 20% more (for example, pick a pole barn size..... then double it. You will need it).
I will attach many links - by the way, I typed this whole thing 2 days ago and just as I was posting the site infarcted and I lost all this so I will try again.
But I will do the links in a separate post so as not to lose this one.

[solargeek1]

Pole barns: www.lesterbuildings.com/Plan-With-Us/FAQ/#38

www.northlandbuildings.com/salespackages.html

ICFS: www.wisconsinconcreteservice.com/icf-homes-icf-buildings-icf-foundations.html

Look at all tabs here: www.dejongdreamhouse.com/p/photo-sets.html

www.dfmaher.com/

Cheaper than ICFs and similarly insulating BUT NOT BULLET PROOF LIKE A CONCRETE HOME: SIPS - STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS www.premiersips.com/
Great SIPS info here. www.peabuilders.com/home.php

WINDOWS - we went with fiberglass (so no maintenance and no heat/cold transfer).
Low e on all but the passive solar side. Our brand was INLINE from Canada as the company we wanted shut down for a while during our build.
www.greenbuildingtalk.com/Forums.aspx great info on ICFs, SIPS, WINDOWS, SOLAR

We went with whole house laminated glass to help slow down intruders. www.cardinalcorp.com/products/laminated/laminated-glass/

SUSTAINABLE LIVING - PLANNING YOUR HOMESTEAD TO WORK FOR YOU: www.byexample.net/homestead/plan/sustainable_homestead.html

APPLIANCES: DO NOT BUY TOP OF THE LINE. BUY ON BLACK FRIDAY - THE SALES START ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE AND RETAILERS LIKE HOME DEPOT WILL GIVE YOU SALE PRICES EARLY. You cannot believe the savings. We got all LG (not top LG just mid range) and saved on Black Friday over $700.
CONSIDER USING THE BIG BOX STORES FOR KEY ITEMS.

HOME DEPOT DID OVER 1/5TH OF OUR HOUSE. These were 2012 prices.

Once you are over either $1500 or $2000 (believe me just your appliances will be that) they will give you a special discount but you MUST ASK FOR IT. We got the following from them (and other stuff too much to name) I PRICED ALL AT EVERY LOCAL AND ONLINE RETAILER AND HD BEAT THEM ALL OUT BY TONS.

All our LIGHTING and CEILING FANS (in each room): Ex: Progress lights at deepest discounter were $75/sconce (we wanted wall lighting as we have an open concept). HD sold the same ones for only $4 over cost so each sconce came in at about $34. So we saved $41/sconce with HD.

Our ceiling is pine car-siding - old fashioned but very reflective of light. Lumber liquidators $2.19/linear foot; HD $1.50

WE GOT COMMERCIAL GRADE PORCELAIN FLOOR TILE FOR $1.83/SQ FT. AND PEOPLE ALWAYS COMMENT ON HOW THEY LOVE THE PATTERN. We could not touch the same tile anywhere else for under $3/sq ft.
All counter tops in house
All cabinetry

Tired so going to bed but more tomorrow night.

[kutkota]

Wjole cow woodyz and solargeek thanks a million. Lots of info to look over.