Brian a great read, I was there for mud season and that was very exciting and dirty, but actually fun. Enjoy the snow and stay warm. Have a great holiday.
Brian, I really enjoyed the detail in this article. Breaking down the foundation process into several chronological parts is really helpful. Also loved the simplicity of the problem statement: stop using fossil fuels, prepare for wetter seasons. 
The comment below was sent to me via email by a friend and fellow energy board member in Reading, Bill Neukomm--and former executive director of COVER Home Repair, a terrific organization in the Upper Valley that provides critical repair services for lower income homes. Wanted to share here, as he adds his unique perspective on the impacts of heavy rains based on his experience during Irene.
“Another excellent edition. Educational and informative.
Speaking of extreme rain events like Irene.
In the recovery phase after Irene, COVER helped muck out mud from over 400 cellars in the Upper Valley. Typically several feet of mud in the cellars. An awful job to remove. Most low income people live in lower lying areas typically near rivers and streams. Those cellars without bulkheads or ways torrential surface water could enter foundations and equalize the pressure on each side of the foundation, had their foundation walls blown out by the water pressure.
As you know, our house is situated on a hillside with major forests above us. Irene so saturated the ground that water came up through our tile drains in the concrete cellar floor and flooded the cellar up to about six inches (you can still see the water lines on the cellar walls.) I had to use high speed floor pumps to get the water out. Good thing my boiler and hot water heater were on blocks six inches above the floor.
Certainly lots learned from Irene but not sure we have made near the adaptions truly needed going forward.”
House tilting! Yikes. Is this like cow tilting, but with a much bigger object?
Well, it was going to be, but the gang figured out a great solution. And fortunately, we weren’t “tilting at windmills” either.
Anyway, glad you enjoyed it!
super fun and glad to hear you got the snow too
Brian a great read, I was there for mud season and that was very exciting and dirty, but actually fun. Enjoy the snow and stay warm. Have a great holiday.
Thanks rich! You’re welcome to visit again any season you want!
Love this Brian and Sophie! Great work.
Julia Gutt
Thanks Julia! Hope all is well with you, and happy holidays!
Brian, I really enjoyed the detail in this article. Breaking down the foundation process into several chronological parts is really helpful. Also loved the simplicity of the problem statement: stop using fossil fuels, prepare for wetter seasons. 
Thanks Dan. One more next week that will in involve house tilting! :)
The comment below was sent to me via email by a friend and fellow energy board member in Reading, Bill Neukomm--and former executive director of COVER Home Repair, a terrific organization in the Upper Valley that provides critical repair services for lower income homes. Wanted to share here, as he adds his unique perspective on the impacts of heavy rains based on his experience during Irene.
“Another excellent edition. Educational and informative.
Speaking of extreme rain events like Irene.
In the recovery phase after Irene, COVER helped muck out mud from over 400 cellars in the Upper Valley. Typically several feet of mud in the cellars. An awful job to remove. Most low income people live in lower lying areas typically near rivers and streams. Those cellars without bulkheads or ways torrential surface water could enter foundations and equalize the pressure on each side of the foundation, had their foundation walls blown out by the water pressure.
As you know, our house is situated on a hillside with major forests above us. Irene so saturated the ground that water came up through our tile drains in the concrete cellar floor and flooded the cellar up to about six inches (you can still see the water lines on the cellar walls.) I had to use high speed floor pumps to get the water out. Good thing my boiler and hot water heater were on blocks six inches above the floor.
Certainly lots learned from Irene but not sure we have made near the adaptions truly needed going forward.”