WINTER HEATING AT ARROWHEAD COVE
We are very pleased with our radiant floor heating system. Because it doesn't dry the air, we find it comfortable with the thermostat set at 60 degrees for the two of us, and 65 degrees when we have guests. (That seems to be equivalent to 70 degrees in traditional heating systems.) In addition, we keep adding plants to our indoor environment to add moisture and oxygen and to remove carbon dioxide and toxins from the air. A great book on houseplants is, "How to Grow Fresh Air", by Dr. B.C. Wolverton. Our SIPS panels on walls (6 inches) and roof (10 inches) significantly reduce the amount of heat needed to keep us warm.
On sunny winter days, our south facing rooms often warm up five degrees from solar gain. (Our roof overhang prevents this in the summer when the sun is higher in the sky.) We also enjoy solar hot water when the sun shines, even on the coldest winter day.
SUMMER COOLING AT ARROWHEAD COVE
We have spent two summer seasons in our timber frame home. After much consideration, we have decided not to install air conditioning units in our guest rooms. But, read on to discover why that doesn't mean it is uncomfortably hot! (Cove Cottage is cooled with a "heat pump".) Since we do not have any ductwork, we didn't have the option of "central air" when we built.
We are using many "earth-friendly" ways to cool our living space. We are having great success with using natural ventilation. We open our windows in the evening and the air cools down quickly. We close them in the morning and enjoy the shade provided by a large oak tree. We have ceiling fans in every guest room. It keeps us comfortable at night, and we believe it has done the same for our guests. We enjoy the breeze off the lake and its cooling effect on the entire property. We have installed a retractable awning on the sunny, west deck and will put it to the test in the summer of 2008.
We hope that you will join us as we live without burning the additional coal it would take to artificially cool our home. Perhaps you will take home some ideas of your own that will save energy and lower your cost for energy. | Contact us toll free: 866-882-2683(cove) or Email: carol@arrowheadcove.com
Your hosts: Larry and Carol Higgins
Mailing address: 51400 Cove Road, Mendon, Michigan 49072
(Yahoo maps is a good choice for directions, or visit our directions page.)
Michigan is still a "Winter Wonderland"! A visit to Arrowhead Cove provides the opportunity to experience cross country skiing, bird watching, ice fishing and sledding by simply walking out the door! Two downhill ski areas are less than an hour's drive and several local villages celebrate the season with winter festivals. The golf dome in nearby Schoolcraft offers an escape for those who just can't wait for summer.
When the warmer months arrive, you might be interested in some of these activities found at or near Arrowhead Cove:
---Boating, fishing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing;
---Hiking, biking, geo-caching, birding, wildlife viewing, gardening, arrowhead hunting, star-gazing, viewing sunsets;
---Hot-air ballooning, powered parachute rides, flying lessons;
---Trips to Shipshewana flea market, Kalamazoo Air Zoo, Gilmore Car Museum, Bell's Brewery, numerous wineries and outstanding golf courses, indoor golf;
---College sports and events: Western Michigan, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Univ. of Michigan;
---Michigan farmer's markets, Harvest Festivals, seasonal color tours.
Explore modern agricultural practices from organic and sustainable to conventional at one of our farrmstay weeks beginning in June 2008.
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