Doggone glad to have the backup generator sittin' out there. Couple months ago a car hit a power pole about 2 miles away. Power went down for 15 seconds (just as Rick described) and generator kicked in. Ran for about 1.3 hours, power restored and generator went back to sleep. No power = no well water = geothermal heat pump. We now have a backup propane heater in the dining room (about the middle of the house), so even without the geothermal unit, between the fireplace and the propane heater we're not likely to get uncomfortable.
Basement was blasted out of limestone bedrock. 9+ inches of concrete against that. Sitting on top of that is 2x6 framing of ground floor level exterior walls with exterior brick covering much of that.
We're not as well insulated as the Winelover Mansion, but we have a secondary meter on the heat pump and have yet to see it use anywhere near $100 worth of electricity.
CW, I sure do commiserate with you on the passing of your little princess. Timber's (my avatar) ashes are sealed in a mylar bag housed in a 20MM GI ammo can in the living room. My ashes will go in there next to his when it's my time.
Hell, I would even consider $200, reasonable. Our walkout is about 4000 sq. ft. all of it heated and cooled. Walls are R-55 and the ceiling is R-38, we have geothermal heat and A/C. Mostly electric, except for clothes dryer, range top, fireplace, BBQ grill and back up generator. Have a 1000 gallon buried propane tank. Top it off every other year, averaging 100 gallons of use each year.
