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Cordwood home means charm plus super low utility bills

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  Published in House and Home on Monday, October 20th 2025 at 12:13 GMT by Wyoming News
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Cordwood Charm: A Wyoming Home That Slashes Utility Bills

A new “cordwood” home in southwestern Wyoming is redefining what it means to live comfortably in a remote area. The two‑story ranch‑style house, built by local contractor Tom Haines and his team, boasts the rustic appeal of logs stacked in neat, brick‑like rows while also delivering astonishingly low energy costs. The story, first told by Wyoming News in a feature on April 10, 2024, chronicles how a blend of old‑world craftsmanship and modern engineering is turning a humble farmhouse into a showcase of sustainable living.

The Design and Construction

Cordwood construction, long popular in the Pacific Northwest, relies on cutting logs into 4‑inch thick pieces and arranging them in a tight, interlocking pattern. The walls are then plastered with a mixture of lime, clay, and straw to protect the wood from the elements and to enhance the building’s thermal performance. Haines’ project used Douglas fir sourced from the nearby Bighorn National Forest, cut to precise dimensions and treated to resist rot and insect damage.

“Every board tells a story,” Haines told the reporters. “The grain shows the age of the tree, and stacking them gives the house a character that you can’t get with drywall or even stone.” The finished walls have a beautiful, natural patina that fades with time, adding an extra layer of charm that the homeowner, Emily Carver, says feels like a “living portrait of the landscape.”

The home’s footprint is 1,200 square feet, with an open‑plan living area, a lofted bedroom, and a functional kitchen. The roof is a steep gable design, finished with cedar shingles that echo the wall material. A large deck surrounds the house, providing panoramic views of the rolling hills and the distant Rockies. The layout was intentionally crafted to maximize natural light and airflow, further reducing the need for artificial heating or cooling.

Energy Efficiency in the Great Outdoors

One of the standout features of the house is its impressive energy performance. The walls’ thick cordwood core has a R‑value of approximately 20, far exceeding the minimum requirement for the region’s severe winter temperatures. The plaster finish adds another 5 to the R‑value, while the high‑efficiency windows and insulated doors bring the overall envelope to a near‑class A rating.

Carver, who spent the past two months living in the house during construction, says she’s already seen a 30‑percent drop in her electricity bill and a 40‑percent reduction in heating costs compared to her old home. “I’m not just saving money; I’m also cutting my carbon footprint,” she explained. The house was equipped with a 4‑kW solar panel array on the roof, which covers the majority of the electricity usage, and a small wind turbine that provides backup during cloudy days.

“Cordwood is not just a trend,” Carver continued. “It’s a way to work with the environment. The natural insulation reduces the heating load so dramatically that the house almost warms itself with the sun.”

Building a Community of Cordwood Enthusiasts

The article also delved into the growing interest in cordwood construction in Wyoming and neighboring states. Haines, who has been a proponent of the method for over a decade, cited a recent study by the Wyoming State Energy Office that found homes built with cordwood had an average annual savings of $2,500 on heating and cooling expenses compared with conventional timber framing.

The feature linked to the Cordwood Home Association website, which hosts a growing database of builders, architects, and homeowners who have embraced the style. According to the association’s quarterly newsletter, there were 35 new cordwood homes in the U.S. last year, with the majority located in states that experience high seasonal temperature swings.

The article highlighted a recent conference held in Boise, Idaho, where Haines spoke about the challenges and rewards of cordwood building. He emphasized that the technique, while labor‑intensive, offers long‑term durability and minimal maintenance. “If you’re willing to invest the time now, you’re rewarded with a home that lasts generations,” he said.

Challenges and the Future of Cordwood

While the benefits are clear, the article also addressed some of the challenges faced by cordwood builders. Material sourcing can be costly, especially if high‑quality logs must be shipped from distant forests. Labor costs are also higher because the skill set required is specialized; Haines noted that he spends roughly 50% of the total labor hours on wall construction alone.

The article quoted a local timber supplier, Lisa Thompson, who explained that there’s a growing demand for cordwood‑ready logs, leading to increased prices. However, she believes that as more builders adopt the method, economies of scale will drive prices down.

Looking ahead, the feature ended with a note on how the rising interest in off‑grid living and sustainable construction is likely to push cordwood construction into the mainstream. The article highlighted several upcoming projects across the Midwest, all slated to incorporate cordwood walls, and called the technique “the new frontier in energy‑efficient architecture.”

Takeaway

From the eye‑catching stack of cedar to the whisper‑quiet walls that keep the house warm in winter and cool in summer, the cordwood home built in southwestern Wyoming serves as a tangible example of how age‑old building methods can meet modern sustainability goals. Emily Carver’s experience, coupled with Haines’ expert craftsmanship and the support of the Cordwood Home Association, offers a compelling blueprint for homeowners and builders alike who are looking to combine beauty, tradition, and efficiency in one harmonious package.