I'd recommend ditching the fireplaces in lieu of wood stoves/cookstove, like a Pacific Energy EPA wood stove or a Heartland cookstove. You lose SO much heat up the fireplace chimney and they really don't throw a decent heat.
In addition to a coldcellar, you might want to plan for some kind of storage room for all your preps (your hidden room?) that don't need the cool, dark, moist coldcellar.
You should consider solar hot water - there might still be federal and provincial grants.
A bungalow (with basement) is alot easier as we age..... lugging firewood upstairs isn't fun. A woodstove in the basement and a cookstove on the main level should heat you just fine.
And don't forget lots of bedrooms or at least several sofabeds......for all the guests you'll have when the SHTF!

Designing your house with passive solar would be another thing to think about...lots of south facing windows and deciduous trees in the front yard.

I have to agree with PerpHer. I have a huge fireplace but it is pathetic at actually heating. All the heat goes up the chimney. I had to put an airtight woodstove in as a backup as well. I used to heat with oil but changed to propane because it is much more cost efficient and easy to use.

Passive solar heating is the way to go. The length of the building should be east west so that you have the maximum southern exposure. Lots of windows on the south side, few on the west, very few on the east and virtually none on the north.
A concrete slab for the main floor works exceptionally well for passive solar heating but I would want a basement (I wonder why?). The long south facing roof would be an ideal candidate for solar generation under the Ontario Microfit program. This is currently paying 54.9 cents per kilowatt over a 20 year contract. Geothermal heat is the way to go if you can afford it and it is much cheaper in the long run.

Build at least 100Km form any city with a population above 25,000. Do not build with 150 km downwind of any nuclear reactor or 100km of anything that could be a prime target. Do not build in site of the road. Put in a drilled well and a septic system. Choose a location 500ft above sea level or more. Proximity to a lake or river system if preferable as long as you are not in the flood plain.

If I think of anything else I will pass it on.

Oh oldschool.... sounds awesome!
But, I have to agree on the fireplace advice. I used to have a house with a fireplace in the middle and we FROZE all winter! Even with heat radiating off the brick, it was still so cold in the house. Unless you are right next to the brick, it was a waste.

http://www.ontariohighpoints.com/county-high-points/ shows you the average elevation in counties in Ontario 🙂

Look into a radiator system that' uses the woodstove for the heat. At our cabin, we have 2 thermoelectric fans sitting on top of the woodstove. They don't exactly create wind tunnel levels of air movement but they do help move the warm air across the room instead of just up around the ceiling.
A hood over a basement mounted woodstove can be tied into the house ventilation system so the heat rises through the ducts to spread thruout the house. One house we looked at, the owners had underfloor heating that used their woodstove to heat the pipes.
Just a few thoughts.

Wow thank you so much for the help. There will be room for guest btw. 🙂

my mom added these ideas to the mix - a prefab house (4) arranged in a square with the center being a "hidden garden & pond"

Brilliant! You could even do that with shipping containers! 🙂
(I have been googling shipping containers for about a week... some wicked ideas for them!)

Awww a Dream House,,
so many ideas so few dollars and time!

There are so many ideas in cheap structures, in low cost in Neo Palaeolithic, Eco options, recycle options, re-use and re-gifted options, depends a lot on the area, rules regulations, size of the land and how friggen nosey the lousy neighbours are and if they call the Authorities, every time you take out the garden shovel.

Oldschool,

Not all fireplaces are created equal. This company makes the most interesting fireplaces, bar none. Please have a look, some even have an oven. The mass of soapstone holds the heat and radiates even after the fire goes out.

http://www.tulikivi.com/en/fireplaces/Heat_accumulating_fireplaces_Soapstone_fireplaces

Cheers,

Mountainman.

thanks everyone

love those fireplaces

Hi Oldschool,
You've got a great idea there. I don't want to change your opinion on anything you really want, but here's some thoughts on what I might do if it were me:

- Kitchen Queen wood stove - for winter heating/cooking with water loop for domestic hot water assist. Propane stove for summer cooking.
- small secondary wood stove in basement
- no greywater collection, but I would do a rainwater collection system.
- Solar domestic hot water and solar electric system. Solar electric to be battery based to allow for emergency back-up power
- Passive solar heating using roof overhangs and/or awnings to capture winter sun and shade summer sun from hitting the interior of the home
- Minimum 2x6 outer walls with lots of insulation
- Attached garage, with access beneath the poured concrete garage floor for prepper storage and possible short term bug-in room.

It's a lot of fun just thinking about what I'd do, even if I never do it.
I wish building codes were more flexible. I've heard that even if you intend on heating your house by alternative means, you still need to install a traditional heating system big enough to heat it without your alternatives. That's a waste of money!

Hi Oldschool,
You've got a great idea there. I don't want to change your opinion on anything you really want, but here's some thoughts on what I might do if it were me:

- Kitchen Queen wood stove - for winter heating/cooking with water loop for domestic hot water assist. Propane stove for summer cooking.
- small secondary wood stove in basement
- no greywater collection, but I would do a rainwater collection system.
- Solar domestic hot water and solar electric system. Solar electric to be battery based to allow for emergency back-up power
- Passive solar heating using roof overhangs and/or awnings to capture winter sun and shade summer sun from hitting the interior of the home
- Minimum 2x6 outer walls with lots of insulation
- Attached garage, with access beneath the poured concrete garage floor for prepper storage and possible short term bug-in room.

It's a lot of fun just thinking about what I'd do, even if I never do it.
I wish building codes were more flexible. I've heard that even if you intend on heating your house by alternative means, you still need to install a traditional heating system big enough to heat it without your alternatives. That's a waste of money!

I asked for ideas cause I am sure I will miss stuff in the planning. Years ago I had this all figured out without the prepper side of things. I think I got rid of my binder that had all my notes on everything from septic tanks, to what it takes to have a tree farm based on Government rules, to having a stocked pond to sell the fish (again Government rules). The list goes on and on. I spent several years researching everything. I even went so far as to research how to built a dynamo. 😳

All suggestions are greatly appreciated.

While wiring the house I would run additional 12v wiring for small lights (and other accessories) in convenient spots for power outages to be run off my solar battery bank or the fast moving stream I would like to have in my backyard.

I would also like to have a secret tunnel to my outbuilding for quick escapes....or for winter mornings when I havent shoveled the pathway yet 😉

A false wall, could be a book opening wall unit like in the movies. In fact I would plan for a few hidden storage compartments wherever there is space.

I would build the gutters into a real rain catching system, no blue barrels at the downspouts, possibly a resovoir/sistern underground with a 12 v pump or pumps run off solar/water power with a backup hand pump of course.

I would plan for a fuel storage area away from the house and include gas, diesel and propane and maybe kerosene.

I am a fan of having backup alternatives, I might put a fridge (beer) in the basement from an RV that runs off 110v / 12v / propane.

I love the radiator system tied into the woodstove idea!