What to do for heat in our new house?

#1 -- t&g for the walls, it seems to me, is a potential fire hazard, and will make it difficult to precisely cut electrical box positions. Not sure it would meet any code requirements.
#2 -- EPS insulation between studs will be difficult to install and get tight, and will make running wires difficult. It's going to be difficult to get a "tight" house because of gaps created from the EPS and the gaps between each piece of t&g board.
#3 -- t&g is expensive. The least expensive t&g one can buy is about $1 a square foot, and that's directly from a sawmill that dries it. So, for a 4x10 section it is going to cost you about $40. Sheet rock is probably about half the cost.
#4 -- I think you're making a DIY project much more difficult, and more expensive. Using standard insulation and sheet rock is much easier and much more forgiving.

check out First Day Cottages.

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~*~Erin~*~
SAHM, ranch wife, sub and quilt shop proprietress
the Back Gate Country Quilt Shop

We're putting in a masonry heater...not this brand but you get the idea. It's perfect for open concept homes and looks wonderful

http://www.tempcast.com/

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His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. ~Gene Hill~

Keep in mind that you will almost HAVE to have some kind of backup heat (other than the woodburner).

We live in an old farmhouse and the old furnace is getting on in years and it's harder and harder to find parts for it. But we do have an electric issue, as our electric is on a co-op and at times, we've been without electric for days.

Do you have access to natural gas? Those ventless wall heaters work wonders, and if the electric goes out, our house still stays warm. In fact, the furnace is now the "back-up" as we only use it on extremely cold days when the wall heaters don't keep up.

With a woodburner, you have to keep some things in mind - do you have easy access to wood, what happens if the main person involved with gathering, splitting, etc is disabled - can YOU continue to heat with wood? Have you looked into the outdoor wood burners - keep the fire hazard, and the dirt and ash OUTSIDE your house?!?

And just one more point, have you ever been in a house that uses radiant floor heat?!? The heat is amazing - since the heat keeps your feet warm, you can actually lower the temperature a bit as it just "seems" warmer since your feet are kept warm. And besides, since heat rises (and the whole floor is heated), you actually have a heated room without any cold spots.

Good luck with whatever you do.

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Michael W. Smith in North-West Pennsylvania

"Everything happens for a reason."