DER Details

Improving existing homes (and buildings) using recycled and reused materials, as well as materials that will last longer and create less waste in the long run, along with good old conservation, are the most effective ways to solve our building consumption problems. We have to make some permanent changes that are less disposable.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: OUR DEEP ENERGY RETROFIT

1. the roof

The roof was the catalyst for our DER. When it started leaking back in June of 2009 we knew it was time. Time to replace the old asphalt shingles with something much more sustainable and durable like standing seam metal. And time to maximize the results of that opportunity by building the roof up to add insulation.

So first the old roofing was stripped. Then 2″ of rigid foam board were placed underneath the existingrafters in the roof and knee wall. This was certainly an improvement, but we went the extra mile.

The roof assembly was built out a considerable amount and then dense pack cellulose insulation was blown in. All seams and spaces were then sealed with spray foam.

The result: A high performance, air tight, state-of-the-art roof assembly…on a 100-year-old house! Heat no longer escapes through the top of our home. Proper roof insulation is imperative for a high efficiency home here in the northeast. I mean, you wouldn’t wear a visor when it’s snowing. You’d wear an insulated winter hat.

2. the basement

Our basement was an obvious source of inefficiency from the day we moved in. With a partial dirt floor and little to no insulation, it constantly took on moisture causing mold and mildew. And the high tech Buderus boiler we invested in was sitting in an unconditioned space which drastically reduced it’s potential for extreme efficiency.

So our team at Beyond Green Construction poured cement to cover the dirt section and lined the walls with rigid foam insulation, and then sealed all the cracks, spaces, and windows with spray foam. They then built and installed a custom door for the bulkhead using plywood and foam board. Now it’s like a vacuum down there. So much so, in fact, that the boiler didn’t have enough oxygen to run when needed. Luckily our building science innovators came up with the idea to install a “fan in a can” to blow air for the boiler to kick on.

The result: A warm, dry basement with no moisture, mold or mildew. Now the floors on the first floor are no longer cold to the touch and drafts remain outside instead of creeping in through the our home’s foundation. The heating equipment now lives in a conditioned space for maximum efficiency, and the whole space has a truly futuristic look with silver-lined walls and a space-aged door.

3. existing walls

Once the top and bottom of the home has been addressed, the next step toward

making our home high efficiency and high performance was the walls. And before building out and adding insulation, the existing walls

must be dealt with. Our home had the all-so familiar spotty fiber glass and old blown-in fibers that had settled over time. Drafts came through any available cracks and spaces and the walls were cold to the touch in winter months.

To solve this problem, dense packed cellulose was blown in to all of the existing wall assemblies. The method for blowing cellulose now is very different than it was years ago. It’s really packed in there so there is no possibility of it settling and all spaces are filled. Then some spray foam was also used to seal up the cracks and keep that cold air from finding its way in.

The result: No more wind-blown evenings sitting inside our own livingroom.

4. ventilation

Once you start to tighten up your home there are certain issues that come into play. Namely, proper ventilation. Now that our house has been effectively sealed from the outside elements we need to make sure there is enough air circulation inside. Nobody’s going to suffocate or anything, but part of having a high performance home is making sure the environment inside is healthy and comfortable.

So an HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation) system was installed in the newly insulated knee wall space on the second floor. This system brings fresh air from the outside and pulls stale air out of the house. Vents were installed in the two upstairs bedrooms and two rooms downstairs. Three times a day the system kicks on and pulls air out of the first floor while pumping fresh air in through the vents upstairs. The two air flows cross during this process to even out the temperatures so the air coming in isn’t too hot or too cold.

The result: Constant fresh air to breathe and more even temparatures between the first and second floors. Bye bye stack effect.

At this point our house is theoretically 55% more efficient. But based on the number of times the furnace goes on now, I’d have to say the heating efficiency is more.

PHASE TWO: IN PROGRESS

1. flashing

All of the window and door frames have to be built out in order to accommodate the additional layers of rigid foam on the outer walls. Very often the inside frames can be set in on the interior, but since we aren’t able to replace the windows quite yet, the outside framing made more sense for our project. Metal flashing was meticulously measured and bent around each frame to create clean, square lines.

2. outer walls

The detailed and scientific process of the insulation and proper moisture barrier on the outer walls is truly a display of innovation. First, all cracks and spaces in the original barnboard were appropriately taped and then the entire house was covered in Green Guard, the moisture barrier.

And then once all of the flashing around the windows, doors and roof soffit were complete the 2″ rigid foam was secured on all

outer walls. I mistakenly had the foam listed as 4″ in the old to-do list, but according to many experts I’ve spoken with, that thickness is usually unnecessary if the existing walls are filled with dense pack cellulose. Now with the foam in place and hot days upon us, it feels like we have central AC if we make sure to close the windows before the temperatures rise.

3. siding

Okay, this is one of my favorite parts so far! It may not be the part of the our Deep Energy Retrofit that saves us the most in utilities, but it is the final layer that will protect all of the intricate layers of super-insulation and scientific renovations.

Hardie Plank! That’s the fiber cement board siding that looks like wood, but lasts a whole lot longer, is way more durable, fire retardant,and made from recycled materials. This siding is sustainability and longevity all rolled into one. The supplier is a company that’s right down the street from us, so the whole process has been very friendly and local.
And the BGC team has gone to great lengths to be sure that the installation happens smoothly and “by the book.”

After staring at filthy, moldy, brittle vinyl for all the years we’ve lived here so far, this siding is literally a dream come true!

4. roof

It is a little ironic that our Deep Energy Retrofit project began with a leaky roof, and now

it is one of the last things to be installed. Although, in the scheme of practically rebuilding the entire outside of our house, the roof being last does make sense.

So on it goes, in all of it’s standing seam slate grey metal glory. This puppy will certainly last for as close to forever as any of us can conceive of. And if it does ever have to come down, it can be recycled. We were kind of looking forward to that hypnotic rain-on-a-tin-roof sound, but the insulation really creates a pretty effective sound barrier. Just another plus on our sometime busy street.

FINAL STEPS: To be completed by the end of 2010

In order to achieve our final goal of 70% overall energy reduction and a HERS rating of 30, we must address every last energy related detail:

• Replace windows with high R-value fiberglass casements.
• Upgrade refrigerator, washing machine, and dishwasher to most efficient Energy Star rated models.
• Switch lighting from incandescent to combination of LED and CFL.