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Project Description:
Conducting an energy retrofit of our first home, a neglected 1852 Greek Revival, provided us with hands on experience and knowledge. We were looking for a new project and were alerted to a vacant historic 1830 farmhouse. The front of the home faces south and a bike path that leads to our town center is located on the north side of the property. After walking through the dilapidated building we could see the hidden value of the structure. We envisioned it powered 100% by the sun.
We set three goals for the project, to maintain the historic character, make the renovation sustainable and green and provide an energy efficient building.
We started demolition only to find substantial insect, water damage and other structural issues that greatly increased the scope of work. Our architect incorporated the newly found damage as well as other ideas from the Building Science Corporation book “Builders Guide to Cold Climates” by Lstiburek and ideas from the book “Prescriptions for a Healthy House” by Baker-Laporte, Elliott and Banta.
We built new partitions inside the existing exterior walls using offset studs, allowing us to increase the insulation, as well as provide a thermal break. The new wall cavities were filled with approximately 8” of closed cell foam. After replacing the second story roof structure (inadequate for the expected snow loads) we filled the rafter spaces with closed cell spray foam, covered the decking with a recycled rubber roof underlayment, 4 inches of Styrofoam insulation, and finally a standing seam metal roof.
The design required us to preserve the existing room layout and south facing facade of the building. We renovated the facade by reinstalling wood siding, rebuilding the porches, existing double hung windows and wooden storms. In addition, we installed magnetic interior storm windows over the existing windows to increase their energy efficiency.
Care was taken in choosing systems and products for energy reduction as well as local sourcing to reduce our construction and operating carbon footprint.
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Other Awards:
NAHB Certified Green Building Emerald award
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Occupancy Type and Details:
The building, 4 Balsam Way has been continuously occupied by at least 2 persons since we moved in January 2011 to now, November 2012. For the first 6 months we had a teenager living with us while she went to school locally. In the almost two year period, with an exception of two weeks this last summer and an occasional overnight visit to our families we have lived here continuously. One occupant is retired and home most all day and second occupant is a school teacher and works 10 months per year. Person days of occupancy = 1485.
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Energy Highlights:
Mechanical systems include a 3 ton ground source heat pump, a heat recovery ventilator and a whole house dehumidifier. Renewable energy is provided by pole mounted 8.4 kW photovoltaic (PV) and solar hot water (SHW) systems in the rear yard. We located the PV and SHW systems separate from the structure to maintain the historic facade of the structure.
We are now using the excess carbon free energy generated to power a 2012 Nissan Leaf and a 2012 Toyota plug-in Prius to help cover our transportation carbon footprint.
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Subslab assembly:
Sub slab: dirt crawl spaces with two inches of Styrofoam under a plastic liner conditioned mechanical space basement with Anvantech flooring over two inches of Styrofoam and Patton polyethylene sheets
Foundation wall assembly:
Existing, R-40 (rater indicates R-15) 8“ of closed cell foam over plastic wall liner with offset steel studs and covered with paperless drywall
Addition, R-20 (rater indicates R-23) 8“ of sprayed closed cell foam over continuous plastic wall
Above grade wall assembly:
Existing, R-56 (rater indicates-47) offset wall studs with 8“ sprayed closed cell foam
Addition, R-52 off set wall studs with 8” of closed cell foam
8” double offset stud wall new addition and all existing exterior walls to offset thermal bridging and increase depth of foam insulation
American Clay over existing plaster or new wall board throughout
Cathedral ceiling assembly:
Existing, R-72 +/- three by four rafters joined with new 8” rafters, the resulting cavity filled with closed cell foam, and then four inches of Styrofoam over plywood and recycled rubber underlayment
Addition, R-86 (rater indicates R-120 for both) new 10” rafters, the resulting cavity filled with closed cell foam, and then four inches of Styrofoam over plywood and recycled rubber underlayment
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Process:
We started demolition only to find substantial insect, water damage and other structural issues that greatly increased the scope of work. Our architect incorporated the newly found damage as well as other ideas from the Building Science Corporation book “Builders Guide to Cold Climates” by Lstiburek and ideas from the book “Prescriptions for a Healthy House” by Baker-Laporte, Elliott and Banta.
The design required us to preserve the existing room layout and south facing facade of the building. We renovated the facade by reinstalling wood siding, rebuilding the porches, existing double hung windows and wooden storms. In addition, we installed magnetic interior storm windows over the existing windows to increase their energy efficiency.
Outcome of project goals:
The project met our three goals! We received the 2011 Town of Clifton Park Historic Preservation award and Town Conservation Easement, earned LEED Platinum and NAHB Certified Green Building Emerald awards and a NYS Energy Star rating. For the first year the local utility paid us for our excess electricity. We are now using the excess carbon free energy generated to power a 2012 Nissan Leaf and a 2012 Toyota plug-in Prius to help cover our transportation carbon footprint.
Finances Description:
The building has 2134 sq. ft. of conditioned space. The house construction costs were approximately $288,000 (minus barn, driveway, landscape, design and legal fees) or approximately $135 per sq. ft. (including PV, GSHP and SHW).
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NESEA Awards:
NESEA Zero Net Energy Building Award 2013 Runner-up
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Scope Description:
We set three goals for the project, to maintain the historic character, make the renovation sustainable and green and provide an energy efficient building.
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Roof Assembly:
Sprayed foam underside of new or existing deck and 4” of Styrofoam over Strong Seal Rubber underlayment. Finished with furring strips and standing seam metal roofing
Window Description:
Marvin Integrity windows on the north, east and west sides of the building with Comfortex, Comfor-Track Plus cellular shades; on the south side Magnetic One Lite storm windows by Allied Windows interior of the rebuilt antique original windows and exterior wooden storm sashes. The Marvin casement windows have a U value of .29 and SHGC of.30.
Door Description:
The new doors are made by Thermo-Tru and are Energy star rated with a U value of 0.26 and a SHGC of 0.17
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Team Members:
Owners: Paul & Joanne Coons
Architect: Bart Trudeau, Trudeau Architects, PLLC
Engineer: Dan Hampson, PlumbExcel Engineering
Green Consultant: Karen Totino, Green Conscience