The Hermans have been very interested in the idea of “aging in place,” living in a home that is comfortable and livable, but designed with the future in mind: they might need to make it accessible for ramps, wheelchairs, etc. To meet their aging in place goals, stairways would need to be widened, and all doors would be at least 36” wide, to accommodate wheelchair access.

But to them, the future isn’t just about themselves and the possibility of failing bones and joints—it is about a healthier future for their grandchildren (and our world), which means limiting the burning of fossil fuels, reducing waste, conserving water, and managing stormwater onsite—to name just a few of the issues their home addresses through its design and renovation.

2.    Making the house “tight” while controlling moisture.

Much heat and moisture are lost through leaky walls. This house was wrapped in a sticky membrane made by 3M, which prevents moisture from becoming trapped and causing mold or rot. Forty percent of the insulation is inside the 3M barrier, and moisture will evaporate back into the living space, where humidity averages a comfortable 40 to 45 percent. The other sixty percent of the insulation was outside the 3M barrier but inside the Tyvek barrier. Air (and moisture) are allowed to circulate freely under the siding without entering the house. The result is that the house is almost five times tighter than building code requires, and practically meets the Passive House standard.

5.    Getting hot water fast.

One lament of people who live in old homes is that they must run the faucet a long time to get truly hot water from their centrally located water heaters. A small pump was installed to recirculate a loop of hot water, in insulated (R-4) pipes, so that hot water is never more than a five-second wait in the bathroom faucets.