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.

6.    Saving energy by recycling heat. 

In most homes, it’s amazing how much heat is wasted out of the vents. In this home, the heat exhausted from bathrooms, and the kitchen is used to warm incoming outside air through an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV). Also, all excess heat from the geothermal heat exchanger is used to pre-heat the domestic hot water. Both of these efficient technologies help decrease the amount of energy needed to heat and cool the home and the water. (Note that a geothermal heat exchanger was not an easy install for a retrofit, with only 30x40 feet backyard. While they were not sure if they could even get a rig in there, they ended up putting in 4 wells 10 feet apart, each at 250 feet deep.)

The Best Surprise of All

With one of the only 100-year-old homes in the country to be LEED Platinum and Net Zero Energy certified (at least that we know of!), the Hermans clearly met their goals. On an annual basis, for their excess solar production, they receive more back from in cash from the utility than they pay in utility bills. With no gas combustion in the house, their insurance rates decreased. But the best part? “I had no idea what this house would be like to live in. It’s been a real surprise: no cold spots, no drafts, no moisture on the windows condensing in the winter, no noise from outside. It is remarkably comfortable for old bones.” The idea of aging in place never sounded so good.

Team

Design by Marc Sloot, SALA Architects, and Katie Leaf, SALA Architects
Interior Design by Marc Sloot and Homeowners
Landscape Design by Marc Sloot and Homeowners
Construction by Sean Morrissey, Morrissey Builds
Landscape Installation by Charlie Kraemer, Landscape Charlie
Structural Engineering by Christian Soltermann, Align Structural
Mechanical Design and Installation by Jason Massmann, Massmann Geothermal and Mechanical
Photovoltaic Array Design and Installation by Innovative Power Systems