1969 Split-Level Chainsaw Retrofit

Chainsaw retrofit cuts home’s energy use by over 70 per cent.

Building Type	Single-Family Split-Level	Location	Calgary, AB
Year Built	1969	Foundation Type	Concrete (Full Basement)
Structure Type	Wood-Framed	Total Floor Area	286.3m²
Climate Zone	7a	Heating Degree Days	5000
Retrofit Status	Complete	Year Completed	2023
Retrofit Phasing	No	Geometry Changed	No
Annual Energy Savings	76.6%	Operational Carbon Savings	4.6 tCO2eq/yt
Retrofit Type	Envelope and Mechanical	Performance Level	Net-Zero Ready

Project Team

Solar Homes Inc ( Builder )
AmeriSpec Canada Inc. ( Energy Advisor )

Project Priorities

Reduce Energy Consumption
Achieve Net Zero or Net Zero Ready
Increase Thermal Comfort
Improve Indoor Air Quality
Reduce GHG Emissions
Repair and/or Renew Exterior
Improve Home Value

Upgrades

6″ Roxul wall assembly with Hardie Siding
Continuous air and thermal barriers over old roof, cavity insulated to R-72
Daikin Skyair 2.5 tonne heat pump
R20 added to footings
General envelope air sealing
Electrical service upgrade (200A)
6.4 kW of Solar PV

Project Description

Planning the Retrofit

This chainsaw retrofit project, completed by Solar Homes Inc., focused on creating a super-insulated, energy-efficient home with dramatically improved airtightness. After cutting off the eaves, the home was wrapped in continuous air and thermal barriers. The team upgraded key systems throughout the house, including electrifying heating, cooling, and hot water, and upgrading the electrical system. The home’s energy use dropped from 141 GJ annually to just 55 GJ. With the installation of a solar system, it’s now just 33 GJ, a drop of over 76 per cent.

Chainsaw Retrofit Sequence Animation of Chainsaw Retrofit

Before & After

General
	Before	After
Building Condition	Before Dated vinyl exterior, wood eaves, well maintained, but older.	After Modern and clean aesthetic.
Comfort	Before Drafty, noisy envelope.	After Improved air quality, comfortable temperature management.

Envelope
	Before	After
Ceiling/Attic Assembly	Before Several inches of blown in insulation in attic.	After Eaves removed, air barrier wrapped over old roof deck, 18″ cavity added over existing roof deck and insulated with fibreglass batts
Ceiling/Attic Assembly Effective Thermal Resistance	Before R-42.8	After R-59.4
Foundation Wall Assembly	Before Typical 2×4, 16 inch centers, Fiberglass batts.	After Foundation perimeter hydrovacced to add R20 of rigid insulation.
Foundation Wall Assembly Effective Thermal Resistance	Before R-10	After R-28
Wall Assembly	Before Vinyl exterior, 2×4 wood frame, 16 inch centers, R12 Fiberglass batts, gyp rock interior finish.	After 6″ Rockwool mineral wool added to assembly exterior with strapping and Hardie siding.
Wall Assembly Effective Thermal Resistance	Before R-12	After R-29
Windows and Doors	Before Double pane vinyl windows. Insulated steel doors.	After Double pane vinyl windows with low E, Triple pane vinyl windows with Low E
Air Tightness	Before 4.4 ACH50	After 0.95 ACH50
Air Sealing	Before Typical vapor barrier, door weather stripping.	After Continuous air and thermal barriers over original exterior sheathing of walls and roof.

Mechanical & Electrical
	Before	After
Heating	Before Condensing natural gas furnace (92% AFUE), additional boiler system (80% AFUE)	After Daikin Skyair 2.5 ton heat pump, electric heat backup
Cooling	Before None	After Daikin Skyair 2.5 ton heat pump
Hot Water	Before AO Smith Air source heat pump hot water tank	After Retained the AO Smith Air source heat pump hot water tank
Ventilation	Before Bathroom fans.	After HRV
Renewables	Before Approximately 3kW Solar PV	After 6.4 kW Solar PV
Electrical Service	Before 100 Amps	After 200 Amps

Annual Energy Usage
	Before	After
Total Annual Consumption	Before 153 GJ	After 55 GJ
Total Net Consumption	Before 141 GJ	After 33 GJ
Energy Use Intensity	Before 150.23 kWh/m2/a	After 53.36 kWh/m2/a
Annual Heating Demand Intensity	Before 120.18 kWh/m2/a	After 22.41 kWh/m2/a
Annual Cooling Demand Intensity	Before 0 kWh/m2/a	After 2.13 kWh/m2/a
Annual Electricity Consumption	Before 8888.9 kWh	After 15277.79 kWh
Annual Natural Gas Consumption	Before 121 GJ	After 0 GJ
Light and Appliance Energy Consumption	Before 12.24 GJ	After 11.55 GJ
Other Electrical Consumption	Before 13.77 GJ	After 13.75 GJ
Space Cooling	Before 0 GJ	After 2.2 GJ
Space Heating	Before 122.4 GJ	After 23.1 GJ
Ventilation	Before 0 GJ	After 0.55 GJ
Water Heating	Before 4.59 GJ	After 3.85 GJ

Carbon Emissions*
	Before	After
Annual Operational Carbon Emissions – Electricity	Before 2722.22 KgCO2e	After 4491.67 KgCO2e
Annual Operational Carbon Emissions – Natural Gas	Before 6364.66 KgCO2e	After 0 KgCO2e
*Based on emissions values from Canada’s Official Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2022 Emissions Values

1969 Split-Level Chainsaw Retrofit

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Project Team

Project Priorities

Upgrades

Project Description

Planning the Retrofit

Before & After

General

Building Condition

Before

After

Comfort

Before

After

Envelope

Ceiling/Attic Assembly

Before

After

Ceiling/Attic Assembly Effective Thermal Resistance

Before

After

Foundation Wall Assembly

Before

After

Foundation Wall Assembly Effective Thermal Resistance

Before

After

Wall Assembly

Before

After

Wall Assembly Effective Thermal Resistance

Before

After

Windows and Doors

Before

After

Air Tightness

Before

After

Air Sealing

Before

After

Mechanical & Electrical

Heating

Before

After

Cooling

Before

After

Hot Water

Before

After

Ventilation

Before

After

Renewables

Before

After

Electrical Service

Before

After

Annual Energy Usage

Total Annual Consumption

Before

After

Total Net Consumption

Before

After

Energy Use Intensity

Before

After

Annual Heating Demand Intensity

Before

After

Annual Cooling Demand Intensity

Before

After

Annual Electricity Consumption

Before