Project Description
The Retrofit Story
This home received a complete building envelope update, including new windows and doors, 6" Exterior Insulated Finish System, attic air sealing and insulation and 4" Extruded polystyrene insulation to 18" below grade. It then received a Daikin heatpump for forced air heating, a heat recovery ventilator, and an AO Smith heatpump hot water tank. It was topped off with a 12 kW Solar array.
This homeowner was able to eliminate their operational carbon footprint while achieving a much more comfortable home environment.
Before & After
General
|
|
Before |
After |
Building Condition
|
Before
Original – Aesthetic Upgrades Only |
After
Major Performance Upgrade |
Envelope
|
|
Before |
After |
Attic/Roof Assembly
|
Before
R30 |
After
1.5” 2lbs spray foam, R60 Blown in |
Wall Assembly
|
Before
2×4 walls with R8 effective |
After
R24 EPS added to exterior for R32 effective |
Foundation Wall Assembly
|
Before
2×4 walls with R8 effective |
After
R24 XPS effective to 18″ below grade |
Windows and Doors
|
Before
Original 1960s windows |
After
Lux Windows & Glass, Triple Glazed Low-E |
Air Tightness
|
Before
5.22 ACH50 |
After
1.79 ACH50 |
Mechanical & Electrical
|
|
Before |
After |
Cooling
|
Before
None |
After
Daikin ASHP & Electric Furnace |
Heating
|
Before
Natural Gas |
After
Daikin Heatpump |
Hot Water
|
Before
Natural aspirated gas |
After
AO Smith electric heatpump |
Ventilation
|
Before
None |
After
Heat Recovery Ventilator – Greentek PH7.15ES |
Renewables
|
Before
None |
After
12.7 kW Canadian Solar PV array |
Annual Energy Usage
|
|
Before |
After |
Total Annual Consumption
|
Before
107.79 GJ |
After
40.28 GJ |
Total Net Consumption
|
Before
107.79 GJ |
After
-14.69 GJ |
Energy Use Intensity
|
Before
202.72 kWh/m2/a |
After
75.75 kWh/m2/a |
Annual Heating Demand Intensity
|
Before
105.41 kWh/m2/a |
After
17.42 kWh/m2/a |
Annual Cooling Demand Intensity
|
Before
0 kWh/m2/a |
After
0.76 kWh/m2/a |
Annual Electricity Consumption
|
Before
7,251.00 kWh |
After
11,188.00 kWh |
Annual Natural Gas Consumption
|
Before
81.69 GJ |
After
N/A |
Light and Appliance Energy Consumption
|
Before
11.86 GJ |
After
11.68 GJ |
Space Cooling
|
Before
0 GJ |
After
0.40 GJ |
Space Heating
|
Before
56.05 GJ |
After
9.26 GJ |
Ventilation
|
Before
0 GJ |
After
0.40 GJ |
Water Heating
|
Before
25.87 GJ |
After
4.43 GJ |
Attic/Ceiling Heat Loss
|
Before
3.36 GJ |
After
0.65 GJ |
Main Walls Heat Loss
|
Before
10.65 GJ |
After
1.02 GJ |
Windows Heat Loss
|
Before
11.77 GJ |
After
1.57 GJ |
Exterior Doors Heat Loss
|
Before
2.24 GJ |
After
0.28 GJ |
Basement Foundation Heat Loss
|
Before
17.94 GJ |
After
4.54 GJ |
Air Leakage/Ventilation Heat Loss
|
Before
10.09 GJ |
After
1.20 GJ |
Carbon Emissions
|
|
Before |
After |
Annual Operational Carbon Emissions – Electricity
|
Before
3,175.94 KgCO2e |
After
-1,787.48 KgCO2e |
Annual Operational Carbon Emissions – Natural Gas
|
Before
4,296.78 KgCO2e |
After
N/A |
Total Carbon Emissions
|
Before
7,472.72 KgCO2e |
After
-1,787.48 KgCO2e |
Photos
Pre Retrofit
During Construction
Post Retrofit
