Williams Street Deep Energy Retrofit

We love the look of this deep energy retrofit, but what’s beneath the surface is what truly makes this project unique. What can be felt, rather than seen, is the drastic improvement in indoor air quality, a quieter interior, and an all-around more comfortable home.

When we say “deep energy retrofit,” what we mean is a whole-home upgrade that significantly reduces energy use through a combination of insulation, envelope sealing, mechanical system improvements, and exterior upgrades. This project checks all of those boxes; we addressed air leakage by using a non-toxic aerosol product (AeroBarrier) that was blown into the house and forced into all the nooks and crannies. For insulation, we added more in the walls and installed double-pane WeatherShield windows and doors, in addition to doing a roof overbuild on the exterior to add more insulation up top. For mechanical systems, we installed a heat recovery ventilation system and a heat pump to efficiently condition the interior, while also moving stale air out and fresh air in.

On top of the performance upgrades, we also significantly updated the floor plan, including upgrading both the first and second-floor bathrooms, installing new stairs and railing, and opening up the kitchen and dining room on the main floor. Other work included replacing some rotten shingles, removing the old (and quite frankly, hazardous) knob and tube wiring, and rooting out the black mold, rot, and toxic materials throughout.

All said and done, this 125-year-old home will perform just as, well, and in most cases, better, than any new build. And on top of owning a cleaner, quieter, safer, and more comfortable home, our clients can look forward to having significantly lower energy bills.