5,126-sq.-ft. house needed integrated solutions. "Te
house was really run-down," Team Leader Chris Landis
recalls. "As we examined how to upgrade it overall, we
improved it with as many energy-efcient strategies as the
owners' budget allowed." In the end, the company com-
bined passive measures including a geothermal HVAC
system, rooftop solar panels and spray foam insulation
to deliver the smartest return on investment.
SOLID BARRIER
Without any insulation, the two-story 1967 home provid-
ed a meager R-value of 4. One of the owners previously
worked for the Environmental Protection Agency and
appreciated the importance of a good thermal envelope.
"Although properly insulating the residence meant creat -
ing a deeper cavity and losing four inches of interior space
along the perimeter, the owners were willing to sacrifce
the space," Landis says.
Landis Architects/Builders furred out the walls and
insulated the roof structure with Icynene closed-cell spray
foam, increasing the thermal resistance to R-21 in the
walls and R-48 in the roof. New windows were also part of
hole-house remodels are rarely en-
ergy-centric. Other priorities like
interior overhauls, restructured lay-
outs and added space vie for funds,
demanding that energy-savvy
builders leverage opportunities
wherever they can create them. To ensure owner satis-
faction, green practices must dovetail with other practical,
emotional and fnancial considerations.
BALANCE IS KEY
Washington D.C.-based Landis Architects/Builders grap-
pled with these issues on an older ranch home in Potomac,
Md. Sufering from the wear and tear of raising a family,
odd circulation and a complete lack of insulation, the
Complete
Plan
A Maryland remodel combines
passive energy strategies for
comfort and savings By KJ Fields
W
All bathrooms, including the master bath, have dual-
flush toilets and low-flow fixtures to conserve water.
A new walk-in closet was part of the reconfiguration of
the master bedroom entrance and first floor.
PROJECTS: Design Solutions
20 August 2015 QR QualifiedRemodeler.com