Your name
Rachel Conly
Your building company
Thompson Johnson Woodworks
Your builder's name
Heather Thompson
Your architecture firm
Rachel Conly Design LLC
Your architect's name
Rachel Conly
Passive building consultant
Rachel Conly
State or province
Maine
Original construction year
1900
Year when passive building work was or will be completed
2016
Lot type
suburban
Type of structure
wood-frame
Building use type
residential
Brief description of the retrofit project
Deep energy retrofit, dormer additions, complete new interior and exterior
Scope of retrofit
whole-building-retrofit
Why did you choose to do a whole, partial, or phased retrofit?
needed total update/client request
Total area of the structure (in square feet)
1900
Total renovated area of the retrofit project (in square feet)
1900
Date when the project began or is expected to begin (enter "01" for the day if you only know the month and year)
20/04/2023
How many months did the renovation take? If ongoing, how many months is the renovation expected to take?
24
What were the main goals of the retrofit? Were these goals driven by you, a client or both?
total rebuild- both
Were people living in the building during renovation?
no
Was this a registered historic building?
no
Did you use historic tax credits?
no
Passive house certified?
If certified by another group, please list the organization:
Air tightness (ACH) before renovation
Air tightness (ACH) after renovation
Total annual electricity costs before renovation (in dollars)
1875
Total annual electricity costs after renovation (in dollars)
Total annual electricity usage before renovation (in kWh)
Total annual electricity usage after renovation (in kWh)
Total annual heat costs before renovation (in dollars)
1972
Total annual heat costs after renovation (in dollars)
Total annual heat usage before renovation (in kBtu)
Total annual heat usage after renovation (in kBtu)
Heat source(s) before renovation
existing-boiler
Heat source(s) after renovation
heat-pump, electric, wood-stove
Annual hot water cost before renovation (in dollars)
Annual hot water cost after renovation (in dollars)
Hot water system before renovation
electric
Hot water system after renovation
electric
Annual hot water energy usage before renovation (in kWh)
Annual hot water energy usage after renovation (in kWh)
Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of the structure before renovation
Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of the structure after renovation
Is the retrofit now using renewable energy sources?
no
If using renewable energy, please describe the type, kWh generation and any other system specs
Were/are any passive house certified materials used?
none
Please describe your reasoning in using certified or non-certified materials
costs, availability
Door type before renovation
Uninsulated/wood
Door type after renovation
Lemieux double pane
U-value of doors before renovation
U-value of doors after renovation
Please describe any methods you're using for controlling thermal bridging, water, vapor and air movement related to doors
Window type before renovation
Old wood double hung, single pane
Window type after renovation
Jeld-Wen double pane
U-value of windows before renovation
U-value of windows after renovation
Please describe any methods you're using for controlling thermal bridging, water, vapor and air movement related to windows
all exterior insulation, nothing specific to windows
Please give this assembly a name (label), if you are entering multiple assemblies
List all materials in the wall assembly before renovation (please list from outside to inside)
2x4 wood studs/balloon framing
List all materials in the wall assembly after renovation (please list from outside to inside)
R-value of wall assemblies before renovation
13
R-value of wall assemblies after renovation
40
Please describe methods for controlling thermal bridging, water, vapor and air movement related to the wall assembly, e.g. materials used and construction
wall section: siding, rain screen, 2 layers exterior taped polyiso ice and water shield on 1x sheathing
added 3" depth to stud wall, dense pack in stud wall
Materials in the roof assemblies before renovation
undersized 2x6 wood rafters
Materials in the roof assembly after renovation
R-value of roof assemblies before renovation
0
R-value of roof assemblies after renovation
46
Please describe methods for controlling thermal bridging, water, vapor and air movement related to the roof assembly, e.g., materials and construction
roof section: asphalt shingles, ice and water shield on 1x sheathing; closed cell foam gussets added to 2x6 framing; dense pack cellulose
Construction makeup of the foundation and ground water/vapor management systems before renovation
Existing failing masonry block, no water/vapor management
Construction makeup of the foundation and ground water/vapor management systems after renovation
Added footings, added interior insulation and vapor barrier
R-value of foundation and ground water/vapor management systems before renovation
0
R-value of foundation and ground water/vapor management systems after renovation
18
Please describe any methods for controlling heat, water, vapor, and air movement related to the foundation and ground water/vapor management systems
rebuilt entire perimeter footing, added capillary break below sill beam, added 2 layers taped polyiso to interior side of masonry wall, foam at rim joist; xps and 15 mil vapor barrier below new slab
Ventilation strategy (type and number of ERV or HRV) before renovation
None
Ventilation strategy (type and number of ERV or HRV) after renovation
Venmar 515 ECM
If any make-up air systems were used, please describe
custom damper connected to pressure gauge placed behind refrigerator
Please describe any thermal bridging issues before renovation
No preventative measures against thermal bridging
Please describe strategies to mitigate thermal bridging after the renovation
Full exterior insulation wrap of building
Please describe any moisture issues before renovation
Old, poor flashing, no ground water control, etc.
Please describe the moisture control strategy after renovation
Added: rain screen, air barriers, vapor retarders, vapor barrier at slab, drainage, overhangs
What rough percentage (0 - 100) of the wall assemblies have thermal bridges after renovation?
2
On a scale of 1 to 10, what was the perceived comfort of the structure before renovation?
On a scale of 1 to 10, what is the perceived comfort of the structure after renovation?
What was the total cost, or estimated cost, of design for the retrofit project (in dollars)?
Total construction cost per square foot, or estimated cost, for the project (in dollars)
330
Total door cost (in dollars)
Total windows cost (in dollars)
Total wall assembly cost (in dollars)
Total roofing cost (in dollars)
Total foundation cost (in dollars)
Total ventilation cost (in dollars)
What types of funding did you use?
personally-funded
Roughly what percentage (0 - 100) of the project was financed?
100
If you calculated it, what was the energy return on investment, i.e. the EROI (in dollars)?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how much did you take the EROI into consideration before starting the project (if it was calculated)?
What is the expected life of this retrofit (in years)?
100
If you do another retrofit, what would you do differently?
Less foam- specifically exterior poly-iso. Would prefer Rockwool or wood fiber insulation instead.
Less concrete in foundation by using a wooden slab 2 layers of ply over insulation
What do you wish you knew before starting the project?
Issues of carbon footprint
Any other relevant info or data that we didn’t ask about?
Financing
Local regulations and rules
Technical challenges
Procuring materials
Working with your builder and/or architect
What would you say was the most successful part of the process?
The team: It was essential that the client, builder and designer were all on board with the mission and communication was strong between all parties. It was also critical that the builder was very skilled at high performance details.
