Living proof you can be energy efficient in a cost effective way
Several years ago I participated in the forums here while also reading up on Passive Solar House construction techniques. I used what I learned here from Martin Halladay and others (especially TJ Holloway of Efficiency VT) as well as the tool REMDesign to design a super energy efficienct second home in northern VT.
About 16 months ago my wife and I sold our MA home and moved to our VT home making it our primary residence.
I am happy to report that subsequent to an inspection by TJ back in Oct 2016 and correction of a few small issues in follow up to it my house has just received the Efficiency Vermont Certification for Excellence in Energy Efficient Design and Construction. Even without the solar thermal DHW system I will be installing this spring being taken into account my home scored a HERS rating of 36.
So I wanted to thank the folks at GBA, and Martin Halladay in particular (whose local knowledge of VT weather was very useful) for all the help.
I also want to note that as part of paying it back/forward I joined my town’s Energy Committee (even before I moved here though since becoming a full time VT resident my participation level has increased greatly) and am active in working to help residents of my town to benefit from my experiences by improving their energy efficiency.
When I started the design and construction of this home although I had a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering I was not experienced in energy efficient design. Through educational resources, Green Building Advisor notably among them, I was able to design and build a house which is so efficient that my electric and heating costs run only around $1000 per year in northern VT and which has been certified as such by Efficiency VT.
So to anyone who might think that trying to achieve the goal of building in an energy efficient manner is just to difficult I say take heart. The availability of support from knowledgeable individuals and access to the right materials to achieve this is there. Don’t listen to naysayers and those who tell you it can’t be done or it’s too difficult to bother with. While there are a lot of those types of people (especially among contractors who don’t want to change from the status quo) out there if they tell you that then just realize they aren’t the right person to work with and keep looking. More and more there are contractors, designers, consultants, etc. who get it and will be willing to work with you to build or retrofit homes in an energy efficient manner.
Sincerely,
Jay Hersh
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
Replies
Jay,
Congratulations on achieving the Efficiency Vermont Certification for Excellence. It's great to hear about a success story.
Long-time GBA readers may remember that Jay Hersh was posting a long of questions back in early 2011. Thanks for reporting back with news of your success.
-- Martin Holladay
Curious GBA readers can take a trip down memory lane (if they want) by re-reading some of Jay's threads:
Is it really possible to acheive Net Zero construction in northern VT?
Thermal bridging of the sill plate
Comparison of REM/Design models to post-construction performance
Formula for calculating amount of thermal mass for floor of passive solar house?
Proper materials for moisture control with a SIP roof
Thermal mass interior walls useful or not in passive solar house?
Working a wood stove into my hot water system
Scott Gibson turned one of Jay Hersh's Q&A threads into a Q&A Spotlight article:How to Protect Structural Insulated Panels from Decay.