Report from Jenelle

Zoltan and I met with Mike O’Brien at the house on Tuesday for our Green Consultation. Mike is a Green Building Specialist with the Portland Office of Sustainable Development. Together we discussed our heating system, our water heater, our appliances and other energy saving ideas. Needless to say Mike was a great resource. The following were his suggestion to minimize the amount of energy consumed while also preserving the historic beauty of the home.

Heating Systems: Due to the era in which the home was built, Mike told us that there really was no one way of making the house totally energy efficient. At the time the home was built, energy conservation was not a concern to buyers and little to no insulation was installed. In addition, only single paned windows were used.

The heating system in the home is currently a steam boiler which is no longer working and virtually obsolete. Mike believes that the best way to heat the home now would be a hydronic system that combines radiant floor heat with slim-line heat radiators.

Radiant heat is created by hot water running below the floors. Because you are heating not only the rooms air, the living space maintains and even warmth with no air currents or cold pockets. In addition radiant heat is silent, doesn’t dry out the air, allows you to keep the thermostat at a lower temperature and requires minimal maintenance. Zoltan and I are very much looking forward to stepping out from the shower and having our feet warm! Plus, this heating style is going to be ideal for our baby to be through infanthood!

In addition to the radiant floor heat, Mike suggested slime line radiators. As he explained, humans respond to direct warmth on the skin. He used the example of how being next to a bon fire on a cold night heats the body by penetrating though the cells in their entirety leaving the body feeling comfortable. Slim line radiators produce this same effect, plus they are energy savers because they allow you to create different temperature environments around the house. Combing these two systems we will be set! Bring on the cold temps and we will be ready!

With the windows being single paned we know that we are loosing heat. We have considered upgrading the thermal envelope but we are then at risk for loosing the historic character. Mike agrees that leaving the home with historic elements remaining is important part of this remodel project. As of now, we have decided to leave the windows as they are.

The Water Heater: Currently it is our plan to install a high efficiency sealed combustion gas water heater. We will have the temperature set at no more than 120 F and will add an insulation blanket to surround the tank. All of the exposed copper pipes will also be insulated.

John Patterson from Mr. Sun will be coming out to the home to do a solar evaluation to see if a rooftop water heater is possible. Results of this evaluation will follow.

Appliances: You will never believe the original dishwasher we have in this house! It is a classic from the early 50s and is a centerpiece in the kitchen that runs perfectly. Zoltan and I love it and have decided to keep it although not totally energy efficient. Mike has assured us that the biggest water wasters are out door sprinklers that are supporting un native plants and that although energy inefficient the dish washer is small in comparison. We have also been told due to its age that the unit would not be able to be reused and that keeping and running our existing unit would consume a lot less energy than having to build a new one. The history gets to stay!

New Energy efficient washer and dryer units and a new energy efficient refrigerator are changes we will be making to the home. These appliances are not the 1950’s originals, but are in good working condition and can be passed on and reused. Low Flow Shower Heads and Faucet Aerators are also some of the additions we are excited to make.

Thank you to Mike O’Brian at the Portland Office of Sustainable Development. It was awesome to hear that we are on the right track and that our house is on the way to being green!

Report from Jenelle

Working on some tree removal at the new property.... There has been wind storm damage that needs to be taken care of as well as some unhealthy trees that should be taken down. I am working with Phil Snell to make the property as beautiful as possible and am learning a lot from his expertise. His number is: 503- 282-7030, should you also need some tree removal.

Report from Jenelle

Carpet Shopping! There are so many green carpet choices to choose from that it is exciting. It is frustrating though at how many carpets are blends of polyester and wool. Zoltan and I want to have 100% wool carpet, which is looking like it is going to cost us 3 to 4 times more than the blends. After looking through the samples and feeling them though we are confident in our choice to upgrade.

Carpet shopping has reminded me of my college days when I majored in weaving. I fondly remember carding and cleaning, spinning and weaving raw wool from local farms. Knowing that my feet are touching a grass product grown into wool by peaceful animals makes me feel emotionally and spiritually invested the products I am looking at. I want my home to be an environment where I surround myself in natural materials that I connect with.

I have chosen the 2 carpets that I like best and I am now waiting for Nanette from Generic Carpet to research the availability and price estimates for these samples. Nanette works extensively with contractors and rehabbers and is an excellent resource for specialized carpets at wholesale and below market rates. I have worked with Nanette before and am looking forward to working with her again.Her contact number is 503-297-8123.

Report from Jenelle

Zoltan and I are investigating the option of a green roof for our new home. We saw an article in the March issue of Sunset Magazine and think that it would be an awesome addition to our green remodel.We know that this project, if it is even possible, will cost us 3 to 4 times the price of a conventional roof but that the life expectancy will be between 40 and 50 years if installed correctly, which we think will offset the initial added investment.

The first person who we contacted was Greg Hains from Eco Roof. He is a facilitator/consultant who specializes in feasibility studies and material research. Greg instructed us that we would need to get blue prints to the house as our first step. Our second step would be to have the blue prints and the property checked out by a structural engineer. These steps need to be taken in order to see if the structure is strong enough to support the 15 pounds per square foot that a green roof requires. These 15 pounds are made up of the combined weight of sod, plants and water absorption.

We don’t have the blue prints for the house available to us, so have left a message with the City of Portland Bureau of Development services are waiting to hear back.

Greg Hains is available for site visits for a $50 fee.

Report fron Jenelle

Started making some phone calls today. So many avenues to explore, which ones to target first?!? Call number one was to Energy Trust. I was hoping to have a Home Energy Review completed for the new house, but quickly learned that in order to be helped by this company you must first be a customer of electric or gas heat. Zolton and I are not at that point yet in the house so it was time for call number two. Mike O'Brian at the City of Portland was an excellent contact. He works in the office of Sustainable Development and has an incredible wealth of knowledge to share about Green building. His department has the name G/Rated and offers free technical assistance for Portland wide Green projects, holds educational tours and classes, puts on the Build-It-Green Tour of Homes and publishes the Green Home Remodel Guide. It is an awesome program that the City is offering! Check out the web site: www.green-rated.org

After speaking with Brian in length about Zolton's and my aspirations for the house, we set up a time for the following week for us to meet and for him to see the property. Not bad for just two phone calls. The ball on our green remodel is already rolling!

Jenelle Isaacson, real estate broker, and her husband Zoltan have just purchased an amazing mid century home. The house was custom built by the original owner in 1954, Jerold Nesbaum, and is currently in the same untouched mid 50's condition. Having a passion for mid century architecture, Jenelle and Zoltan knew that this was the house for them, a perfect foundation with endless possibility.Knowing that the home would need some updates, Jenelle and Zoltan brainstormed their possibilities. It became apparent immediately that the two wanted to do a green remodel. Jenelle and Zoltan both have a love of the environment, an enthusiasm for recycling and reuse and the desire to be on the cutting edge of sustainability.This Blog will be written in diary form and will track all of the steps and efforts made to complete the green remodel. Please write in with any comments, questions or suggestions. It is the intention of this blog to be an educational and informative resource and also have it be as interactive as possible.Thank you for be being part of the journey. Let the green remodel begin!