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!