This DwellGreen client had been living in their home for a few years and were interested in reducing their total operating costs by investing in improvements that would deliver an immediate impact in terms of enhanced comfort, a relatively short-term payback, and the long-term benefit of reduced maintenance and replacement costs. They had just completed a major kitchen remodel and were replacing much of their landscaping to reduce their water consumption and minimize the impact of their run-off on the local watershed.
DwellGreen conducted a whole-home evaluation and found the home well-built but with some out-dated, inefficient elements such as a ventilated attic and solar heat gain through single pane windows and doors. We also discovered an electric water heater, many incandescent lights, and uneven heating and cooling throughout the house. The homeowners also complained of an old pool pump that was both inefficient and noisy, located just outside the living area.
Our advisor’s recommendations included sealing the attic, tuning up the pool and pool pump, replacing the original windows with impact/Low E units where appropriate and taking steps to regulate the air temperature.
The homeowners had already replaced most of their waterfront grass with a mix of pervious stone and small-mulched landscape beds with micro-irrigation. Additional landscape recommendations included continuing to replace the original resource intensive lawn with ground cover and low maintenance landscape.
Since their evaluation, this client has replaced their thermostat with a digital programmable model, installed LED and florescent lighting throughout the interior and installed both a solar hot water heater and a solar powered pool pump. By simply replacing the halogen lights in the guest bath they were able to solve the cooling problem in that space.
Projects currently in progress include replacing all of the grass with ground cover, shells and artificial grass (including a fantastic golf putting/chipping area), which will further reduce their need for water and fertilizer. They are also in the process of sealing their attic space with closed cell spray foam insulation.
