These Are Our
Case Studies
01.
Case Study Tom Morley
Customer: Tom Morley
Home Energy Situation
An icy roof and constant tinkering with the thermostat prompted Tom Morley to call GreenStreet Solutions for a home energy audit. The audit determined Morley’s attic was severely under-insulated for their climate zone, and that air leakage and crawlspace issues were greatly affecting the home’s comfort and energy efficiency.
Home Energy Audit Findings
Attic
• Depth and resistance value of existing insulation inadequate for the home’s climate zone
• Unconditioned attic air infiltrating conditioned living space
Shell Insulation
• Insulation needed in exterior wall cavities to decrease air infiltration and improve indoor comfort
Doors
• Blower Door test detected air leakage at doorways leading from conditioned to unconditioned spaces
• Air leakage detected at the mudroom entry door
• Air leakage detected around wood storage door in the living room fireplace
Wall/Floor Seam in Home Office
• Sealant needed at wall/floor seam to prevent leakage between the garage and home office and to prevent possible migration of Carbon Monoxide from the garage into living space
Lighting
• Because all lighting fixtures have incandescent bulbs, the household is consuming considerably more energy than necessary
Crawlspace
• Uninsulated crawlspace rim joists allowing infiltration of unconditioned air and loss of conditioned air
• Absence of vapor barrier in crawl space allowing moisture and air pollutants into living space
Windows
• Air leakage detected through window framework
Hot Water Efficiency
• Absence of recirculation pump at hot water source causing water waste due to distance between hot water source and second floor faucets
Recommended Improvements / Expected Results
Attic
• Apply 8 inches of blown cellulose attic insulation to reduce attic moisture, reduce the ice on the roof, assist in air-sealing attic space from living space and improve home’s comfort
Shell Insulation
• Install dense-pack cellulose insulation into each wall cavity to decrease air infiltration, improve interior comfort and increase home value
Doors – To reduce air leakage:
• Install rubber weather-stripping to pull-down access door in the second-floor hallway
• Install rubber weather-stripping in shelving insert in new addition crawlspace access
• On the unconditioned side of doors, foam seal door frame joints using low expansion foam
• Seal seams on all door frame structure assemblies
• Install weather stripping to the mudroom entry door
• Adjust mud room threshold to ensure proper door seal
• Install rubber weather-stripping to wood storage door in living room
Wall/Floor Seam in Home Office
• Use silicon-based mold-resistant sealant on the wall-floor seam to prevent air leakage and possible migration of Carbon Monoxide from the garage into living space
Lighting
• Replace all incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) to reduce energy usage
Crawlspace
• Air seal and insulate crawlspace rim joists to reduce drafts and improve comfort in living space
• Install vapor barrier on crawlspace floor, extending 12 inches up each wall to improve indoor air quality and home comfort
Windows
• Recommend replacement of windows with high-performing ENERGY-STAR-approved windows to reduce air leakage and improve indoor comfort
Hot Water Efficiency
• Install unit recirculation pump at the hot water source to reduce waste of unheated water due to distance between the hot water source and second-floor faucets
Expected Non-Energy Benefits
• Reduction of ice on the roof
• Improved comfort due to more consistent indoor temperatures
• Improved indoor air quality
• Reduced indoor drafts
• Reduced light bulb maintenance and replacement costs
• Reduced waste of unheated water
• Increased home value
Home Energy Improvements Completed by GreenStreet Solutions
• Air seal and insulation of crawlspace rim joists
• Installation of a crawlspace vapor barrier
Home Energy Improvements Completed by Customer
• Insulation in the attic
02.
Case Study Gail Arnold
Home Energy Situation
A mid-century colonial home was being damaged by icicles that were pulling the home’s gutters away from its roofline. New gutters had been installed three years earlier in conjunction with the installation of additional attic insulation and replacement of a leaking roof. Even after these improvements, the roof continued to leak and the icicle problem persisted.
Home Energy Audit Findings
Attic
• Solar-powered exhaust fan needed to expel moisture, heat, and air pollutants
• Depth and resistance value of existing insulation inadequate for the home’s climate zone
• Heat escaping the home through penetrations created by can light fixtures
• Barrier needed in interior knee wall and roof deck to block summer heat
• Insulation and air seal needed around cathedral end wall
Shell Insulation
• Insulation needed in exterior wall cavities to decrease air infiltration and improve indoor comfort
Doors and Master Bedroom Closet
• Air leakage detected at doorways and accesses leading from conditioned to unconditioned spaces
• Air leakage detected at cedar portion of the master closet
Lighting
• Because all lighting fixtures have incandescent bulbs, the household is consuming considerably more energy than necessary
Basement
• Clothes dryer not vented to exterior. Result: 1.5 gallons of moisture per load being expelled into a home interior
• Sewage ejection pump not sealed properly, allowing sewage odor into home
Recommended Improvements / Expected Results
Attic
• Install a solar-powered exhaust fan to decrease attic moisture, reduce ice damming, improve air quality and reduce indoor air pollutants
• Apply 8 inches of blown cellulose attic insulation to better insulate home interior
• Install custom-made, air-tight can light enclosures to reduce air migration through the ceiling
• Install thermal barrier to the knee wall and roof deck to reduce heat infiltration
• Apply closed-cell foam insulation to cathedral end wall to air seal and insulate
Shell Insulation
• Install dense-pack cellulose insulation into each wall cavity to decrease air infiltration and improve interior comfort
Doors and Master Closet
• Install rubber weather-stripping and new door sweeps applied to the garage entry door, front entry door, and all accesses to attic spaces and plumbing penetrations to reduce air leakage
• On the unconditioned side of doors, foam seal door frame joints using low expansion foam to reduce air leakage
• Seal seams on all door frame structure assemblies to create an airtight seal
• Use silicone sealant to reduce or eliminate leakage between cedar boards in the master closet
Lighting
• Replace home’s 117 incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) to reduce energy usage
Basement
• Open concrete block wall for installation of new aluminum dryer vent to re-direct moisture to the outside
• Use combination of silicone sealant and low expansion foam to seal the area around sewage ejection pump crock to eliminate indoor sewage odor
Expected Non-Energy Benefits
• Reduction of ice damming (icicles)
• Improved indoor air quality
• Improved indoor comfort
• Reduced indoor drafts
• Reduced light bulb maintenance and replacement costs
• Increased home value
Home Energy Improvements Completed by GreenStreet Solutions
• Whole-home air sealing
• Application of insulation where recommended
• Weatherstripping added to all exterior doors
• Fixtures inside and out insulated and sealed
• Full lighting retrofit
• Installation of solar exhaust fan
03.
Case Study Larry Baum
Customer: Larry Baum
Home Energy Situation
The Baum home is more than 100 years old. During the winter the first floor stays cold, the third floor stays hot, and the second floor is a combination. “It’s annoying and it’s uncomfortable,” Larry Baum told GreenStreet Solutions. Mr. Baum wanted to improve the comfort level in his home and just as importantly, he hoped to significantly lower his monthly energy bills.
Home Energy Audit Findings
Shell Insulation
• Insulation needed in exterior wall cavities to decrease air infiltration and improve indoor comfort
Lighting
• Because all lighting fixtures have incandescent bulbs, the household is consuming considerably more energy than necessary
Doors/Attic Hatch
• Air leakage to unconditioned spaces detected at second floor French doors, third-floor knee wall door and third-floor attic hatch
Floor Seam – Main Level
• Sealant needed to reduce drafts at wall/floor seam throughout home’s main level on walls adjacent to exterior
Inoperable Windows
• Air leakage detected through framework of inoperable windows
Dryer Vent
• Dryer vent pipe disconnected at wall exit point, allowing dryer exhaust to enter home interior
Fireplace
• Unsealed fireplace allowing migration of conditioned air to home exterior
Recommended Improvements / Expected Results
Shell Insulation
• Install dense pack cellulose insulation into each wall cavity to decrease air infiltration and improve interior comfort
Lighting
• Replace home’s 74 incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) to reduce energy usage
Doors / Attic Hatch
• Install rubber weather-stripping and new door sweeps to French doors to reduce air leakage
• Install weather-stripping around third-floor knee wall door to reduce air leakage
• Install weather-stripping around third-floor attic hatch to reduce air leakage
• Seal seams on all door frame structure assemblies to create air tight seal
Floor Seam – Main Level
• Apply clear silicone caulk at wall/floor seam throughout home’s main level on walls adjacent to exterior to reduce drafts
Inoperable Windows
• Until they are replaced, inoperable windows should be permanently sealed with weather-rated caulk to reduce drafts
• Weather-stripping should be applied at top and bottom of inoperable windows to decrease air migration
Dryer Vent
• Replace vent piping system
• Secure vent piping system to dryer exit point and wall exit point to route dryer exhaust to home exterior and prevent access to home through unsecured dryer vent opening
Fireplace
• Seal fireplace with a fireplace balloon to decrease migration of conditioned air to home exterior (Remove balloon prior to using fireplace.)
Expected Non-Energy Benefits
• Improved indoor air quality
• Improved indoor comfort
• Reduced indoor drafts
• Reduced light bulb maintenance and replacement costs
• Increased home security
• Increased home value
Home Energy Improvements Completed by GreenStreet Solutions
• Floor seam sealing
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