We are anxious to start with the design, which will lead us to plans and specifications and ultimately to our green building permit. We have been deconstructing for a while to (hopefully) uncover all problems and develop an inventory of what needs to be fixed.

Interestingly enough, most problems we unveiled during deconstruction were water related: The damage to framing in the basement (see 04/23/2009 post), the jungle of existing and abandoned utilities (see 05/28/2009 post), water damage in the bathrooms (see 08/01/2009 post), a disintegrated roof drain (see 06/09/2009 post) and the mystery of the missing cold water line (see 06/22/2009 post).

We’ve begun to have a pretty good idea what the green rehab will involve. This is a good time to go back to basics – to revisit our project principles and take another close look at our wish list. I am talking big picture here, looking at the goals of resource efficiency and zero energy. I am not ready to get distracted by low flow water fixtures and LED versus CFL’s. Rather, I have to think about big ticket and building related items such as the envelope and energy sources:

1. Super insulated and airtight building envelope, that helps us with reducing our heating and cooling needs. We intend to get away without central air conditioning.
2. Solar hot water system for space heating and domestic hot water. We should be able to downsize the solar hot water system, because of the super insulated and airtight building envelope.
3. Cast iron baseboard radiators for space heating. We are concerned about overheating the interior because of all the insulation and think that the small size of the baseboard radiators may prevent this.
4. Biomass backup furnace for those stretches of overcast days in November and December when the solar hot water system needs some help.
5. Passive ventilation systems to keep the air fresh and healthy in our airtight envelope.
6. Heat recovery system for ventilation. We want the stale air out, but would like to keep the energy in (warmth or coolness).
7. Sunroom for preconditioning. Our back porch faces south and we have the dream to convert it into a four seasons or sun room that can preheat or precondition the air for the rest of the building during the cooler months.
8. PV array system with battery backup for electricity production, which should help with our zero energy goal and small carbon footprint.
9. Wind turbine for electricity generation.
10. Vegetable garden on the roof, which will help with the longevity of the envelope (in this case the roof), help with insulation (particular with the heat gain), and provide fuel for us, the inhabitants of the structure.

This sounds all very good, but we have to start separating the wheat from the chaff. Do these wish list items actually make sense? Do they fit our budget? Will they work together as a system and get us to zero energy, or will they be counterproductive? We have to find out through more research and the design process.