Kitchen remodel reduces energy consumption by forty-four percent
Des Plaines, Ill., May 16, 2011—The homeowners had two goals in mind when they contacted Doug Selby, president of Meadowlark Builders, based in Ann Arbor, Mich. They wanted a more functional kitchen, and they wanted to reduce the energy usage in their home.
“The wife wanted an updated kitchen, as their lives center around food and family, whereas the husband was more concerned about increasing energy efficiency,” Selby says.
Selby found a way to satisfy both husband and wife with one big plan. But, before work begins, all of Meadowlark’s energy retrofit clients have to track their energy usage on a monthly basis, over a three-year period. They track this by gathering information from their utility companies.
“We plot energy use before the project begins, during and after to measure savings,” Selby says. “This information also becomes a tool to help me refine our retrofitting process.”
Behind the scenes retrofitting and upgrading
To counteract high energy consumption in the original home, the remodel had to include a deep energy retrofit. “Multiple gables and a steep roof pitch made it difficult for us to insulate the attic,” Selby says. He overcame this challenge by using spray foam combined with 18 inches of cellulose. The finished product has an R-70 insulation value.
The husband, who works in the photovoltaic field, was aware that solar energy alone would not generate the kind of energy savings he wanted to achieve.
“Limited South-facing roof space made it impossible for solar panels to generate enough energy as the clients wished,” Selby says. “So we decided to add a geo-thermal energy source.”
Little did they know, this would present another challenge as the house was sitting on 300 feet of gravel.
“Michigan is known for giant glacial pieces causing major erosion and turning the soil into a gravel pit,” Selby says. This pit is not very accepting of geo-thermal drilling techniques.
Still, with persistent drilling, Selby was able to install a geo-thermal heating and cooling system for the home. They also installed an efficient hot water system and a heat exchange system in each fireplace to retain heat.
Overall, the energy tracking reveals a 44 percent reduction in energy use in the first six months of the remodel—by far the lowest energy usage the homeowners have ever experienced during the winter months in Michigan.
Now, armed with a more functional kitchen and lower energy costs, both husband and wife are completely satisfied with their new space. “I’ve heard one side effect since finishing the remodel,” Selby says, “the homeowners have to turn off the fireplace otherwise the home is too hot.” Luckily, the clients consider that a good problem to have and are happy staying warm and saving energy.
Functional design makes use of space within existing footprint
It was clear from the beginning that the functionality problems in the original kitchen had nothing to do with lack of space but instead underutilized space. The design work was focused on the re-positioning of things to make the space more adaptable to the homeowner’s needs. “The kitchen area had a sea of space that had no function and wasn’t being used, and the other spaces in the kitchen and office area were crammed together,” Selby says.
The room was opened by adding a large crescent-shaped island that holds the range on one side and seating on the other. Moving the range to the island made room for additional counter space. The corner cabinets were replaced with windows to add light, and more storage was added high above the counters.
“The original mudroom [located just off the kitchen] was also lacking function, as it was an open space with no room to sit or store outerwear,” Selby says. He added a built-in bench and storage for coats and shoes. An opened section of the wall leading into the kitchen now adds visual interest for those entering the home.
The computer area was redesigned to include drawers and cabinets for the everyday items that once cluttered that area. The fireplaces were updated to match the contemporary finishes in the new kitchen.
This remodeling project won the 2011 East Central Regional CotY Award in the Residential Interior $100,000 and Over category.
Professional installation and green remodeling methods must be in place to maximize energy savings. Homeowners can consult with a NARI Green Certified Professional (GCP) remodeler to ensure that the systems are properly installed to increase efficiency.
Homeowners that need to make several green updates to their homes but cannot afford a complete retrofit may be interested in phased remodeling. In this instance, remodeling projects are broken into phases over time, for a long-term project plan. This also lessens the burden of remodeling to the homeowner as they remain in the home as work is being done.
NARI members represent a select group from the approximately 800,000 companies and individuals in the U.S. identifying themselves as professional remodelers.
NARI is a professional association whose members voluntarily subscribe to a strict code of ethics. Consumers may wish to searchwww.nariremodelers.com to find a qualified professional who is a member of NARI. For the latest information on green remodeling, visitwww.GreenRemodeling.org.
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