shelterblog

light bulb moment

Jack and I visited Schoolhouse Electric this week (more on our visit and what we ultimately chose for our kitchen coming soon), and I was interested in looking at the vintage Edison light bulbs that they stock.

While I was aware that incandescent light bulbs are much less efficient than their compact fluorescent counterparts (and may even be on their way to obsolescence), I was surprised to learn just how inefficient the Edison bulbs were. The Marconi bulb pictured above draws 40 watts, but emits just 6-9 watts in terms of equivalency with modern-day incandescent bulbs.

What a disappointment. They are just so charming.

(images from Schoolhouse Electric)

a green house for Earth Day

Last summer I had the great privelege of attending a two day seminar with Building Science gurus Joe Lstiburek and John Straube. One topic that I really enjoyed was this 1915 four square house that Lstiburek and his wife Betsy Pettit retrofitted for major energy efficiency. Pettit's article describing the process is now available on their website, and I think it is a great example of how to extend the life of our older housing stock.

Older houses like this typically have undersized walls and roof rafters, making it extremely difficult to meet current insulation standards. Joe and Betsy found some creative ways to insulate from the exterior, leaving the interior mostly undisturbed while maintaining the character of the house outside.

Some highlights and observations:

• Exterior insulation was added at the roof and walls to stop air leakage and add thermal resistance.
• Cellulose insulation was added to the wall to the wall cavities, and spray-foam insulation was added inside the roof. Total insulation values of R-40 (walls) and R-60 (roofs) are nearly double the code standard in most new houses today.
• A ventilated space was added behind the siding, which prevents moisture from getting trapped in the walls. I like this nod to durability, a green strategy that is often overlooked.
• The finished house uses 54% less gas and electric energy than the original house, even though new living spaces were created in the attic and basement.
• Financed at today's interest rates, these upgrades are nearly cost neutral, even if utility rates do not increase.

In a milder climate like Portland, I suspect similar savings could be achieved with slightly less of an insulation investment. An upgrade like this would also provide a great opportunity to tackle seismic upgrades with little added cost.

the new normal

Today's Consumed column in the New York Times Magazine, "Refurbishing Normal" by Rob Walker, discusses the idea that our economic and environmental insecurities might be contributing to a new idea of what a "normal" home should entail. Are McMansions a thing of the past? Walker writes,

Today, given that many Americans’ consumption patterns have been affected by the economic slowdown, it’s interesting to consider whether a version of normal might emerge that is more environmentally sound...That said, there are hurdles to this theoretical new normal. For one, remodelers who specialize in eco-friendly projects say many homeowners still tend to focus on green stuff rather than green performance. It’s easier to imagine friends being impressed by the virtue of your recycled-glass bathroom tiles than by properly sealed air-conditioning ducts, even though more systemic projects have “orders of magnitude” more impact...

What do you see in your community? Is our understanding of eco-friendly home design finally going to extend beyond bamboo flooring, organic cotton duvets and the ubiquitous recycled glass tile to encompass living smaller and wiser? Are we going to be the first generation to choose more modest homes than our parents?