Trish Schmidt decided that if she was going to upgrade her home, she was going to do it right. Planning to age in place there, she wanted to create as efficient and comfortable a home as possible. Working with Ezra Builders, she did a complete energy makeover!

Leaving the current framing in place, a Tyvek DrainWrap air barrier/moisture screen was added to the exterior.

Tyvek DrainWrap has ridges along a vertical plane that allow movement of bulk water down and away from the building beneath the siding. The joints were taped making the home even more air-tight.

R-5 rigid insulation was added to the exterior over the DrainWrap. Adding rigid to the exterior is a great way to add insulation to existing walls, because in addition to increasing the insulation value, it also prevents thermal bridging- heat loss through the wood studs to the exterior.

Great attention was paid to completely sealing the building envelope. Where there were gaps in the insulation, foam insulation was used to fill them. The US Department of Energy estimates that air leakage accounts for between 25 percent and 40 percent of the energy used for heating and cooling in a typical residence.

Window technology has greatly improved since this house was originally built. The addition of new, above code windows, was a good investment toward energy efficiency.

MI windows are manufactured in Prescott, so they are considered a regional material by the Sustainable Building Program checklist. The difference in elevation between Flagstaff and Prescott is also generally less than where other windows are manufactured so the expansion of the gas sealed between the panes is less, causing fewer issues with broken seals.

Spray foam insulation was added to both the floor and the lid of the home. Spray foam is a great at filling in gaps and crevices that would otherwise leak air. It also can be applied directly to the roof decking, making the attic a conditioned space. This keeps mechanical systems and duct work in the insulated envelope which makes them more efficient.

Even the pet door on this home takes air sealing into account!

In addition to improving the efficiency of the building envelope, the mechanical systems were also upgraded. This Rinnai on-demand hot water heater was installed, with 96% efficiency, and a new highly efficient heat pump mini-split was added for heating and cooling.

Energy Star appliances, like this dishwasher, are not only more energy efficient, but save water too.

With all the attention to air sealing and increased insulation, the energy needs were reduced, making for a smaller solar array needed for reaching net energy zero, as the home is anticipated to be.

Like the neighboring project, Aarolets, this home also has a Niagra Stealth toilet. These units use only 0.8 gallons per flush, half that of a standard 1.6 gpf toilet!

Material substitution is one of the methods that builders can use to reduce the impact of building on the climate. This cork flooring is a great option for reducing carbon footprint, as cork is a natural wood product that sequesters carbon in the home.

Not only is the flooring sustainably harvested, it also meets the CARB (California Air Resources Board) certification for indoor air quality. Environmental Protection Agency figures show that Americans spend 90% of their time indoors. It's important to have a healthy indoor environment with this much time spent in it!