The Stratton-Lee DIY House is 1,323 gross sq., zero-carbon, ZNE retrofit of a single-family suburban house that essentially looks the same while having a very different energy performance than the original structure. This house was largely designed and built by the owners over an extended period of time—a kind of ambitious “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) project. This general approach to home renovation is quite common, emphasizing effective low-budget solutions with most of the labor provided by the owner-builder with varying practical skill sets. In this case, the result was a verified zero-carbon, ZNE retrofit of a single-family suburban house that essentially looks the same while having a very different energy performance than the original structure.
Why It's Green:
3” of dense (R = 6 per inch) polyisocyanurate insulation; Double-glazed vinyl windows;
The entire house achieved 4.1 ACH50 in the final blower door test;
Heat pump mini-split system and an energy recovery ventilator (ERV);
Electric 50-gallon heat-pump water heater;
High-efficiency LED sources and all appliances are Energy Star;
Sixteen (16) panels in the solar PV array, which is rated at 4 kW (DC).
Learn more about this project here:
ZNE-Case-Study-Homes-Volume-2-All-Electric
More about the project timeline and step-by-step
hereTemple City, CA