Strawberry Hill
The goals for this project were to improve functionality, increase energy efficiency, enhance comfort and safety, lower the operating costs, and extend the life of this house constructed in 1976 on Cape Cod, MA. The strategies INTEGRATA employed focused on the building envelope design, specifically, proper insulation and air sealing and a new high efficiency mechanical system. Spray foam and rigid foam insulation was installed exceeding minimum building code requirements. The exterior wall design controls the movement of rainwater away from the building's wood frame and ensures a dry interior and longevity of exterior cladding materials. The result of this building envelope design was a nearly air-tight building shell. A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) was installed to provide fresh air while exhausting stale indoor air, and maintain a healthy level of air changes per hour (ACH). The 1976 gas furnace and 12-year-old hot water heater were replaced with a new 96% efficient gas boiler and indirect fired hot water heater. A hydronic radiant floor was installed in all new and renovated rooms which requires a lower boiler water temperature than other mechanical heating systems and is more cost effective to operate. The old air handlers and air conditioning condenser were replaced with new and more energy efficient units. Despite the additional area that was added to the home, the operating costs are substantially lower than before and the interior environment is noticeably more comfortable throughout the year.
Country: United States