VERY low energy efficent home.. geothermal?

[synaptech]

I know most people go right for the windows, but a 150 year old home will have far more heat loss issues than the windows -- plus changing original wood with plastic is a crime. Tighten the envelope and put the money into the geothermal and/or high efficiency furnace. Also, is your house double brick? If so, then I would argue that gutting lathe and plaster to insulate would be foolish. Seal up the cracks with a case of caulk and if you really want to insulate then investigate having it blown into your walls. The attic insulation can't be avoided, but perhaps it could also be blown in.

Odds are you can't make it as efficient as newer homes, but spend the money on the areas that will offer the most return on investment and quality of life. At this point, even with new windows, you will still be cold and cutting wood. I would invest in the geo/furnace first, then insulate the attic, then caulk.

Also be aware that isulating the headers in the basement may not be apprived for your house. I have to look that link up.

[ecobuilder]

Short response:

Bsmt. should be insulated, preferably and properly with rigid foam.

Attic insulated to R50 with blown in cellulose if possible.

Windows are a good choice to do if properly planned. i.e. frame material (fibreglass), triple glazing if possible and, proper placement of coatings (low e) and fill (argon or krypton gas).

House needs to be sealed up tight.

There are good efficient wood pellet stoves available if a wood burner is still wanted.

Geothermal is an excellent system if properly planned. This is extremely important. Not just the size and condition of house but the ground as well. Is there gravel/rock/voids/water below the surface?

HE furnaces seem to be the defacto standard when upgrading a heating system and they are good; reliable, common thus easy to install, but there are better ways to go.

Geothermal combined with solar hot water(if sun is abundant) and an HRV would be an ideal system.

PM me if you would like more info.

Building eco-efficient homes for 14 years.

[Vladimir]

I know most people go right for the windows, but a 150 year old home will have far more heat loss issues than the windows -- plus changing original wood with plastic is a crime. Tighten the envelope and put the money into the geothermal and/or high efficiency furnace. Also, is your house double brick? If so, then I would argue that gutting lathe and plaster to insulate would be foolish. Seal up the cracks with a case of caulk and if you really want to insulate then investigate having it blown into your walls. The attic insulation can't be avoided, but perhaps it could also be blown in.

You are right, it is a double bricked. A guy came out last week to take a look around, he said most of the basement doesn't really need to be insulated because the wall is so thick. They said they would recommend putting some caulking or something along the top edges.
My parents did add on a kitchen to the house about 10 years ago, which meant expanding the basement, and he said the new part insulation has to be redone. He also said that if we do the geothermal, we could easily install heated floors into the kitchen.

My grandfather put in some insulation in the attic about 40 years ago it looks like some sort of wool type insulation thing.. forget what he called it.. but the guy said it would have been ok 30 years ago but this kind disintegrates after a while. He said he would put in (I believe) R48, the stuff in there right now would be equivalent to R16.


Anyways, my father signed the papers for the install on the weekend, so he is going through with it. He said for sure he is going to insulate the new part of the basement, as well as the attic, and probably replace a few windows. He won't bother replacing the furnace with a HE one until it is burnt out.

Geothermal is an excellent system if properly planned. This is extremely important. Not just the size and condition of house but the ground as well. Is there gravel/rock/voids/water below the surface?

Nope, but the soil has a lot of clay
And not sure if cellulose would be possible with the attic


Thanks everyone for the info. I passed a lot of it onto my father and he was grateful.