ecoREMOD: The Energy House

The Ultimate Recycling Project

Neglected and in disrepair: that was the state of 608 Ridge Street when the City had to decide whether to condemn and demolish or purchase and rehab the house. Rather than sacrifice history, the City undertook an extensive renovation effort to bring the house – which stands on a prominent corner of a historic neighborhood –back from the brink. The challenge for the City and its partners was to preserve the home’s historic character, optimize energy and water efficiency, and incorporate real-world, economically viable strategies to do so. Each design and sourcing decision was contemplated with these goals in mind.

By the Numbers

1922 - Year built

1960's - Point at which the house was no longer owner-occupied

1981 Ridge Street Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places

1993 - Year in which nuisance and building code violations at 608 Ridge Street began

69 - Number of calls for service the Charlottesville Police Department received for the house in 2006 alone, 13 related to drug activity

7 - Arrests at the house in 2006, 4 related to drugs and alcohol

2007 - City of Charlottesville purchased the house

2009 - Renovations on the house began

30-50 - Percentage of projected energy savings

50 - Percentage of energy use expected to be supplied by solar power

ecoREMOD Highlights

• Made substantial upgrades to the heating and cooling systems with high efficiency heat pump; installed a combination dehumidifier and heat recovery ventilator
   
• Incorporated a range of practices that address indoor air quality, waste reduction and promote sustainable products
   
• Added critical insulation throughout the house, including “Air Krete” insulation which expands until all voids are filled;  ideal for the walls along the front porch where efforts were made not to disturb the original plaster
   
• Replaced lighting and plumbing fixtures with energy efficient and low-flow varieties, including a unique “sink positive” toilet
   
• Removed/weatherized/ reinstalled the majority of the original windows
   
• Refurbished and reused trim and doors around the house (One door now serves as a desk!)
   
• Reused and refinished the original wood floors; used FSC-certified wood for the new basement floors
   
• Installed a 550-gallon cistern under the front porch to harvest rainwater from the roof gutters to be used in landscaping and gardening
   
• Pursued a landscaping strategy based on native and drought tolerant species
   
• Selected locally sourced soapstone for kitchen counters Replaced old roof with a reflective Galvalume roof Installed programmable thermostat to control the temperature
   
• Incorporated (27) 215-watt solar modules on the roof for a total of 5,805 watts of electrical production with a battery backup system. The array will produce more than 7 million watt hours of electricity per year or about 585 kilowatt hours per month
   
• Installed a solar thermal system that will supply about 70-80% of domestic hot water needs annually for a family of 4-5