The Heartland Renewable Energy Society (HRES) is sponsoring the tour to showcase insulation techniques.
When Jesse and Lauren Crupper bought their Volker Neighborhood craftsman-style house nearly a year ago, they knew it was going to require extensive work. The house had been unoccupied for a few years, had structural problems and serious damage from two-dozen cats that lived there before they bought it. For most homeowners this would be a disaster, but the Cruppers saw it as an opportunity to make a century-old home really energy efficient.
The couple is doing most of the work themselves with the help of family and friends. Jesse is a LEED-certified architect with DRAW Architecture + Urban Design and specializes in sustainable design. Lauren works for Cerner, and they have two pre-school age daughters.
The owners used foam board to insulate exterior walls.
The 3,000-square-foot house has been gutted and is in the pre-drywall stage. The insulation is exposed, making it easy to see the insulating techniques used. The primary insulation is second-hand foam board acquired from an insurance re-roof job. The homeowners cut and installed it between the stud cavities. Spray foam was then applied to all of the seams to create an air barrier. Similar methods were used in the ceilings and floors.
The owners will also install a 5.6 kW solar system to offset some of their electrical needs. They are also planning a zero-water runoff garden and lawn.
The HRES tour is free from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, March 5 at 3751 Wyoming St., Kansas City, MO. Find more information at HRES. Mike O’Connell with The Hayes Company will be available during the tour to explain residential insulation and energy efficiency options. He can be reached at [email protected].