Designed for Efficiency
The homeowners were ready to remodel when they purchased this weathered house in the St. Anthony neighborhood of St. Paul. The older home, built in 1907, was a close distance to Minneapolis and St. Paul, a plus for the homeowners, but it did’nt include the energy efficient design features that were equally as important to them.
The home’s orange linoleum kitchen counters were a far cry from ideal too. The homeowners wanted to update the look of the space and improve the home’s energy consumption, so they called Morrissey Builders, LLC to get the job done.
Morrissey’s green build initiative expert, Josh Crenshaw, sought to save as much of the home during the remodel as possible. The home’s exterior walls were removed and rebuilt to higher performance standards. The walls and ceilings were sprayed with open-cell foam and weather-resistant James Hardie siding to give a continuous R-value to the new home.
Morrissey also increased the home’s square footage and reduced air infiltration by at least 70 percent. Greenstar appliances were added to the interior and integrity windows were installed to increase efficiency.
Natural lighting is emphasized in the interior of the home. Outdoor lighting shines brightly through the windows as well as the home’s unique staircase, which features open bookshelves and see-through panels inlaid with real tree branches.
Custom maple cabinetry is used throughout. Green features include bamboo flooring, LED lights, HRV system to improve indoor air quality, low VLC paint finishes and, most impressive, a 6.3 kilowatt photovoltaic system to help reduce energy costs.
The home boasts three bedrooms upstairs and a room for expansion downstairs, as well as 2.5 baths and a rough-in in the basement.
The homeowners now enjoy energy savings every month, and heating and cooling bills that are extremely consistent. More than anything, however, these homeowners are stewards of energy consumption in their dream home, and Morrissey Builders made it all possible.
Tour this home during the Spring 2015 Remodelers Showcase (#R46)