Case Study #6: Michael and Linda’s Dream Realized

During the 70's energy crisis, Michael got very interested in energy conservation and solar heating, eventually designing a few solar heating systems for friends. He had followed developments in that area since, so when he and Linda moved to Lincoln in 2014 and bought a house with great solar orientation but disastrous heating bills, they were ready.

The House When Purchased: Part Disaster, Part Jewel

Fifty years after it was built, this mid-sixties Deck House still had its original, criminally minimal, insulation in walls and

roof; lower-level windows were all single-pane; and both heat and hot water came from an old oil boiler. Arrrgh!

On the plus side, a prior owner had upgraded all upstairs windows. And the original architect situated the house facing nearly due south so the winter sun pours in through the many south-facing windows. Sunny January days are wonderful, no matter how cold outside!

First Step: Stop the Bleeding!

Michael and Linda’s first step was to increase the wall insulation as much as possible. In some areas, no change was practical; in others, they increased the insulation fivefold. They bumped the above-deck roof insulation from 2” of foam to 7-1/2”. They added substantial insulation underground outside the foundation walls and under the 2’ overhangs ringing the house. They also replaced 11 single-pane windows with triple-pane. Finally, they plugged accessible air leaks and installed cellular shades, completing the effort to greatly reduce wintertime heat loss.

Next: Electrify

The first steps to eliminate fossil fuel use were to replace the oil boiler with six minisplit heat pumps and then install solar panels. The energy efficiency improvements combined with the minisplits meant that their solar completely covered their electric bills. In the house, everything was electrified except for hot water and cooking.

In 2019 and 2023 they transitioned to electric cars. Michael was traveling a long distance for work and finally got fed up driving a gas-powered car. He chose a Chevy Bolt. While charging when away from home was tricky at first, in recent years that has gotten easier and the pace of change is increasing.

Most recently they installed an induction stove and a heat pump water heater. This nearly completes the banishment of fossil fuels from the household. (Their small fossil fuel supply reserved for powering an emergency generator in case of electrical outages will become unnecessary when they trade up to an EV capable of supplying power to the home.) All these extra loads pushed their needs past the capacity of the solar panels, so they buy 100% renewable electricity through Lincoln Green Energy Choice as needed.

The expenses were spread out over ten years and were greatly reduced by federal and state tax credits, rebates and low- or no-interest loans.

They are spending a lot less on energy and feel great about eliminating carbon emissions!

This case study was developed by CFREE (Carbon Free Residential - Everything Electric), a subcommittee of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee. CFREE provides guidance on how households can reduce use of fossil fuels and decrease greenhouse gas emissions to help Massachusetts meet statewide emissions limits set for 2030, 2040, and 2050. It also provides information about state and federal incentives that help reduce the cost of such changes. For guidance on such projects at your home, contact: Lincolngreencoach@gmail.com. For more information visit: lincolngreenenergy.org.