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Energy Retrofit

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Job Site Diaries

Texas Deep-Energy Retrofit Remodel

Builder Matt Risinger tours an Austin home that's getting upgrades to insulation, HVAC systems, doors, and more.

By Matt Risinger

A deep energy retrofit in Texas demands a very different strategy than what you would do for a Northern US house.  We seem to be air conditioning our houses 10 months of the year, and most of the summer the outdoor temp doesn’t go below 80 degrees even at night.  Couple that with no basements (lots of rock here in Texas, plus we don’t need to dig below frost lines) and you’ll find lots of leaky mechanical systems in hot/humid attics.  In this video I’ll show you how we took a 1950’s Austin, TX house and remodeled it to be twice as efficient as a standard code built new home.  Our projected HERS score on this project is 48, and that’s without any renewables.  We had a great collaboration with Dick Clark Architecture on this project. Enjoy the video.

– Matt Risinger Principal of Risinger Homes in Austin TX.  

A general contractor engaged in Architect driven New Homes and Whole House Remodels with a focus on Craftsmanship, Efficiency, Indoor Air Quality, and Comfort.  

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Previous: Tackling an Energy Remodel in New Hampshire Next: Retrofitting One Wall at a Time

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Energy Efficiency
  • Understanding Energy Efficiency
  • Net-Zero & Passive Houses
HVAC Systems and Water Heaters
  • Heating and Cooling Systems
  • Ventilation and Dehumidification for Good Air Quality
  • Water Heaters
  • Heat Pump HVAC
  • Minisplits
Air-Sealing and Insulation
  • Air-Sealing
  • Insulation
Solar Power and Electrification
  • Solar Power
  • Energy Storage Options
  • All-Electric Homes
Deep Energy Retrofits
  • Deep Energy Retrofits 101
  • Featured Deep Energy Retrofits
Energy-Efficient Houses
  • Energy-Efficient Houses

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