A Historic Home

Goes Net-Zero-Energy

In retrofitting their

110-year-old Victorian, Matt and Kelly Grocoff offer a model for restoring the nation’s existing houses.

courtesy of matthew grocoff, greenovation.tv
Kelly and matt grocoff bought their
circa 1901 ann arbor, mich., home
in 2006. for most of the 1900s,
the family of Philip and elizabeth gauss
lived in the house.

Philip and elizabeth gauss at the
ann arbor, mich., house circa 1913.
their daughter gert, who was born
in the front parlor in 1920, sold the
house to the grocoffs.

By MaTTHEW GROCOFF

It is essential that new houses be constructed to produce as much energy as they use. But how much would we reduce our carbon output if, in coming years, we did so but ignored existing homes? The answer is zero. Of the 130 million existing U.S. homes, the nearly half having inadequate insulation are responsible for 22 percent of our carbon emissions. Yet virtually all of the net-zero-energy homes in the United States — fewer than 100 — are new construction or major gut renovations. What will it take to address existing houses immediately and affordably?

In 2006, my wife, Kelly, and I found our dream come true in the Old West Side Historic District of Ann Arbor, Mich.: a circa 1901 folk-Victorian

matthew grocoff is a producer and host of greenovation.tV, contributor to the environment report on public radio ( environmentreport.org), the green renovation expert for Old house Web ( oldhouseweb.com), a frequent lecturer and has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, Detroit Free Press, NBc detroit and

home with lead paint, asbestos siding, a 40 percent-efficient 1957 Mueller Climatrol gas furnace and a gas-powered lawn mower out in the shed. Other buyers saw a nightmare. We saw a rock-solid Edwardian-period home, within walking distance of everything we need, with a 180-degree, south-facing roof with a 45-degree pitch. Developing its potential, we knew, could be an inspiration, an urgent calling and a model for not only preserving history, but also protecting our future.

When we purchased our home, I had already started Greenovation. TV, a multimedia website intended to educate others about how to make existing homes sustainable. So, from the start, net-zero was a goal for our new home. I was inspired by Ray Anderson, CEO of carpet-maker Interface Inc. Anderson set a Mission Zero goal to transform his multinational ➢

countless online magazines and blogs. USA Today recently honored the grocoffs’ home as one of the top green houses of 2010. check out greenovation.tV for instructional videos and information about grocoff’s house restoration.