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This home in an Oak Park historic district needed extensive maintenance and updating.

The owners requested a gut renovation and wanted to be as energy efficient as possible. We embraced the idea of an all-electric, net zero home by way of Phius certification, knowing it would require sensitivity to the historic character of the exterior and thorough study of building science issues.

While the exterior maintained its character-defining elements, the interior was modernized to fit the contemporary family’s lifestyle, with an updated plan, new indoor-outdoor connections, flexible rooms for work-at-home, gym, and guest functions, and new mechanicals and services. The insulation, airtightness, and mechanical systems were upgraded to Phius levels, and a solar PV array was added to meet annual net zero energy performance (the home is Phius Source Zero Certified). With minimal upfront energy expenditure, the home’s operational carbon was reduced by 100%, and the house is a delightful place for the young family to grow into.