ENERGY & EFFICIENCY
Danan and Manisha’s home is a major remodel that used “passive house” strategies, which reduced their winter heating to a third of what it was prior. The temperature and humidity became very uniform throughout the house, and the heating energy use per square foot is 1/10 the typical CA home.

• Battery Storage (DIY with Enphase Online Training): Enphase Ensemble Smart Automatic transfer switch and 10kWh LiFePo battery system.

• Rooftop Solar: 2.34 kW Enphase-Microinverter based system - provides 50% of house's needs.

• Passive winter solar heating / Summer shading: southern facing surfaces have extensive shaded glazing to maximize winter solar heating with overhangs designed to minimize summer heating.

• Air Sealing: Continuous vapor permeable air barrier applied to reduce air leakage to 1.0 ACH50 (achieves Passive House Retrofit level).

• Insulation: Dense packed cellulose throughout walls. Roof insulation is a combination of polyiso rigid boards and blown in cellulose.

• Heat Recovery Ventilation System: Zehnder Q450 HRV that replaces house air every 3 hours with 90% heat recovery efficiency. Additional intake pre-filter for exterior smoke removal.

ELECTRIFICATION

• HVAC: Ducted heat pump, Fujitsu Inverter heat pump

• Heat Pump Water Heater & Load Shifting Incentive Program: Rheem ProTerra 15A

• Early adopter of EBCE Watter Saver Load Shifting program

• Heat Pump Clothes Dryer by Miele

• EV Charger & Load Shifting Incentive Program: Enel-X Juicebox + JuicePoints program

• Induction Range: Frigidaire Gallery induction cooktop. Induction Cookware for Indian Cuisine from shop on University Avenue.

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

• Reclaimed Sequoia topping Kitchen Island: Wood slab from Ponderosa Millworks in Oakland. Finished by owner.

• Ethanol-burning fireplace: Not needed for heating, but for ambiance. Can be used as a backup heat source in case of a winter heating outage.

• Cork Flooring: Carbon negative Amorim cork flooring over concrete slab.

• Reused existing bamboo floors and cabinetry.