Energy Audit, Cleanup, Gut and Gumbo

Before we really got started on the design portion of the house, before we really figured out how everything was going to work, the entire house needed to be gutted. In addition to that, since we were basically going to be renovating the whole house, I figured that we should get an energy audit done in order to see the reduction in airflow (thus energy leakage) from the house, as well as take advantage of some of the incentives that the state of Louisiana has for energy efficiency improvements.

Information on the Louisiana HERO Program is available at:

http://www.empowerlouisiana.org/HeroProgram.aspx

Initially, the energy audit is a little expensive (about $500) with another fee for the finished audit. However, with the potential of receiving a $2-3000 rebate after the improvements are done, it seems to be well worth the investment.

This is what the equipment looks like, a blower door, which tests air infiltration (and exfiltration). Essentially, the fan at the bottom blows air to the outside, depressurizing the house, and accentuating air leaks from windows, outlets, floors, trim, etc. If an air leak is particularly prominent, you can go around and feel the surfaces of rooms to see where the holes are. More likely than not, you will be able to feel a little breeze of air coming from these surfaces. You can also use an artificial smoke wand to see the flow of the air. In addition to the fan, sensors attached to the fan and the outside ambient air detect and measure the pressure differences, and also calculates the CFM (cubic feet per minute) being expelled. Multiply that number by 60 (60min. in an hour), then divide this number by the volume of the house to get the ACH, or Air Changes per Hour. The higher the ACH for your house, the leakier your house is. (Disclaimer: I'm no "scientician" so make sure you talk to a professional energy auditor about efficiency strategies or improvements)

Now comes the smashy-smashy part. Remember what I said about rotten, termite infested, moldy stuff? Yeah, all that stuff needed to go. I love recycling, and try to salvage everything, but a termite eaten piece of wood is better used as more nature food in the dump. Ah, the circle of life.

I did a lot of house gutting work after the storm, so I know the drill. However, it's still tough work, and it takes a little time unless you have a good bunch of folk doing some assembly line type work. I didn't really want to hire anybody to work with me, and I didn't want to bring in volunteers, because they have more important work to do. So, I proposed a happy middle ground, or neutral ground: The Gut and Gumbo Party.

Simple proposition: Get your friends together to help gut the house, and after they finish, feed them gumbo and beer. Plus, I thought it was a clever jibe at the much ballyhooed cultural invention of the short lived, fictional, and sensational series, "K-Ville" (See Gumbo Party). Oh K-Ville, you are sorely sort of missed. (woot, Treme)

And so, a new New Orleans building tradition was born. Here is some of the gumbo (and jambalaya) that was served. I'm not the culinary master, this gumbo and jambalaya was provided by the ever-delicious Crescent Pie and Sausage Company.

http://www.crescentpieandsausage.com/

I wish I had pictures of everyone after both the long day of work and the food. For future reference, a designated post Gut and Gumbo nap is highly recommended.