A Viridiant Home Energy Audit Success Story

A New Home, an Old House, and a Need for Comfort

At Viridiant, we’re passionate about helping homeowners transform their spaces into comfortable, energy-efficient homes. Through our comprehensive energy audits, we identify opportunities for improvements that not only reduce energy consumption but also enhance the overall quality of life.

In this success story, we follow Erik and Emily as they tackle comfort and efficiency in their older home with an energy audit completed by our team. Their experience highlights the significant benefits of energy upgrades — saving energy, improving comfort, and increasing home value.

Erik and Emily were excited by the charm of their older home, but concerned about potential inefficiencies. “We wanted to understand the heating and cooling systems and how they worked. Comfort was a top priority for us, knowing that uninsulated or leaky areas would create drafts.” They turned to Viridiant for a comprehensive home energy audit.

We revealed several areas in need of improvement, from sealing air leaks to optimizing HVAC systems. Key recommendations included:

Cleaning the dryer exhaust line and replacing the exterior damper
Replacing the air filter in the crawl space and completing the vapor barrier
Updating HVAC equipment and design to improve performance
Sealing and insulating attic doors, ducts, and other openings
Upgrading insulation in the attic and crawl space
Installing storm doors and improving weather stripping

With this detailed roadmap, Erik and Emily had clear guidance on how to make their home more comfortable and energy-efficient. They acted quickly, making significant improvements that had an immediate impact.

Insulation & Air Sealing: A Game-Changer for Comfort

One of the most effective upgrades was proper encapsulation of both the attic and crawl space. “We conditioned it with a vapor barrier and R-20 insulation. We used R-30 open-cell foam in the attic and made it part of the conditioned space. Now it’s comfortable year-round — before, it was unbearable in the summer and freezing in the winter.”

These upgrades also improved HVAC efficiency — the heat pumps and ductwork perform much better now that they are out of those extreme temperatures.

Additionally, they caulked around all the windows, added weather stripping to electrical outlets, and used spray foam on any open walls to seal air leaks. They even capped leaky chimneys and installed an electric fireplace in the living room for added warmth and ambiance.

Above: On the left, the unvented crawlspace pre-audit. On the right, the conditioned crawlspace.

Above: On the left, the attic pre-audit. On the right, the attic after renovations.

HVAC Overhaul: Fixing Inefficiencies & Improving Air Quality

Viridiant’s testing of the home’s ductwork revealed that the ducts in the damp, vented crawlspace leaked almost 30%.

Ultimately, Erik and Emily replaced both old HVAC systems with efficient inverter-driven heat pumps, adding MERV-13 filters at the air handlers for better air quality. They also installed a commercial-grade dehumidifier in the crawl space, complete with an air filter.

To further optimize air distribution, they replaced the ductwork for the downstairs unit, sealed old ducts, and added energy-efficient fans in key areas like the bedrooms and living room.

Sealing the Home’s Envelope: Doors & Weatherproofing

Erik and Emily installed three new insulated entry doors, two of which had new storm doors. These made a huge difference in keeping out cold air and bugs. Additional weather stripping was applied to the garage door to further seal the home’s envelope. Although the radon reading was low, they opted to install radon mitigation as a precaution.

Overcoming Challenges: The Value of Expert Guidance

Finding the right contractors was also key. Viridiant connected Erik and Emily with Comfort Squad, experts in efficient HVAC systems, to diagnose their failing heat pumps and replace them with new ones. We also introduced the couple to Foam Tech, who encapsulated the crawl space and attic.

“One big challenge was understanding what systems were in place and how they worked. Viridiant helped us figure out the ductwork, the inefficiencies, and the steps needed to fix everything.”

The Results: A More Comfortable, Efficient Home

The homeowners immediately felt the difference in their day-to-day living, saying:

“Before, the floors were freezing in winter, and we had to wear slippers. Now, the temperature is consistent throughout the house.”
“We have fewer bugs in the house, especially in the crawl space and attic!”
“The attic is now a heated/conditioned space, and we can actually store things up there.”

Pre and post-testing showed a dramatic reduction in air leakage – from the home as a whole and the ductwork. The new ductwork went from leaking 29% of the conditioned air to less than 2%, and whole home draftiness was cut in half with a 57% reduction. While they couldn’t quantify the full energy savings yet, they noted a significant shift in how they view energy use: “The improvements have completely changed how we think about energy efficiency.”

Would They Recommend a Viridiant Audit? Absolutely.

For Erik and Emily, this was an invaluable experience. “We learned so much about our home and what we could do to make it more comfortable and energy-efficient.”

Their advice to other homeowners? “Viridiant was the perfect partner for us. We recommend getting an energy audit and learning how you can improve your home’s efficiency and comfort.”

With Viridiant’s expertise, Erik and Emily transformed their home into a more comfortable, optimized, and functional space — and they couldn’t be more satisfied with the outcome.