This Old House Hour Season 17 Episode 2 Net Zero From the Ground Up; Window Repair

This Old House Hour is back with an all-new season and an all-new set of challenges. In the second episode of season 17, titled "Net Zero From the Ground Up; Window Repair," we catch up with the team as they take on a new project with an ambitious goal. This season, the team is tasked with building a house that is completely energy self-sufficient, or "net zero." This means that all the energy the home consumes must be generated on site, through methods like solar panels and geothermal heating.

In this episode, the focus is on the bones of the house: the foundation and the windows. The team starts by excavating the site, digging out the footings that will support the foundation. But this isn't just any foundation – it's an insulated concrete form (ICF) foundation, which means that it's made of stacked foam blocks that are then filled with concrete. This type of foundation is incredibly energy-efficient, as it provides a continuous layer of insulation around the entire perimeter of the house.

Once the foundation is in place, it's time to tackle the windows. This is no small feat, as the house has over 50 windows of varying shapes and sizes. Many of the windows are historic and cannot be replaced, so the team must do their best to repair and restore them to their former glory. To do this, they remove the windows from their frames and take them to a local woodworking shop, where they are stripped down to their bare parts. The team then painstakingly repairs each individual piece – from the sashes to the glazing to the weatherstripping – before reassembling the windows and reinstalling them back in the frames.

Of course, no renovation project would be complete without a few surprises. As the team removes the windows, they discover some unexpected damage to the framing around one of the windows. This requires them to do some on-the-spot improvisation, as they figure out how to rebuild the damaged area while still maintaining the historic integrity of the home.

Throughout the episode, the team also discusses various energy-efficient features that will be incorporated into the house. These include a geothermal heating and cooling system, a rainwater collection system, and energy-efficient appliances and lighting. They even install a "green roof," which is covered in plants and helps to insulate the house while also providing a habitat for wildlife.

Overall, this episode of This Old House Hour gives viewers a glimpse into the complexities of building a net zero home, from the foundation to the windows to the energy systems. It also showcases the meticulous attention to detail that is required to restore historic windows, and the creativity and problem-solving skills that are necessary when unexpected challenges arise. Whether you're a homeowner, a history buff, or an energy efficiency enthusiast, this episode is sure to give you some valuable insights and inspiration.