Ep 11. Arlington Arts & Crafts | Underground Energy

This Old House season 34 episode 11, titled "Arlington Arts & Crafts | Underground Energy," features the team of experts as they continue to work on the renovation of a 1930s Arts and Crafts-style house in Arlington, Massachusetts. This episode focuses on the house's energy efficiency and infrastructure, specifically, the underground energy systems that were installed.

Host Kevin O'Connor and master electrician Scott Caron start off the episode by exploring the house's basement, where they inspect the new electrical panel and the new gas meter. They also discuss the installation of the home's underground electric lines, which were buried deep enough to ensure that they would not be disturbed by any future landscaping projects.

Next, Kevin visits a nearby utility facility, where he learns about the process of installing the underground gas line that will provide heat to the house. Back at the job site, Kevin meets with HVAC contractor Dave Bessette to discuss the home's new geothermal heating and cooling system. Dave explains how the system works, which involves using the constant temperature of the earth as a source of heat in the winter and a heat sink in the summer, making it an incredibly energy-efficient option.

Kevin then meets with Jim Anderson, the general manager of the Arlington County Municipal Light Plant, to learn about the town's efforts to improve energy efficiency. Jim explains how the municipality is working to increase the usage of renewable energy sources and offers advice on how homeowners can reduce their energy bills.

Moving upstairs, Kevin meets with homeowner Emily and architect Tamara Gorodetzky to discuss the progress of the restoration of the home's original woodwork and the installation of energy-efficient windows. The team went to great lengths to ensure that the windows looked as close to the original windows as possible, with matching mullions and wood details.

Meanwhile, general contractor Tom Silva and carpenter Nathan Gilbert are outside working on the home's new porch, which was designed to be more in keeping with the Arts and Crafts style of the home. Tom and Nathan demonstrate how they constructed the porch's columns, which were made using a combination of modern and traditional techniques.

As the episode comes to a close, Kevin meets with Tom and the home's landscape designer, Jenn Nawada, to discuss the installation of the underground rainwater harvesting system. Jenn explains how rainwater from the roof will be collected and stored in an underground tank, which can then be used for irrigation and other purposes.

Overall, "Arlington Arts & Crafts | Underground Energy" is an informative and practical episode that offers homeowners inspiration and advice on how they can make their homes more energy-efficient while also staying true to their unique architectural styles.