The second couple that we worked for also lived in a historic Leadville home.
The subdividers are creeping into Leadville, but until they actually pass through Lake County’s glacial Planning and Zoning process, many of the folks who actually live and work in Leadville will continue to buy fixer-uppers from the late 1800s.
Alas, in the 19th century, no one had yet invented insulation. Double-paned windows did not exist. Doors were sometimes built with gaps big enough to bring horses through.
So we literally did a top-to-bottom energy makeover, blowing cellulose in the attic and below the house–and into all the walls.
To get in the insulation into the walls, we drilled holes and then blew the insulation into the holes. This video shows how old homes can be retrofitted with cellulose–a surprisingly cost-effective remodeling strategy.
Cellulose is an insulating product made of recycled newspaper; the shredded paper is treated with boric acid, to make it resistant to fire and insects. Compared to the ever-popular fiberglass, it takes less energy to make, insulates slightly better and costs roughly the same. It also helps keep newspaper out of the waste stream.
Here’s a good explanation of the differences between fiberglass and cellulose.
But in any house, insulating is only half the batlle. Even with efficient walls, energy will still leak out of doors and windows. So we replaced all the windows with double-paned glass–and all the doors with efficient steel doors.
The couple reports that their home is much warmer this winter.
