Already knee-deep in a full-on green renovation of their new digs at 335 Maplewood Avenue in Portsmouth, the crew at Petersen Engineering are keeping the public updated on their progress through a new, regularly updated blog.

Ryan Lacey, who came to Petersen as an intern in June 2007 before moving to full-time status with the company a few months later, will be spearheading the blog, which already includes plenty of photographs detailing the incredible project.

According to James Petersen, renovation of the new space will include a dual focus: preservation and sustainability. “We want the building to retain its historic charm and not be compromised in any significant way,” says Petersen. “And we don’t feel we have to compromise that goal in light of the greater goal, which is to make the building as sustainable as possible.”

Specifically, Petersen cites the pressing need for significant repair work on the surface, or envelope of the building. This includes everything from the roof to the outdated windows and siding. Petersen estimates that, by installing a continuous layer of insulation between the building frame and the clapboards – either in the form of spray-foam or board stock insulation – energy costs could be reduced up to 75 percent. Not bad for a building beginning its third century of use. Other ideas for improving the building include: replacing and tightening up the windows, lengthening the roof’s overhang to stop water from running down the building and damaging the siding, putting a floor over the dirt basement to prevent mold, and updating the entirety of the building’s energy system to make it more efficient at its core. 

To get a firsthand look of how even old New England homes can be rendered green, check out the blog by clicking here!