Green Extreme Homes, in partnership with Carl Franklin Homes, provided a gut-rehab to this 1953 suburban home in Garland, Texas. This became the nation’s first renovated home certified to the U.S. DOE Zero Energy Ready Home program.

The 60-year-old home outperforms most brand new homes, achieving a Home Energy Rating System score of 59, well below the typical new home HERS score of 100, along with $6,000 per year of expected annual energy cost savings compared to a new home built to the 2009 energy code.

Professionally installed, high-efficiency windows contribute significant energy savings.

Original hardwood oak flooring was one of the few things retained from the interior of the existing home.

An army of volunteers worked with Carl Franklin Homes and Green Extreme to renovate the 1,270-square-foot home, which went to a disabled veteran.

A balanced fresh air system provides filtered fresh air throughout the home. The outgoing exhaust air, and incoming fresh air, exchange heat for energy savings and improved comfort.

The original hardwood oak flooring was one of the few things retained from the interior of the renovated home.

An ultra-efficient enclosure is created by installing R-39 closed-cell spray foam at the ceiling and under the floor (5.5 inches), and R-22 closed-cell foam inside the existing wall framing (3.5 inches). This thermal blanket contributes to enhanced quiet and comfort as well as a whole-house draft barrier.

All of the appliances and plumbing are replaced with water-saving fixtures and high-efficiency appliances, including an ENERGY STAR-labeled clothes washer, dryer, refrigerator, and dishwasher.

After gutting the walls, a sprayer applies sealant to large cracks and seams and then fills the 2-by-4 walls with spray foam.

As the original drywall and flooring are removed, insulation voids in the walls, attic, and crawlspace are exposed. After repairing framing, spray foam is applied everywhere to help transform the home into a Zero Energy Ready Home.