Raising a Green Roof

Homeowner and carpenter Jeff Wilson is doing a Deep Energy Retrofit (DER) of his 70-year-old home with the ultimate goal of cutting his energy bill to zero.

That meant retrofitting the existing roof and boosting insulation to reduce the family's cooling costs by up to 17 percent. Plus, by applying new spray-foam insulation, radiant sheathing and eco-smart roofing on top of the existing surface, Jeff didn't fill any dumpsters in the process.

Jeff needed a bigger, more energy efficient roof to connect with a new addition. I-joists (beams made of engineered wood) were nailed into the existing roof to raise the roof angle of the entire back of the house to create a flatter surface to support solar panels.

The "higher" roof created by the I-joists also would allow for a 13-foot ceiling on the addition's second level.

Jeff used Louisiana Pacific engineered lumber, which has a 50-year warranty and is made from small-diameter, fast-regenerating trees. It's much better than using wood from a large tree, plus its bonding elements contain no formaldehyde.