A Clean and Green Award-Winning Remodel

The original structure of the Ray Residence in Arlington, Va. was constructed in 1944, with little thought put into the building envelope. The home was built on on a block foundation made of brick, did not have insulation, and had very few windows to allow for bright, natural light.

Homeowner and architect Todd Ray (of Studio Twenty Seven Architecture in Washington D.C.), set out to completely transform his home into an efficient, bright space, and went on to receive a Grand Award in the 2014 Remodeling Design Awards.

Ray had three priorities for his remodel (all of which he accomplished):

Retrofit the home to be LEED Platinum-certified
Revitalize a typical suburban home with modern amenities and sustainable retrofits
Reorient the house to optimize its sunny aspect

Remodeling's coverage of the project outlines how Ray resolved the existing home's structural impediments:

Ray kept the existing masonry core and added an addition on the top. Spray foam insulation was applied to the entire structure, acting as both insulation and sealant, minimizing air leaks.
The home’s mechanical system was also upgraded from a traditional gas boiler and forced-air cooling to a geothermal system, and water-saving low-flow and dual-flush products were installed.

Get an exclusive peek into the beautiful home in this video:

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