Simple, Low-cost and Low-tech Reduction of Heating & Cooling Demand – Pond Road Residence, Wellesley College – Wellesley, MA

Simple, Low-cost and Low-tech Reduction of Heating & Cooling Demand – Pond Road Residence, Wellesley College – Wellesley, MA

Working in 2011-2012 with Wellesley College to retrofit the 18th-century Pond Road Residence as an administrative residence and entertaining space, we used the simplest means possible to improve the sustainability of the house:

We installed four insulated walls and a door at the top of the attic stairs, closing the attic off from the rest of the house. The new walls and door prevent heated and cooled air from escaping to the unoccupied nearly full-height attic. While this is only one of a large number of energy efficiency and functional improvements made to the structure, it is important to highlight because it is a simple, low-cost, and low-technology measure that improves the sustainability of the Pond Road Residence.

Please see our main post on the Pond Road Residence Addition & Preservation for a complete project description.

Marie S.A. Sorensen worked on this project while a Designer at Ann Beha Architects.