This will be a thread for collecting information and advice re: ecorenovating my house. It is a 1948 ranch-style wood-framed, raised foundation wood siding unit. It needs love and attention, and it is horribly inefficient.
In planning, I am keeping in mind our plans to expand the house upward one floor, yielding about 2000 sqft total, an ocean view, and more sunlight for fun and for better active and passive solar power.
First up is insulation and the replacement of the deceased gas heating furnace.
Per advice here at EcoRenovator, for the furnace replacement I am looking at air source heat pumps, planning with an eye to the larger 2000 sqft house it will eventually serve. I have a specialist coming out to the house on Tuesday to advise. I'm not committing. I'm just learning. I like how ASHPs can cool and heat and work with existing ducts. This house has never had AC, and though it is only needed rarely, I'd like to have it as a comfort and as a selling point one day.
But first up is insulation, also per advice here at ER. The house has none. I am completely inexperienced but willing to learn. For the walls I was considering blown insulation because I can't be breaking open walls with my family in the house
... but I read a little about problems with moisture and creating termite havens. Not good. I'll seal-up the house better and insulate the roof, floors, and ducts. For floor and roof insulation I could use advice on types, R-values, equipment, and then also for non-blown insulation for the under-house crawl space. [EDIT: I modified the point about blown insulation; I just read about some of the problems.]
All responses welcomed, and I'll update as I got forward this summer/fall.
Thx!