Creative preservation makes this net-zero Victorian home a sustainable delight

With a combination of features like densely insulated walls, energy efficient historical reproduction windows, and a hybrid of preserved and new woodwork, the home has retained its strong connection to the past without compromising on beauty and modern accommodations. “The most satisfying thing about being in this house is that, even though it is an older home, it has a remarkable level of comfort,” says Herman. “No matter how hot or cold it gets outside, it is extremely comfortable for us in our retirement and, you know, older bones get sensitive to temperature.”

It was the “bones of the house,” says Marc Sloot, senior associate at SALA Architects, that guided his firm in the remodel of the home. “The house was a kind of modest Victorian. It wasn’t overly ornate,” Sloot observes. He looked in particular to its original features to show the way.