Post Author's Photographer By Paul Cutting October 31, 2025

On Saturday, October 18 homeowner Eric Baack welcomed community members to his Ridge Road home to showcase a decade-long journey of energy upgrades—some visible, some less obvious, but all adding up to a meaningful impact. 

Eric began with insulation improvements, adding rigid roof insulation and spray foam to the exposed concrete foundation walls to significantly reduce heat loss. He installed a 4 kW solar array back in 2011, laying the groundwork for future electrification. More recently, he replaced his water heater with a heat pump version and swapped his aging gas furnace for a cold-climate heat pump, allowing him to disconnect his gas service entirely. Backup heat now comes from electric baseboards and an electric element built into the new heat pump air handler.

Eric shared detailed energy performance and cost data from the past year. Overall annual energy costs are higher by around $200, even though the home now uses about 59% of the energy it did before the upgrades. Heating with a heat pump in very cold weather does cost more than heating with gas did, but summer cooling is now significantly more efficient and less expensive. Eliminating the monthly gas service fee helps offset part of the increase, and the heat pump water heater has also taken the place of a separate basement dehumidifier.

For attendees, one of the most valuable takeaways was seeing how incremental steps can add up. Eric didn’t undertake a full renovation or build new—he improved what he had, phased upgrades over time, and made strategic choices guided by goals. His home demonstrates a replicable model for other Decorah-area homeowners- start with insulation and air sealing, electrify space and water heating when equipment is due for replacement, and perhaps incorporate solar. Each step builds on the next, reducing energy demand while maintaining a comfortable and efficient home.

 


Winneshiek Energy District Energy Planner Paul joins Winneshiek Energy District with a background in teaching and carpentry. For the last seven years Paul was a high school industrial tech teacher in Lanesboro, MN. There he taught carpentry, cabinetmaking, electricity, engineering design, graphic design, CAD, entrepreneurship, and more generally, enjoyed helping youngsters grow into capable and confident young adults. Prior to teaching, Paul spent several years as a carpenter disassembling and reconstructing 19th century Norwegian-built log buildings for clients. He also worked several seasons for HistoriCorps, a non-profit that pairs volunteers with hands-on historic preservation projects throughout the mountain west. In his free time Paul enjoys making furniture, trail running with his dog Bobo, scheming backpacking trips out west, camping in his homemade teardrop camper, and rehabbing his 170 year old brick house.

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