I have an ADU on my property that is an upstairs Studio above our “two-car” garage (I quoted it, because there is one car bay, and the other bay is for workshop space – it’s pretty sweet!) We offer the ADU space as an AirBnB property (https://airbnb.com/h/spring-road-durango), as it is completely detached from the main house, has it’s own parking spot, entrance, and heat/water/etc. so it is perfect for a couple exploring all that is awesome about Southwestern Colorado.

But…while it was built in only 2013, it has its issues – most notably heating and cooling, and windows. Now that we have 4.8kW of solar on the house, I have transitioned it’s propane heat completely to electric, by way of an 8-ft electric baseboard and a brand new electric fireplace – it’s pretty slick and tenants have had no problem keeping it warm and comfortable. There is no supplied cooling, and it does get hot up there. There is no attic, so I have no idea the quality of insulation in the roof, but the windows are pretty large, and likely pretty cheap. I wish I could upgrade the insulation without gutting the entire interior, but it seems like replacing the windows could be a big step. I also know that there is no way the building envelope is all that tight, since it was built as a garage first, and then the upper floor remodeled into what it is today.

Anyway – every day is a new adventure! Thanks for the informative article!