Glastonbury Housesmith built this 4,288-square-foot home in South Glastonbury, Connecticut, to the performance criteria of the U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program.
A 13.8-kW array of solar electric panels is mounted on a steel pole near the home. The array is motorized with dual-axis rotation to track the sun, maximizing electrical power generation so it can produce enough electricity to meet all the energy needs of the home plus an electric car.
The ultra-efficient foundation insulation system includes 10-inch-thick concrete foundation walls with a 4-inch layer of rigid XPS foam (R-20) sandwiched between two layers of concrete and 5 inches of FOAMGLAS (R-17) underneath the slab.
The continuous basement thermal blanket employs 4-inch-thick rigid foam insulation (R-20) sandwiched between two layers of concrete.
The home's 2-by-6, 16-inch on-center framed walls use energy-saving advanced framing techniques such as open corners, ladder blocking at interior wall intersections, and open headers to provide more room for insulation.
After sealing all top plate and bottom plate joints, the builder filled the wall cavities with 5.5 inches of blown fiberglass, then installed coated sheathing on the exterior with the joints taped for added air sealing. He installed 2.75 inches of rigid mineral wool insulation over this to form a continuous exterior thermal blanket around the house for a total R-35 wall insulation value. All rim joists were insulated with spray foam.
The high-efficiency attic insulation includes 5 inches of closed-cell spray foam on the underside of the roof deck plus 6.5 inches of blown fiberglass covered with sheetrock as a firebreak for a total R-58 roof assembly insulation value.
The whole-house fresh air system in this draft-free home uses a continuously running energy recovery ventilator (ERV) tied into the ground source heat pump's air handler. The air is pulled in through a high-capture filter (MERV 13).
The comprehensive draft protection system includes sheathing laminated with a weather barrier and taped at all seams.
The home's high-performance wall system includes advanced framed walls, sheathing that has a laminated weather barrier and is taped at the seams, 2.75 inches of rigid mineral wool insulation, vertical strapping to ensure drainage, and fiber cement siding.

Hickory Drive

South Glastonbury, CT

4,288 sqft

4 Beds

4.0 Baths

2 Floors Above Grade

Custom

Cold

With PV

-23HERS (PV)

$155Average Monthly Energy Bill (PV)

$7,000Annual Energy Cost Savings (PV)

$300,00030 Year Savings (PV)

Glastonbury Housesmith

Profile

ZERO

2015

Winner

Housing Innovation Award

Learn More

Key Features

All-electric home Cold-climate heat pump Energy / Heat recovery ventilator Electric Vehicle Charger Installed or Wired for Charger Ground source heat pump Heat pump water heater Photovoltaics Triple-pane windows Unvented insulated attic ACH 50 < 2.5 or CFM50/SF of enclosure ≤ 0.25 Hot Water Recirculation Pump

Additional Details

Basement

Read the Case Study

(PDF Download)

Testimonials

Home owner (or occupant) Testimony

I wanted to do something that was right for the world I was leaving to my kids and my grandkids. When we first saw this property … the whole environment felt right. That’s how I feel when I walk into this house; it was designed well, was built well … it just feels really good and comfortable and right.

Testimony Citation

Homeowner

Additional Media

Under Construction

The ultra-efficient foundation insulation system includes 10-inch-thick concrete foundation walls with a 4-inch layer of rigid XPS foam (R-20) sandwiched between two layers of concrete and 5 inches of FOAMGLAS (R-17) underneath the slab.
The continuous basement thermal blanket employs 4-inch-thick rigid foam insulation (R-20) sandwiched between two layers of concrete.
The home's 2-by-6, 16-inch on-center framed walls use energy-saving advanced framing techniques such as open corners, ladder blocking at interior wall intersections, and open headers to provide more room for insulation.
After sealing all top plate and bottom plate joints, the builder filled the wall cavities with 5.5 inches of blown fiberglass, then installed coated sheathing on the exterior with the joints taped for added air sealing. He installed 2.75 inches of rigid mineral wool insulation over this to form a continuous exterior thermal blanket around the house for a total R-35 wall insulation value. All rim joists were insulated with spray foam.
The high-efficiency attic insulation includes 5 inches of closed-cell spray foam on the underside of the roof deck plus 6.5 inches of blown fiberglass covered with sheetrock as a firebreak for a total R-58 roof assembly insulation value.
The comprehensive draft protection system includes sheathing laminated with a weather barrier and taped at all seams.
The home's high-performance wall system includes advanced framed walls, sheathing that has a laminated weather barrier and is taped at the seams, 2.75 inches of rigid mineral wool insulation, vertical strapping to ensure drainage, and fiber cement siding.

Other Images

A 13.8-kW array of solar electric panels is mounted on a steel pole near the home. The array is motorized with dual-axis rotation to track the sun, maximizing electrical power generation so it can produce enough electricity to meet all the energy needs of the home plus an electric car.
The whole-house fresh air system in this draft-free home uses a continuously running energy recovery ventilator (ERV) tied into the ground source heat pump's air handler. The air is pulled in through a high-capture filter (MERV 13).

Hickory Drive

Hickory Drive

With PV

Glastonbury Housesmith

ZERO

Learn More

Key Features

Additional Details

Read the Case Study

Testimonials

Additional Media

Under Construction

Other Images

Floor Plan