ARK Contractors

This Zero Energy finalist home located in Oakdale, CT is also the Builders Association of Eastern CT Green Showcase Home of the year. The Greenbrier model home is the first in the Northeast and Connecticut and the second in the USA to be awarded the Emerald level of Certification by NAHB. The home has received certification as a DOE Build America prototype and an ENERGY STAR® certified home.

Building Science recommends a formula of 5,10,20,40,60; R-5 triple glazed Harvey windows, R-10 under the slab, R-20 basement walls, R-40 exterior walls and an R-60 roof. The resulting systems designed residence concentrates first on the enclosure and second on mechanical systems. Anchor insulation used a variety of materials in order to attain the highest R-values with the least financial strain - attainable and sustainable. A high performance healthy home uses only a small amount of energy. M&W Sheetmetal designed the 2800 sq ft home so it can be heated on the coldest day using less than 30,000 btu of energy and can be cooled using only 1.5 tons of AC.

A major portion of the insulation is attached outside of the frame to reduce thermal bridging and moisture build up in the wall cavity. Hunter Panel (Portland, ME), supplied a 5.5" Cool Vent Polyiso roof panel that provides for air circulation above the insulation and below the roof. The exterior wall system includes 3" of foil faced and sealed Polyiso and a 1" air chamber between the Hardplank siding and the insulation.

Norwich Overhead Door installed eco-insulated garage doors. Stock supplied the ENERGY STAR® Therma-tru™ exterior doors and UBS supplied MoistureShield® decking and the Mohawk engineered oak hardwood floor. Osterman Gas supplied the Rinnai boiler and Empire direct vent condensing fireplace. Moffit painting used Benjamin Moore® Eco Spec® paint and The Kitchen Guy supplied KraftMaid® cabinets and granite counters.

Waldo Renewable will be installing a 10 kW PV system.

Sticking to our goal of attainable and sustainable, we have determined that the HVAC system with the fastest payback and most efficient back up is the Hybrid Air Source Heat Pump. Like a hybrid car, electric is used to generate heat down to 40° F when a 98% efficient, fully modulating, gas fired direct vent furnace will kick in to supplement the heat pump. Hot water is supplied by a wall hung, direct vent, instant on gas boiler.

Eastern CT Flooring provided the eco bath floor tiles. Budnick plumbing installed a manifold home run water distribution system and Brite Way Electric installed the ENERGY STAR® Fixtures supplied by Major Electric. Kohler® and The Granite Group supplied the dual flush toilets and low flow faucets. Goodale Sheetrock nailed and glued drywall to the exterior frame to assist in preventing air infiltration. A rain barrel is used to collect rainwater and a rotating barrel is provided for composting. Bruno Hayn originated the passive solar heating and cooling aspects of the systems-designed home. ENERGY STAR® appliances were supplied by Coogan and Gildersleeve. Cyclone Home systems installed the alarms and central vacuum. CRS completed the site work after CTF Forest selectively cut and pruned trees. Site material was provided by Lombardi and landscaping was accomplished by New London County Landscaping. Peter Fusaro of Preferred Builders has provided the certification services for the ENERGY STAR® and NAHB Green programs.