Scenic Retreat Overlooking Niantic Bay
Hartford Courant, Sept. 2014:
Geothermal Heats Up in Connecticut
It was such a thrill to completely transform this outdated single-story ranch with very uninspiring rooms into a truly lovely home overlooking the water. With the main floor completely remodeled with a vaulted ceiling and an open floor plan to capture the wonderful views, the stage was set to completely transform the remaining character of the home.
A new addition to the home resulted in a new lovely Master Bedroom Suite, also with water views, a home office, and a cozy den in the finished lower level. Importantly, given the locale of this home near the water, the combination of new construction and remodeled existing space enabled placement of the home’s mechanicals and the new den to be above flood levels.
Because the client was also interested in energy-efficient construction in both the renovated and new spaces, the combination of airtight construction and high efficiency insulation created an airtight building envelope. Additionally, with a geothermal HVAC system, LED lighting and Energy Star appliances, this house earned a HERS Index Score of 47.
Compared to a reference home built to current building code requirements, this score translates into projected yearly savings of $1720 for heating/cooling, electricity, and hot water; which we think, makes the scenic views from this home, even more enchanting.
