Hartford Habitat for Humanity selected as grand prize winner in Dept. of Energy’s Housing Competition

Hartford, CT Hartford Habitat for Humanity has been selected as the Affordable Housing–Single-Family Detached category grand prize winner in the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2020 Housing Innovation Award Competition. The grand prize award was given in recognition for the work completed on Hartford Habitat’s Roosevelt St. home, which was the non-profit’s first Zero Energy Ready Home.

“For our 30^th anniversary, Hartford Habitat had a goal to build a home that makes home ownership more sustainable and affordable for our clients. Thanks to our community partners, including Eversource with their zero energy construction insight and energy efficiency expertise, we were able to make that dream a reality,” said Karraine Moody, Hartford Habitat CEO. “We are honored to receive this recognition and proud to be a part of a community that is dedicated to making sustainable construction available for everyone.”

“From consulting on energy efficiency to on-site volunteering and providing incentives and rebates, we have a long history of supporting Habitat for Humanity organizations and the excellent work they do throughout our region,” said Eversource VP of energy efficiency Tilak Subrahmanian. 

“To learn that Hartford Habitat’s Roosevelt St. home has received this national recognition is very exciting and serves as an example of how working together - we can achieve affordable, sustainable housing for all.”

Completed in May 2019, the 1,280 s/f, three-bedroom home features airtight construction, high-performance HVAC equipment, Energy Star-certified appliances, low-flow fixtures, a heat pump hot water heater, and solar panels. With a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) index of -7, the Roosevelt home is approximately 40 to 50% more energy efficient than a typical new home, saving the homeowners $4,000 in annual energy costs.

In addition to expertise, incentives and rebates, Eversource donated LED light bulbs and employees volunteered their time to support the home’s construction. Additionally, Eversource-approved contractor Home Energy Technologies, Peter Harding and David Hiscocks, helped educate and guide Habitat staff through the Zero Energy Ready Home requirements.

“We love our home! One of our goals was to become homeowners and have a positive environment for our kids – and we were able to achieve that with this home,” said homeowners Chris and Sharmane Walton. “Having an energy efficiency home has changed our lifestyle a lot, and we are grateful to Habitat, Eversource and everyone who volunteered and dedicated their time, their energy.”