Candlewood Mountaintop Contemporary

This new three bedroom, three bath contemporary home was built on the foundation of an old summer cottage on top of a mountain with panoramic views over Lake Candlewood.  The owners are both commercial architects who designed the house for themselves as a weekend home now that will become their retirement home when they are ready.

LEED Platinum 2013 badge    Zero Energy Ready Home Badge       Indoors AirPlus Qualified Home Badge       Energy Star Logo

Special Features

  • Open concept living/dining/kitchen area
  • Raised ceilings with built-in high shelf to display owner’s antique radio collection
  • Sunroom with glass roof and folding glass doors
  • Dumbwaiter for moving heavy objects to the 2nd floor
  • Main staircase has steps with reduced rise and extended run for effortless stair climbing
  • Fiber cement clapboard and panel siding
  • Stainless steel flashing and scuppers
  • Propane fireplace can heat the entire house in emergencies
  • Back-up generator

Green Building Approaches

  • Flat roof is ready for future solar hot water or PV for electricity
  • Tile floors on 1st floor rest on 6” of rigid foam insulation installed over an existing slab
  • 10” double wall framing, insulated with dense-pack cellulose
  • Continuous adhesive membrane wraps the walls to achieve exceptional air-tightness of 0.4ACH50 that exceeds Passive House standard
  • Canadian fiberglass triple-glazed windows with u-values of 0.18
  • Fiber cement siding installed over ¾” drainage plane
  • Condensing propane boiler provides HW for space heating and domestic water
  • Home is heated by hot water radiant floors and hydro-air forced-air system
  • Central dehumidifier ties into air handler
  • Energy recovery ventilation

Certifications

 

Awards
  • Housing Innovation Award, 2013 – Department of Energy (article)
  • Zero Energy Challenge winner for lowest HERS score without PV – CT Clean Energy Fund (video)
Project Year
2012
HERS Score
37
Type of Home
Contemporary
City
New Fairfield
State
Connecticut
County
Fairfield
Project Size
3,100sf