The Shore Road project is a new, single family residential property located in Old Greenwich, CT. Steven Winter Associates, Inc. (SWA) worked with Murphy Brothers Contracting and architect Rex Gedney to design a house intended to use approximately 70% less energy than a home built to the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code. As a 35 year old family-owned business, Murphy Bros is concerned with the impact their work will have on future generations. For this reason, they have made it their goal to build energy-efficient, environmentally responsible, and beautifully designed homes. SWA provided critical expertise and support in the areas of energy modeling, certification, and public relations.

Energy efficiency at Shore Road begins with the innovative R-20+ insulated concrete forms (ICFs) used to construct the foundation and above grade walls. Compared to typical stick built construction, ICFs reduce thermal bridging and the frequency of cold spots, while providing increased resiliency against extreme weather. Additional envelope enhancements include a super insulated roof deck (R-70) resulting in an unvented attic that brings the HVAC equipment and ductwork inside the conditioned envelope, an R-25 basement slab, and ultra low-e windows (U-0.3, 0.18 SHGC). The interior build-out included efficiency features like LED/CFL lighting, ENERGY STAR appliances, and low-flow bathroom fixtures. On-site renewable energy is generated by 600ft² of DOW Solar Roof Shingles which seamlessly integrated into the roof design, as a direct material replacement to conventional roofing shingles.

Shore Road earned a HERS (Home Energy Rating Score) of 27, indicating a high-performing home. Energy costs are projected to be 45% lower than baseline standards, while water savings will reach 11,000 gallons annually. Energy conservation measures are expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by almost 50% when compared to a similar size home. Shore Road has been recognized as a state-leader for high performance homes, demonstrated by participating in the 2014 Connecticut Zero Energy Challenge.