In late winter of 2009 we completed our second EnergyStar home for Crane Neck Investments, 7 67th St., Plum Island. The home is a center-entry, two-story colonial with an attached mudroom. It is of similar construction to the 68th Street house with 2x6 walls, Maibec, prestained shingles and Kleer PVC trim boards. The interior layouts are similar in that both have 9' ceilings with an open floor plan. The kitchen, with Legacy cabinets and granite countertops, opens to the living room, which holds a custom gas fireplace. A study sits next to the living room space. The second floor contains three bedrooms and a bath. The master bedroom contains a master bath with a custom-tiled shower and a cantilevered deck which overlooks the ocean. The third floor has a matching deck with views of the Isle of Shoals.

Home Energy, Inc. is most responsible for the heating plant, insulation, and weatherization. The heating is a 90% efficient warm air furnace with a 4-ton air-conditioning condenser. Because the home is EnergyStar rated, the ductwork passes stringent air leakage testing. The building itself also had to pass a blower-door air leakage test to meet EnergyStar requirements. The walls contain R-19, while the ceilings and undercarriage contain R-30 fiberglass insulation. The windows are Andersen 400 series units with low-e and argon. The patio entry doors are also energy efficient Andersen units.  The main entry door is a maintenance-free fiberglass unit.