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durability, efficiency, and livability of a home," Dykins said. "By creating homes with low HERS (Home Energy Rating System), I am doing my part to help the environment in need. I pay close attention to every aspect of the construc- tion process as if the project were my own home." Glastonbury Housesmith's latest project — a four-bed, 3,400-square-foot home in South Glastonbury — was awarded first place and the $25,000 prize in the 2015 Connecticut Zero Energy Challenge, a statewide de - sign and build competition which challenges participants to con- struct high energy efficiency homes that consume little to no energy. The home captured the lowest projected annual net operating cost and lowest overall HERS index categories. "We were very fortunate that someone we were working with to turn our floorplan into construction documents knew Bob Dykins and thought he would be a good fit for us," said Carl Benker, the homeown - er. "It turns out he was not a good fit — he was a perfect fit." Dykins said the housing market needs to move in a more sustainable direction so that homes do not need to be repaired within the first 10 years of construction. "We need to educate the community and need to be on the cutting edge with technology," Dykins said. "General contractors need to adapt to new methods as well as pass them onto the next generation." Dykins uses PlanGrid, a free app that lets contractors and architects collaborate with all of their project plans, specs, and photos. By providing customers the option of electronic signatures, this keeps him in constant contact, reduces paper, and saves time not waiting for mail. "Working with Bob is like working with a longtime trusted friend," Benker said. Green Fact: A typical resale home scores 130 on the HERS Index while a standard new home is rated at 100. SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY www.CTGreenGuide.com SUMMER 2015 • Connecticut Green Guide 25 Now available are official PDF REPRINTS of your Article for your MARKETING usage Order a digital PDF REPRINT of your Article, with copyrights granted to internal and personal uses. Hi (print) and Lo-Res (email/web) versions will be made available. Copyright fee is included and covers these uses: • Posting the digital PDF on your web site in its original form • Emailing the digital PDF in its original form • Printing and distributing hard copies as a marketing/sales tool. Share the excitement of being published! S A M P L E R e p r i n t & P l a q u e Connecticut Green Guide, Hartford Business Journal and HartfordBusiness.com content is copyrighted. Visit HartfordBusiness.com/reprints for more info on article usage and obtaining copyright permissions. ALL PDF LIST REPRINTS COME WITH ADDITIONAL Commemorative Plaque OPTION — Plaques are Walnut Brown woodgrain finish with reprint mounted under beveled plexi-glass. Trimmed with metal corner nails. It's the perfect addition to your office or lobby - Ask for details and pricing. For article reprint info & pricing, contact: Jessica Baker jbaker@HartfordBusiness.com or 860.236.9998 ext. 122 or visit HartfordBusiness.com/reprints Officially Produced by: