Designing and Building High-Performance Custom Homes
Comfort. Sustainability. Innovation.
At Caulkins Homes, we believe the most beautiful homes go beyond stunning finishes—they’re built to perform. Our custom home design-build process fuses architectural artistry with high-performance construction, creating homes that are energy-efficient, resilient, and perfectly attuned to your lifestyle.
Whether you’re prioritizing comfort, long-term cost savings, or environmental impact, we offer smart, sustainable solutions that enhance your daily life and protect your investment for the future.
Why Energy-Efficient Custom Homes Matter Today
Modern homeowners are looking for more than just aesthetics. They want custom homes that are:
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Comfortable year-round
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Affordable to operate and maintain
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Designed with sustainability in mind
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Built with long-lasting value and performance
At Caulkins Homes, we weave energy efficiency and comfort into every phase of your custom home—starting at the design table and continuing through the final walkthrough.
High-Performance Insulation: The First Step to Efficiency
Insulation is the cornerstone of a sustainable, energy-efficient home. It helps regulate indoor temperature, manage humidity, and reduce the load on HVAC systems.
We carefully tailor insulation strategies based on:
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Climate and site orientation
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Wall, floor, and roof assembly
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Desired thermal performance (R-values)
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Compatibility with mechanical systems and technologies
Options include spray foam, rigid foam board, blown-in cellulose, and hybrid solutions—customized to deliver superior comfort and lower utility costs for the life of the home.
Layered Comfort: Smart Design Meets Smart Technology
Energy-efficient homes are built with a systems-thinking approach. We combine insulation with intelligent design strategies and cutting-edge technology to create homes that work for you.
Passive Solar Design & Site Optimization
Before we design, we walk the land. Our team helps you choose a homesite that maximizes:
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Southern exposure for natural light and passive heat
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Strategic shading from roof overhangs, landscaping, and window placement
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Privacy, views, and energy-saving orientation
These design details allow your home to stay warmer in winter, cooler in summer, and more efficient year-round—all while feeling naturally bright and connected to the outdoors.
Efficient HVAC Systems for Year-Round Comfort
We don’t oversize or guess. We perform precise load calculations to pair your home with the ideal HVAC system for performance and longevity. Options include:
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ENERGY STAR® forced air systems
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Variable-speed heat pumps
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Zoned heating and cooling systems
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Radiant floor heating
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Smart thermostats like Nest or Ecobee
These systems integrate seamlessly with our building envelope design to maximize efficiency and comfort—even in the most demanding New England seasons.
Thinking Greener? Explore Geothermal Systems
Want to take your sustainability goals to the next level? Geothermal heating and cooling taps into the earth’s stable underground temperatures to deliver ultra-efficient comfort year-round.
Benefits of geothermal include:
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Lower long-term utility costs
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Quiet, low-maintenance operation
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Greater lifespan than traditional systems
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Federal and state tax incentives (where applicable)
We help clients weigh the upfront investment against long-term savings and prepare the home to support geothermal if chosen.
Premium Windows & Doors: Andersen, Airtight, and Efficient
High-performance windows and doors are critical for comfort, light, and energy savings. That’s why we install:
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Andersen Windows and Doors with insulated composite frames
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Low-E glass packages (SmartSun™, PassiveSun®)
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Airtight flashing and installation techniques
This results in reduced thermal transfer, fewer drafts, and stunning views without compromising on performance.
Solar-Ready Home Design: Prepare for the Future
We offer solar-ready custom home planning for clients who want to reduce carbon footprint and prepare for future solar installations.
Our solar prep services include:
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Roof design optimized for sun exposure
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Pre-wired conduit paths for solar panel installation
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Load-bearing structures for rooftop solar
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Future-ready space for inverters or battery backup
By planning ahead, we save you time, money, and future hassle—making renewable energy integration seamless and cost-effective.
Smart Home Energy Management
Modern living deserves modern solutions. Our smart home energy options include:
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Smart thermostats that learn your patterns
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Real-time energy monitoring
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Zoned climate control
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App-controlled plugs, lighting, and appliances
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Integration with solar systems or energy storage
These features empower you to control your home’s energy use from anywhere, improve comfort, and reduce waste.
Why Choose Caulkins Homes?
With nearly 40 years of experience, Caulkins Homes is a leader in custom home building, sustainable design, and energy efficiency in Connecticut.
What Sets Us Apart
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Full-service, in-house design-build team
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Land selection support and passive design expertise
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Meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship
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Transparent, collaborative process from start to finish
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Tailored energy solutions that match your lifestyle
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. Your goals, your home, your future—built smarter.
Ready to Design and Build a Smarter Custom Home?
If you’re ready to build a high-performance home that blends timeless design with future-ready efficiency, Caulkins Homes is here to help.
🏡 Let’s walk your land, explore your vision, and build a home that performs beautifully—inside and out.
👉 Contact Us Today to schedule a consultation or learn more about our custom design-build process.
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