MIDDLEBURY — Bread Loaf Corp. of Middlebury has received a “Best of the Best” award from Efficiency Vermont for energy-efficient renovation and construction for its innovative renovation of the Hartford Town Hall.
Bread Loaf transformed a drafty structure with high heating bills into a comfortable building designed to meet all its energy needs through future connection to the town’s solar array. While retaining the building’s original, historic exterior, Bread Loaf redesigned the interior layout to optimize the reach of natural lighting from a new, two-story glass lobby. Energy-saving features also include high-performance air sealing, insulation, windows, lighting, energy-recovery ventilation, and a heat-pump heating/cooling system.
A total of 13 award recipients were recognized on Feb. 3 at Efficiency Vermont’s annual Better Buildings by Design conference in Burlington. Given annually, the Best of the Best awards recognize high achievement by architects, engineers, builders and contractors using energy efficiency and sustainability practices to construct or renovate Vermont buildings. Awards are given for commercial and residential new construction, commercial major rehabilitation projects, renovations completed by Building Performance contractors and home improvements made by Home Performance with ENERGY STARcontractors.