MATTAPOISETT — The Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity has finished construction of its first solar home in Mattapoisett with a buyer lined up and ready to move in later this month.

The local Habitat for Humanity International affiliate builds affordable houses for families making between 30 and 60% of the area median income. The recently completed Mattapoisett home is being sold for $170,000 to a single mother with two young daughters.

The house is a three bedroom, two bathroom with a wrap-around porch, solar panels mounted on the roof, and a very high energy efficiency rating.

Christine Lacourse, Executive Director of the Buzzards Bay group, said the home scored a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) energy efficiency rating of 11, which means that it is about 90% more efficient than a home built to the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code, which should score about 100.

“It’s one of our best scores,” she said, adding that the new owner’s utility bill “should be very little if anything.”

The group first broke ground on the property in November 2019 but what would usually be a 9–12 month job took almost two years because of delays caused by the covid pandemic.

“She’s been patient,” said Lacourse. “She’s ready to move in.”

The land the house was built on was donated by Jessica and David Nicolosi and the build was made possible by a long list of donors named on the sign in front of the house (pictured above).

Because a 24’x36’ had already been approved for the property when it was donated to Habitat for Humanity, the home was made slightly larger than the ones the group usually builds measuring about 1,500 square feet compared to an average of about 1,200 – 1,300 square feet, according to Lacourse.

“This is one of the best [homes we’ve made],” said Lacourse. “We’re really happy; we’re really proud of it.”