East Patchogue Home, Once Abandoned, Wins Innovation Award

EAST PATCHOGUE, NY — The next home of your dreams might be a solar-powered dwelling in East Patchogue that recently won an award for innovation by federal energy regulators.

The United Way of Long Island and Suffolk County Landbank Corporation partnered to transform an abandoned home into a state-of-the-art healthy "Smart Home." The house, located at 23 Furman Ave., was recently named a 2019 Housing Innovation Project Award Winner in the affordable category by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The home now has a shot to become the grand prize winner of the competition prize, which will be announced in the fall.

The United Way wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday that the honor was a "significant accomplishment" and that it is "paving the way for the rest of the U.S. housing market to provide zero energy ready homes."

"It is a huge honor for us to be recognized for the 5th time for our innovation and creation of zero energy ready homes," the post said.

The United Way of Long Island has built nearly 100 homes over the past 20 years — with the 23 Furman Ave. home serving as the first project its partnered with the Suffolk County Landbank to create. In recent years the organization has placed an emphasis on, "high-performing, energy-efficient homes - addressing the need for healthy and attainable housing on Long Island," according to their website.

The East Patchogue home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with electricity, heating and cooling systems entirely powered by solar energy. The house even has an electrical vehicle charging station in the driveway.

The 7,840 square-foot home is currently listed on Zillow for $375,000.