image description — This 5-year-old home has four bedrooms and is energy efficient.

Friday Front Porch Feature: An Attractive Energy-Efficient Home

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:47PM / Friday, August 08, 2025Print Story | Email Story

DALTON, Mass. — Are you looking for a house that's energy efficient and new? Then this Dalton home is the one for you.

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing a young home at 224 East St.

This 2020 home has four bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms and a two-car garage. It is 2,318 square feet on 0.35 acres.

It comes with Energy Star-rated washer, stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, and dryer, central air and solar panels.

We spoke with Patricia Molina of Century 21 Northeast about this house.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Newly built homes make up a small percentage of Berkshire County's housing market. This home stands out because it is new with quality systems, quality materials and quality craftsmanship.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine a life in this space?

Imagine coming home to this bright home where everything just flows. The kitchen has such a clean, modern feel and opens right up to the back deck and yard. The primary bedroom is a dream with a walk-in closet and your own private bathroom with double sinks. The biggest plus? The house is new. No need to worry about the "big ticket items" like replacing the roof, heating system, electrical, or any other major updates for years to come.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

It felt welcoming and cool, literally! Having central air is amazing. The open layout, natural lighting and the beautiful floors make the home feel bright and inviting. The kitchen island immediately grabbed my attention. I knew this was a great house as soon as I walked in.

What do the current owners love most about the home?

I would say it has to be the energy efficiency. While living here, they had multiple electronics running around the clock, and the solar panels helped curb the cost of all that energy use. I think they also loved how spacious the home is. Having a bathroom on each floor is so convenient and such a rare find these days.

Are there any standout design features or recent renovations?

Absolutely. It was just built in 2020, so everything is still very new. Beyond that, there are some fantastic design features: 1) energy efficient systems like the solar panels, underground propane tank for heating, central air, on demand hot water, high speed wiring 2) the modern kitchen and bathrooms 3) a radon mitigation system which was proactively installed 4) a partially (mostly) finished basement with the mechanicals separated from the finished area.

How would you describe the feel or atmosphere of the home?

It feels bright, clean, and modern. I really love the thoughtful touches. The home has a cozy and welcoming vibe. It's spacious, but still feels comfortable and homey.

What kind of lifestyle do you think this home naturally lends itself to?

It's such a versatile home. I think just about any lifestyle would thrive here. The amount of space throughout the home really suits a variety of needs. It will be a great home for anyone looking for comfort and functional modern home.

You can find out more about this house on its listing.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

Tags: front porch, Real Estate,

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:03PM / Sunday, March 15, 2026

HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis.

Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report.

During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report.

"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions. As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday.

"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements."

He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report.

"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote.

Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.