Home Start was founded in 2004 to ensure affordable housing on Peak’s Island in the Casco Bay just east of Portland, Maine.  The Inter Island News reports the organization bought a 16,000 square foot plot of land in 2007 and is set to erect three modular homes on the site.  Architects Kaplan Thompson of Portland and Keiser Homes partnered closely to build the two-story homes, designed to blend with the colonial style prevalent here.  The three bed two bath Peak’s Island model with 1204 square feet includes low-flow faucets and low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint.  The effective insulation and airtight construction cut the heating and cooling expense by nearly 60 percent, and the south-facing windows bring in passive solar warmth.  Other solar power and renewable energy options are available, including the net zero model, which produces enough energy on its own to offset a full year of electricity expense.  Architect Jamie Broadbent of Kaplan Thompson said, “This is the first home we’ll be building for the affordable housing initiative, and hopefully not the last.”