It started with a small water stain on the dining room ceiling that nagged at Alex Cheimets.

By the time he finished fixing the leak, his house was clad in insulation so thick he needed special 10 inch screws just to attach it to the siding. And the MA State Government had signed on a sponsor for his $100,000 home improvement project.

The Super Insulated House in Arlington, MA has attracted an impressive group of sponsors.

Part of the state’s payoff will come after the work is done. Sensors will measure humidity and help track heat loss. A blower test with a giant fan will see just how tight the home is sealed. An oil tank sensor will track oil use at different indoor and outdoor temperatures.