Architectural Digest Reviews the Architecture Industry's Response to Climate Change

Architectural Digest took a close look at the impact of the building and construction sector on climate change and what the architecture industry is doing to make a difference.

The article contains insights from leading industry experts, including AIA President Jane Frederick, Bjarke Ingels of BIG, and ZED Managing Director, Stephanie Horowitz.

In her interview for the article, Horowitz highlighted the importance of thinking ahead and designing and building today’s homes and buildings in alignment with the upcoming benchmarks for climate change. She also pointed out that it was not only new construction that needed to be addressed. “The new homes that we design and build are the low-hanging fruit. The challenge is the existing housing,” Horowitz said.

According to the AIA, 82% of the commercial buildings in the U.S. were built before 2000 - before the modernization of building energy codes for design and construction.

Full article is linked below.

MORE: ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST

ZED Awarded Best of Houzz 2020 for Design

We are excited to announce that ZED has won a Best of Houzz 2020 award for Design.

The annual Best of Houzz awards recognize the most highly-rated home building professionals and designs on Houzz and are distributed in three categories - Design, Service, and Photography. The Design awards honor industry professionals whose work was the most popular among the 40 million plus Houzz community. 

Only a minute percentage of the 2.5 million home professionals on the Houzz platform receive a Best of Houzz award. For ZED, this award is a thrilling validation of the growing popularity of high-performance homes that combine energy efficiency and modern aesthetics.

The 2020 Best of Houzz award is ZED’s eighth year winning the Best of Houzz Design award and twelfth Best of Houzz award overall.

MORE: AWARDS

ZED's Stephanie Horowitz discusses resiliency with Houzz

Top home building and design magazine, Houzz’s latest story in its Trend Report series is an in-depth analysis of the importance of resiliency and creating homes that last. As a leading expert in modern, sustainable home design, ZED Managing Director, Stephanie Horowitz, was interviewed for the article.

In her interview, Horowitz discussed the importance of location and suggested that all professionals should start with these three questions before committing to any particular approach - “What is the climate projection for the region you are in? What stresses does this create for your building? What is the project doing about it?”

Horowitz also spoke about resiliency strategies to address flooding and cold weather and the relationship between energy efficiency and resiliency -pointing out that the ‘best way to handle a natural disaster is to build for it’.

Full article is linked below.

MORE: HOUZZ TREND REPORT - BUILDING FOR RESILIENCY

ZED's Jordan Goldman on Minisplits

At the Fine HomeBuilding (FHB) Summit last year, ZED Engineering Principal Jordan Goldman presented an in-depth and well-received session on minisplit heat pumps.

A specialist in energy modeling, HVAC systems, and mechanical design, Goldman started the discussion with a reminder that the ultimate goal of designing heat pumps is the indoor comfort of the home. He also shared several tips for HVAC engineers, architects, and contractors working with this technology, including its strengths and weaknesses, how to best put it into use in a well-insulated home, and common mistakes to avoid during design and installation.

Recently, Green Building Advisor, which focuses on green building, designing, and remodeling strategies, published a great review of Goldman’s FHB minisplit presentation. You can read the article here.

MORE: GOLDMAN ON MINISPLITS

LEXINGTON MODERN RESIDENCE FEATURED IN INHABITAT

Green focused website, Inhabitat, recently published a story on ZeroEnergy Design’s Lexington Modern Residence, describing it as “a stunning example of how creating a sustainable home doesn’t mean sacrificing luxury.”

The 4,400 sq. ft. contemporary home designed by ZED reflects the firm’s signature modern aesthetics and uses only 19% of the energy of a code-built home. It boasts of several sustainable features, including a high-performance building envelope, high-efficiency mechanical systems, and a 10kW rooftop solar electric system for generating clean energy.

The Lexington Modern Residence was also featured in Houzz Tours in the last month.

MORE: LEXINGTON MODERN HOME IN INHABITAT

ZED's Dartmouth Oceanfront in Green Building & Design Magazine

The architecture and construction focused “Green Building & Design” magazine (gb&d), just published a feature story on ZED’s Dartmouth Oceanfront project. The in-depth article highlights the home’s innovative modern design that embraces the challenging coastal site while also incorporating privacy, comfort, accessibility, and sustainability.

In an interview with gb&d, ZED’s Managing Director, Stephanie Horowitz, talked about many design decisions, such as the inclusion of an art wall to showcase the homeowners’ extensive art collection, the addition of an elevator to accommodate aging in place, or the use of exterior shades to both accent the design and manage heat gain.

Full article is linked below.

MORE: DARTMOUTH OCEANFRONT IN GB&D

ZED's Lexington Modern Residence in Houzz Tours

We are thrilled to have the Lexington Modern Residence designed by ZED featured in Houzz Tours this month. Similar to other ZED homes, the Lexington Modern is highly energy efficient and uses only 19% of the energy compared to a code-built house of the same size. The home’s rectilinear forms, large windows, and thoughtful connection to the surrounding landscape draw inspiration from mid-century modern architecture while the shiplapped wood cladding is a nod to the traditional design style of the area.

In the interview with Houzz, ZED’s Stephanie Horowitz describes the design decisions that went into creating this beautiful home, including the careful siting that creates privacy while also ensures strong connections with the outdoors, the stepped-down living room with high ceilings, and the Passive House-certified skylight that offers significant natural light in the basement. Read the detailed interview in the full article linked below.

MORE: LEXINGTON MODERN - HOUZZ TOUR

ZED's Top Performance in AIA 2030 Commitment Recognized ON Rise

Rise, a leading online publication for sustainable home improvement, recently published a story on the impact of the AIA 2030 Challenge on the built environment and the continued efforts of leading firms such as ZeroEnergy Design to make their portfolios carbon neutral.

Each year, signatories of the AIA 2030 Commitment program, which supports the AIA 2030 Challenge, track and report their annual progress against energy reduction targets through energy-efficient design. In 2018, ZED reported an impressive 92.6% reduction in pEUI savings across its entire architectural portfolio, becoming one of only 16 firms nationwide to exceed the 70% target.

Full article is linked below.

MORE: AIA 2030 Challenge - A Look at Its Impact and Leading Firms

ZED's Stephanie Horowitz to Speak at Wellesley Green Collaborative Meeting

We are proud to announce that ZED Managing Director Stephanie Horowitz has been invited to speak on Sustainable Buildings at the next Wellesley Green Collaborative Meeting.

The meeting’s prime focus will be on state-of-the-art sustainable/net zero energy construction and its application to commercial, residential, and municipal construction. Other speakers include William Maclay (Maclay Architects), Fred Bunger (Vice Chair Wellesley, Sustainable Energy Committee), and Marybeth Martello (Sustainable Energy Administrator).

WHEN: Tuesday, January 21, 2020, 9 - 11.15 am
WHERE: Wakelin Room of the Wellesley Free Library, Washington Street

The Wellesley Green Collaborative is a quarterly gathering of environmentally-minded organizations and offers opportunities to speak with other professionals experienced in energy conservation, share initiatives, and brainstorm ideas.

MORE: WELLESLEY GREEN COLLABORATIVE

ZED's James Beasley SERVES AS JudgE for AIAVT 2019 Awards

ZeroEnergy Design Architect/Project Manager James Beasley was honored to serve on the judging panel for the AIA Vermont Excellence in Design Awards this year. The winners will be announced at the AIA VT 2019 Annual Meeting and Design Awards event on December 4th.

WHERE: UVM Alumni House, 61 Summit Street, Burlington, VT 05401
WHEN: December 4, 5-9 pm

The event provides an opportunity for members to network and recognize achievements of the Vermont architectural community. Registration is currently open.

MORE: AIAVT Design Awards

ZED NAMED IN ARCHITECT 50 SUSTAINABILITY LIST

Architect Magazine, the official Journal of the American Institute of Architects, just ranked ZeroEnergy Design within the top 50 firms for Sustainability nationwide .

Participating firms in the Sustainability category were ranked on a combination of factors, including AIA 2030 Commitment submission data, energy and water metrics, employee certifications, building certifications, and project data that best demonstrated the firm’s commitment to sustainable design. A third-party research firm compiled the rankings and fact-checked for consistency.

MORE: ARCHITECT 50 - TOP FIRMS IN SUSTAINABILITY

ZED Awarded Best of Boston Home 2020

Boston Home Magazine, an authoritative source for home, arts, and culture in New England, has awarded ZeroEnergy Design Best Sustainable Architect in its much-awaited 2020 Best of Boston Home issue.

The magazine’s annual guide spotlights some of the region’s finest home design professionals, and winning a Best of Boston award is considered one of New England’s premier accolades. The 2020 awards celebration will be held on December 5, 2019 at the Boston Design Center.

ZED is honored to receive this recognition for the firm’s continued commitment to sustainable architecture and green design practices.

MORE: BEST OF BOSTON 2020

Passive House Incentives for Multi-Family High-Rise Buildings

Mass Save recently announced financial incentives and assistance to support the construction of multi-family high-rise buildings with Passive House certification or similar levels of energy efficiency.

Why Passive House?

Passive House Building techniques provide the occupants with shelter from rising energy costs through a building envelope that requires only a fraction of the heating and cooling energy consumed by a typical new building. The super-insulated structure eliminates drafts and temperature swings throughout the building thereby ensuring maximum thermal comfort and also helps with noise attenuation by mitigating any surrounding outdoor noise. Additionally, houses built in accordance with Passive House standards require a smaller investment in mechanical systems and have a lower carbon footprint compared to buildings built to code.

Eligibility Criteria

The Mass Save Passive House incentives are available to projects that enroll prior to reaching 100% Schematic Design. Eligible buildings should be four stories or higher with at least five units and pursue Passive House certification and monitor and provide the Sponsors with whole-building gas and electric consumption as well as on-site production. A PHI or PHIUS-certified Passive House consultant is required to conduct a feasibility study and serve as consultant throughout the design and certification process.

Buildings will be eligible to receive post-construction incentives if they at least achieve pre-certification. If the building does not achieve pre-certification, you will be eligible for the standard Multi-Family High-Rise incentives.

Passive House Consulting by ZED

ZeroEnergy Design provides Passive House Consulting services for developers and architects seeking exceptional energy performance and targeting PHI or PHIUS+ certification.

ZED will guide building envelope improvements and mechanical systems to best accommodate project goals such as comfort, durability, indoor air quality, aesthetics, cost effectiveness, efficiency, and certification.

Depending on project goals and requirements, ZED can assist with:

  • Passive House FEASIBILITY

  • Passive House ENERGY MODELING

  • Passive House PRE-CERTIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION FACILITATION

ZED SELECTED FOR Top 50 Coastal Architects List

Ocean Home magazine, a leading resource for oceanfront real estate and lifestyle, features ZeroEnergy Design in its list of Top 50 Coastal Architects for 2019. Each firm on the list is known for their unique skills, experience, and sensibilities in designing and building custom homes close to the ocean.

In an interview, ZED Managing Director Stephanie Horowitz talked about how beauty, sustainability, and energy efficiency are standard design practices at the firm. “The pairing of design and performance is what we do. Great design is green design,” she said.

The full article is linked below. You can also read our Dartmouth Oceanfront case study here.

MORE: OCEAN HOME TOP 50 COASTAL ARCHITECTS

Newton Net Zero Wins SILVER PRISM Award

We are proud to announce that ZeroEnergy Design’s high-performance, net-zero home in Newton, Massachusetts, won a Silver PRISM award for Best Passive Home/Sustainable Home Design at the 2019 PRISM Awards Gala.

Organized by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston (BRAGB), the PRISM awards honor the finest projects and accomplishments of architects, builders, developers, and other professionals in the home building industry. Entries in this category were judged on operation at zero net energy performance as well as overall design, comfort, usability, and livability of the space.

The Newton Net Zero home was designed as a forever home for a couple who believed deeply in carbon-free lifestyle and wanted to set an example of conscientious, healthy living for future generations. With a super-tight building enclosure, high-efficiency mechanical systems, and a solar photovoltaic system for generating renewable energy, the home uses 96% less energy than a comparable home built to code with enough energy for charging the couple’s electric cars.

Newton-Green-Home-Performance-Stats.jpg

The BRAGB is the region’s leading home building association and has represented the industry since 1944. The PRISM Awards Gala is the BRAGB’s flagship event of the year and winning an award is considered a sign of excellence and superior achievement. Each entry submitted in the PRISM awards competition is judged on its own merit by a national panel of distinguished industry professionals.

Matthew Genanze (Project Management/Architecture) of ZeroEnergy Design and Ryan McCathy of Auburndale Builders (Construction) received the award on behalf of the entire project team that also included ZED’s Stephanie Horowitz (Architecture) and Jordan Goldman (Energy and Mechanical Design).

MORE: PRISM AWARDS | NEWTON NET ZERO

Consulting Project: The Cocoon

ZeroEnergy Design’s consulting project - the Cocoon - was recently featured in The Purist Online magazine. Designed by Nina Edwards Anker of NEA Studio, this L-shaped cottage in the Hamptons derives its name from the curved walls on the northern and western sides for shelter and privacy. The water side of the home features expanses of glass, affording the homeowners open breezes and unobstructed ocean views. ZED provided energy consulting and mechanical design for this project.

MORE: THE PURIST ONLINE

ZED Discusses Indoor Air Quality with Green Building Advisor

At ZeroEnergy Design, healthy indoor air quality is sacrosanct to all the firm’s projects.

In an interview with Green Building Advisor editor, Brian Pontolilo, for a new in-depth article on indoor air quality and the potential dangers of VOCs in homes, ZED’s Stephanie Horowitz clarified “This is something we pay close attention to on every project. We write it into our specification, we educate our clients about the importance of it, we make it a top priority.”

Stephanie also discussed how ZED specs select no-VOC paints and floor finishes for the firm’s projects.

Click on the link below to read the full article.

MORE: GREEN BUILDING ADVISOR

ZED CONTINUES TO LEAD THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

According to the newly released 2018 Summary of the AIA 2030 Commitment report, ZeroEnergy Design is one of only 16 firms nationwide to achieve 70% or greater predicted EUI savings across their entire architectural portfolio in 2018.

The AIA 2030 Commitment program supports the AIA 2030 challenge, which calls for all new construction and major renovations to be carbon neutral by the year 2030 and provides architects, engineers, and owners a global platform to demonstrate action against climate change through energy-efficient design. Every year, the 2030 signatories track and report their annual progress against increasingly aggressive energy reduction targets.

This year, ZED reported an impressive 92.6% reduction in pEUI savings across its entire architectural portfolio, achieving the targeted 70% carbon reduction for the ninth consecutive year.

The 2030 Commitment currently has 549 active signatories, out of which 252 firms submitted portfolios in 2018 on projects totaling almost three billion square feet across 92 countries. Together, these projects accounted for an overall pEUI reduction equivalent to avoiding 17.7 million tons of CO2 emissions as well as operating savings of greater than $3.3 billion over the baseline equivalent.

Click on the link below to read the new full report.

MORE: 2018 AIA 2030 SUMMARY

APPLETON FARMS SETS A SUSTAINABILITY EXAMPLE

In this video by the USGBC, former Director of Structural Resources for the Trustees of Reservations, Jim Younger, describes the sustainability philosophy used at the Center for Agriculture and the Environment at Appleton Farms. Both the farmhouse and the west wing on the property underwent a thorough renovation and deep energy retrofit to achieve the client’s desire for net zero carbon energy performance.

ZeroEnergy Design provided energy consulting and mechanical design services for this project.

MORE: USGBC VIDEO
MORE: APPLETON FARMS CASE STUDY