Company Overview

Background

Our Start

The firm's founders got their start leading Cornell University's 2005 Solar Decathlon team. The competition, sponsored by the US Department of Energy, challenges universities from across the US and beyond to research, design and build an 800 square-foot off-grid solar home. Cornell's first entry to the competition was awarded second place. The team's success was driven by a well-rounded team fielded from the top-rated departments within the University. Subsequent to the project's conclusion, the founders chose to continue working together to realize their shared vision of bringing sensible green design to the commercial and residential sectors.

Our Name

We take our name from the industry term zero energy (or zero-net energy), which is defined as a building that creates as much energy as it uses. A zero energy building is the result of a multi-disciplined effort and appropriately symbolizes our integrated design philosophy and approach.  While zero energy buildings are an aspirational goal for some, they are feasible for some clients.

Principals

Stephanie Horowitz, AIA | NCARB | CPHC, Managing Director Stephanie Horowitz applies the design excellence and technical rigor associated with commercial architecture to custom residential projects. She has served as a Designer at NBBJ, as well as a Sustainability Consultant to several of the nation's leading architectural firms, where she counseled on a multitude of green buildings and developments. Now as Managing Director at ZeroEnergy Design, Stephanie manages projects that range from the architecture of zero energy residential developments to custom LEED Platinum homes. Stephanie's primary area of expertise lies in originating a vision, then translating green design from concept into reality. Stephanie has received a Citation for Sustainability from the Boston Society of Architects, a Green Leader Award from AutoDesk, four PRISM awards and a CotY award for her architecture. Her work has appeared in notable publications such as Architectural Record, Design New England, Boston Home, Residential Architect, and Solar Today. Stephanie is a graduate of the Cornell University School of Architecture, a Certified Passive House Consultant, and a Massachusetts Registered Architect. Jordan Goldman, LEED AP | CPHC, Engineering Principal Jordan Goldman is a specialist in energy modeling, mechanical engineering, and manages the HVAC design practice for the firm. He is fluent in building envelope strategies and energy efficient construction systems, as well as mechanical system design, specification, and sizing for enhanced energy performance. Additionally, he is experienced in sizing and specifying renewable energy systems, such as photovoltaics and solar hot water. He has been recognized by the EPA for his achievement in systems design for green buildings, served as a judge for the NAHB Research Center's Energy Value Housing Awards, is a Certified Passive House Consultant, a LEED Accredited Professional, a Verifier for NAHB's National Green Building Standard, and a HERS Rater. He works with software programs such as e-Quest, THERM, WUFI, the Passive House Planning Package, TREAT, and REM/Rate. Jordan studied Environmental Engineering at Cornell University, where he received both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering. Emile Chin-Dickey, LEED-AP, Principal Emile Chin-Dickey is a specialist in situational, financial, and data analysis and manages the Analytics practice for the firm in both residential and commercial settings. His insights provide clear, logical decisions for government entities, trade organizations, production builders, custom architects, and individual homeowners. As part of the firm's integrated design team, Emile analyzes cost efficiencies, energy benefits, sustainability options, financial incentives, builder budgets, and other decision scenarios to generate solid, data backed recommendations. While a member of the Residential Working Group of Governor Deval Patrick’s Zero Energy Buildings Task Force, he helped draft recommendations to support the Governor's goal of broad marketability of net-zero energy buildings by 2030. His detailed reports and analyses have informed such diverse entities as General Electric, Masco, Green Company, Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Builders Association of Greater Boston. Previously, he worked as a Consultant at Kaiser Associates in its corporate strategy practice. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Cornell University. Adam Prince, Business Development Principal Adam Prince managed the acquisition and complete redevelopment of numerous beach homes on Cape Cod for five years before joining ZeroEnergy Design in 2005. His business perspective matured while building his own software company from two into one hundred staff members during the 1990's while servicing clients such as IKEA, Fidelity, Boston Consulting Group, Star Trek, and Paramount Pictures. He now manages new clients and marketing for ZED, and facilitates energy related and green certifications such as Energy Star, EPA Indoor airPLUS, LEED for Homes, NAHB Green Building Standard, and Passive House for the firm's clients. Adam is a Licensed Massachusetts Construction Supervisor and a LEED Green Rater. He attended the University of Massachusetts for Business Management and Filmmaking.

ZED Alumni

David Wax David Wax, a co-founder of ZeroEnergy Design, started a sister company focused on the mass housing market. At ZED, he helped build the firm’s design and consulting business. Before joining ZED, David was a Senior Consultant in the Energy Practice at Deloitte Consulting. David holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master of Business Administration from the Johnson School at Cornell University. Ben Uyeda Ben Uyeda is a co-founder of ZeroEnergy Design but spends his time at a sister company focusing on the mass housing market. Ben has previously been a visiting lecturer at Cornell University where he developed an original curriculum to teach the principles of sustainable design at Cornell, and he continues to lecture on topics in Sustainable Design at Northeastern University. Ben holds a Bachelor and Master of Architecture from Cornell University School of Architecture.