Net Positive

Acton Passive House Featured on NBC Boston

Owner Philippe Lam talks to the NBC Boston crew about his new net zero home.

ZED’s Acton Passive House was featured on NBC Boston, providing an inside look at the benefits of a net zero, Passive House Certified home. The piece includes interviews with ZED’s Stephanie Horowitz, Contractor Adams & Beasley’s Dave Wittig, and Owner Philippe Lam.

Take a look at the video that gives an overview of the home’s many high performance features, such as rooftop solar panels that produce more energy than it uses over the course of a year, making it net positive energy. The environmental benefits to the owner include remarkable thermal comfort, excellent indoor air quality, low operational cost, a durable, long-lasting structure, low embodied carbon materials, and most importantly, a happy client enjoying his beautiful new home.

LINK TO STORY

ZED's Lincoln Net Positive Farmhouse Featured in Houzz

Houzz’s new article on sustainability solutions from across the world showcases ZeroEnergy Design’s Lincoln Net Positive Farmhouse - a modern home that utilizes energy-efficient techniques to produce more energy than it consumes while blending into the rich, cultural landscape of Lincoln, Massachusetts.

With a super-insulated building envelope, high-performance triple-pane windows, thoughtfully designed mechanical systems, and high-efficiency appliances, the all-electric Lincoln Net Positive Home consumes 70% less energy than a similar house built to code. An air source heat pump and an energy recovery ventilator ensure optimal thermal comfort and fresh, clean air throughout the year while a 13.1 kW array of solar panels produces 67% more energy than its annual consumption. The article and complete case study are linked below.

MORE: HOUZZ ARTICLE
MORE: LINCOLN NET POSITIVE FARMHOUSE CASE

Hollis Montessori Goes Net Positive

First Certified Passive House Elementary School in the U.S.

The Hollis Montessori School celebrated their tenth anniversary with a transition to renewable energy. As the first Certified Passive House elementary school in the U.S., the building already has an exceptionally efficient enclosure paired with high performance systems (for heating, cooling, hot water, lighting, and ventilation). The new installation of a 56.8 kW photovoltaic system completes the vision developed by the board of directors. The system is expected to offset all the energy demand of the high-performance building, with extra energy available for use for the other buildings on the school campus. The building is now net positive energy, and contributing to the goal of net zero energy for the entire campus.

ZED provided Passive House Consulting and Mechanical Design for the project.

MORE: HOLLIS MONTESSORI CASE STUDY

Architect Stephanie Horowitz to Present Net Positive Project at BSA COTE Event

Stephanie Horowitz AIA, Managing Director at ZeroEnergy Design, will present a net positive LEED Platinum certified project case study at a BSA COTE event on Wednesday June 19, 2019.

WHERE: Boston Society of Architects
BSA Space, 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA
WHEN: June 19, 2019, 6pm - 8pm
COST: Free & Open to the Public

Stephanie recently completed a term on the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee of the Environment (COTE) Advisory Group. COTE serves nationwide as the community and voice of AIA architects on sustainable design and aims to advance, disseminate, and advocate design practices that integrate built and natural systems and enhance both the design quality and environmental performance of the built environment.

Mark Doughty, President of Thoughtforms Corporation, was the contractor and collaborated on the project. Mark will co-present the case study to the COTE audience.

Two LU/HSW AIA credits are available.

MORE: COTE NET POSITIVE PRESENTATION

Lincoln Net Positive Farmhouse Featured in Inhabitat

Top green architecture and home design website, Inhabitat, recently published a story on ZED’s Lincoln net positive farmhouse in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Designed and built in collaboration with Thoughtforms Corporation, this 2,800 sq. ft. modern farmhouse was inspired by the traditional farmhouses found in that area and proves that families can lead healthy, low-carbon lifestyles without compromising on style, space or comfort.

While flexible and spacious open-concept living areas provide plenty of space for the family to live, work, play and entertain, a high-performance design ensures low energy consumption and superior thermal comfort throughout the year. In addition to the 13.1 kW array of solar roof panels that produce more energy than required, the home also features plenty of other green amenities such as high-efficiency appliances, root cellar, and planning for rainwater catchment.

The Lincoln Net Positive project has won several awards, including a BSA Award for Sustainable Design and Gold PRISM awards for Best Net Zero Passive House and Best Energy Efficient Project.

MORE: INHABITAT NET POSITIVE FARMHOUSE ARTICLE

ZED's Net Positive Farmhouse featured in Houzz Earth Day Tour

Popular online architecture and interior design website, Houzz’s tour of seven low-carbon, energy-efficient homes in celebration of Earth Day 2019 features ZeroEnergy Design’s Net Positive Farmhouse in Lincoln, Massachusetts.

With plenty of functional and flexible family-friendly spaces to live, work, play and entertain, a guest suite on the first floor for comfortable aging-in-place, planned rainwater catchment, high-efficiency appliances, root cellar, and edible plantings, this modern home proves that families do not have to compromise on style, space or comfort to live in a healthy, energy-efficient home.

A super-tight building envelope and a well-designed mechanical system ensure that this all-electric home uses 70% less energy than comparable code-built homes, while photovoltaic panels on the roof produce more energy than needed, making it net positive.

ZED and Thoughtforms Corporation designed and built this home in collaboration. The LEED Platinum project won a Sustainable Design Award from the Boston Society of Architects at the 8th annual BSA Design Awards Gala in January 2019. It previously won a Gold PRISM award for Best Net Zero/Passive House and Best Energy-Smart Home from Fine Homebuilding magazine.

MORE: HOUZZ TOUR OF 7 ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOMES

Boston Design Guide

Paying tribute to Earth Day, the Boston Design Guide featured ZED's Lincoln Net Positive Farmhouse in combination with several other eco-friendly, green homes.

The Lincoln Net Positive Farmhouse is a high performance home with many green features and includes significant third party certifications:

  • REVEAL Labeled (International Living Future Institute)
  • Zero Energy Certified (International Living Future Institute)
  • LEED Platinum Certified (US Green Building Council

READ:  ARTICLE

Lincoln Net Positive Farmhouse Tour

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ZeroEnergy Design and Thoughtforms are hosting a tour of the Lincoln Net Positive Farmhouse, as part of a larger Greenbuild tour of 4 high performance homes & buildings.

Join us for a green home tour and detailed presentation!

Transportation facilitated by Greenbuild.

DATE:  Monday, November 6 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

PRICE: $100 for full day tour (until 11/3) includes 4 projects, transportation, lunch.

REGISTRATION:  Choose 'REGISTER NOW' and then choose 'Attendee'

SESSION TITLE:  "TM03 - Net Positive Revolution"  SESSION DESCRIPTION

PRICING:  Look for the 'SPECIAL EVENTS' section for pricing.