ZED WINS GOLD AND SILVER IN 2021 PRISM AWARDS

ZeroEnergy Design took home two medals at the 2021 PRISM Awards, held annually to celebrate the best of the best in the local residential building industry. A record 331 PRISM entries were received this year with 12 judges from across the country choosing Gold and Silver crystal award winners who were announced at the gala.

ZED’s Hingham Marshfront home won a Gold PRISM Award for Best Single Family Home: 3,000 to 4,500 SF. This green home was designed for a Hingham-based couple who commuted to Boston for work and desired a modern residence on their marshfront property that fit with their green lifestyle. Outdoor connections include a gracious 1,000 SF deck with al fresco living areas overlooking the vegetated salt marsh, a vegetable garden and an outdoor shower. Green features include a super insulated enclosure, triple-glazed windows, efficient cold climate heat pumps for heating and cooling, plus a rooftop solar electric system to offset energy consumption. These features not only reflect the owners’ efforts to be ecologically responsible, but also their desire for year-round resilience, protection from the elements, and optimal thermal comfort.

ZED’s Mt. Hope Modern home won a Silver PRISM Award for Best High Performance/Energy Efficient Home. This seaside Portsmouth, Rhode Island home home features warm stylish interiors, incorporates coastal resilience, and achieves near net zero performance, all while capturing commanding ocean views. While the design of the home gives it the appearance of being light on its feet, it is truly heavy on both energy performance and durability. The all-electric, super-insulated home’s consumption is offset with clean energy production from a 20kW solar electric system - and in terms of performance, the home has an amazing 2.8kBtu/sf/yr actual EUI, which is effectively 95% better than a typical code build house in New England.

The Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston (BRAGB) is one of the leading trade associations in New England since its inception in 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.

MORE: Awards Presentation

FEATURE STORY IN OCEAN HOME MAGAZINE

Mt. Hope Modern, ZED’s green coastal home in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, was recently showcased by Ocean Home Magazine. This 4,700 SF modern home offers warm stylish interiors, incredible ocean views, and plenty of ways to enjoy the New England outdoor lifestyle.

The piece includes interviews with the owners, Kerry Tyson and Zack King, who describe stumbling upon the house while it was still under construction for the previous owner. They were so taken with it that they left their just-remodeled home in nearby Bristol in order to purchase and complete it. The couple was attracted to the modern, energy efficient design as well as the stunning views of Mount Hope Bay.

A pivot to the new owners was made possible by ZED’s flexible design. “We design custom homes that are tailored to the clients’ needs and aesthetics, but we’re always thinking about how they might be adapted in the future,” said architect Stephanie Horowitz. This was a great example of that process playing out, allowing the King’s to move in with their two children a year later.

Modifications to the design were made primarily to engage the exterior spaces. These included transforming the carport into a sheltered outdoor lounge, adding a pool with a clear glass panel enclosure, and building a fire table with outdoor dining areas beneath the second story deck. The King’s are thrilled with their new home and added, “there was no better place to be during the pandemic, especially for our kids.”

MORE: OCEAN HOME ARTICLE

MORE: MT. HOPE MODERN CASE