In Progress: Net Zero sanctuary in Westport

ZED is nearing completion of a new energy efficient residence in Westport, MA. The design, which features two gable-roofed structures set in an open meadow, was inspired by the agrarian aesthetic of the area, creating a zen-like sanctuary for the owners.  

The client, a soon to be retired couple from Wayland, chose to relocate to Westport to find more community and gain more consistent access to the outdoors. They also desired a home with minimal energy consumption, minimal maintenance, and exceptional durability, with net zero or better performance. 

Lofty Spaces and Outdoor Connections.  ZED created a home consisting of two formal gray masses with natural material connections - a primary residence and detached barn-like garage connected by a covered walkway. The three-bedroom main house is open concept and window-filled, the entire home meant to feel like one giant room. The spacious kitchen flows into the living/dining room, which benefits from double-height ceilings, ample windows and giant lift/slide glass doors. On the other side of those doors is a large awning and shading device that helps filter out light and heat, as well as a substantive deck for outdoor entertaining.

Rooms Designed for Openness and Flexibility. One enters the primary bedroom on the second floor through a wide cased opening, making it feel completely open and seamlessly connected to the rest of the house. The two ‘guest’ rooms were designed to be adaptable, either as home offices, guest bedrooms, or exercise rooms. Additionally, the first-floor bedroom can be easily transformed into the primary bedroom suite, should the owners desire moving downstairs as they age in place. The two-car garage brings plenty of versatility as well, providing room for vehicle and outdoor equipment storage, a workshop, or ’tinkering’ space, and multi-purpose loft. 

Net Zero Energy Performance. The electric home was designed to be in line with net-zero or net-positive energy performance, featuring a super insulated enclosure, triple-glazed windows, air source heat pumps, balanced mechanical ventilation with heat and energy recovery, plus a large 51-panel solar array to offset energy consumption. Embodied energy was reduced by using minimal foam, wood fiber continuous exterior insulation, loose-fill cellulose for the roof, and mineral wool interior insulation on basement walls; the garage is not heated, utilizing only mineral wool in the wall cavities. These performance features, combined with the minimalist design, result in an exceptionally peaceful environment for the owners.

A floating staircase with a gentle rise provides access to the second floor

Living/dining room features lots of light

Large lift/slide doors open to the outside

The primary bedroom is open to the rest of the house through a large cased opening

Detached garage with covered connection

Covered passageway to garage

The addition of the orange awning and shading device will help filter out summer light and heat

In Progress: Acton Passive House

New Home Targeting Passive House Certification. This newly constructed home nestled in the Acton woods is an exercise in restraint, simplicity and form, all working together to create a stylish, environmentally sensitive residence. The home is Passive House (PHIUS) pre-certified and is on its way to receiving full Passive House certification. As construction nears completion, we take a look at the blend of features that were carefully balanced to create a tranquil indoor environment with an efficient footprint. 

Designed for Respite from the City. ZED was engaged to design this custom home as a primary residence for the client, who desired quiet and respite from urban life. The client envisioned a combined living/kitchen/dining room as the home’s nexus, which we designed with a wall of continuous glass that wraps the southeast corner of the house, connecting the interior to the natural surroundings. The rest of the home’s 1,650 SF rectangular footprint is composed of two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an office and mechanical/laundry room, all of which follow a simple, modern aesthetic – polished concrete floors, minimalist fixtures, and glazed so as not to have to turn on a single light during the day.

Constructed for Small Operational Impact. Adhering to the Passive House standard means that this Acton home will have incredibly low operational energy. A floating raft of insulation beneath the concrete foundation, known as a mono form EZ slab, creates a thermal break as well as a form for the concrete slab. To complete the airtight foundation, Stego Wrap was installed as a vapor barrier before the concrete was poured. Construction wasn’t easy, interrupted more than once by major snowstorms and high winds, but contractor Adams + Beasley was up to the task, weathering the challenging elements without compromising on the super insulated envelope or energy features.

This Acton residence is a Pre-Certified Passive House (PHIUS+) and will target Passive House Certification once completed

Vastly Reduced Embodied Energy. For the home’s walls, wood fiber continuous exterior insulation, combined with dense pack cellulose in the wall cavities, was used - not only is wood fiber 100% compostable at the end of its life, but also exceptional for acoustic insulation and fire safety. Air tightness was achieved through a continuous exterior air/water barrier. An 18-inch truss of dense pack cellulose was used to insulate the top-vented shed roof, minimizing the use of foam. Since there is no basement, there was far less concrete used to construct the foundation, meaning less embodied energy. The home also faces due south, so there will be exceptional solar access for the photovoltaic panels, which will produce enough electricity to arrive at net zero or net positive energy.

Check out More Construction Imagery and Time Lapse Video from Adams + Beasley’s Portfolio Page.

ZED's Concord Green Home in Forbes

We are excited to see ZED’s Concord Green Home featured in the new Forbes article on the role of the thermal envelope in limiting energy and water consumption. Describing the Concord, MA, project as “one of the best examples of thoughtful use of appropriate materials,” the writer explains how the use of small windows in the north-facing front of the house and the larger windows in the rear work together to optimize solar gain and minimize heat loss.

ZED designed the Concord home to be a healthy and energy-efficient home right from the start. Since indoor air quality was one of the highest priorities for the client, care was taken to specify building materials that would not emit irritating gases. ZED also used design and energy modeling to prioritize efficiency improvements (such as extra insulation, high-performance windows, and an efficient heating and cooling system) and help the owner evaluate numerous window layouts, window models/manufacturers, and glazing options to select a package that offered the most attractive total cost of ownership, daylit space, and a future upgrade path for renewable energy.

As a result, each room in the house has windows on at least two walls - ensuring two different light sources and optimal cross ventilation. The overall design is Energy Star Certified to consume 50% less energy than a typical brand new home.

Read more about Concord Green Home case study.

MORE: CONCORD GREEN HOME IN FORBES