ZeroEnergy Design

We’re excited to see our Stow Passive House featured in the 30th anniversary edition of , exploring how thoughtful architecture, high performance, and a deep connection to the landscape come together in a home designed for generations.

ZED Project Architect: Noah Fitch, AIA
Builder:
Photography:

Article Link: https://issuu.com/bostondesignguide/docs/boston_design_guide_-_30th_anniversary_edition/200

A home doesn't always need to be replaced to be completely reimagined. For this Brookline project, our clients relocated from California looking for a place where their family could put down roots for decades to come. Together, ZED transformed an existing home through a Deep Energy Retrofit, opening up the interior with light-filled, flexible living spaces while preserving the character of the neighborhood.

Behind the walls, the house is an entirely different building: a high-performance enclosure, all-electric mechanical systems, triple-pane windows, rooftop solar, and battery storage work together to create a home that's healthier, more comfortable, and built to perform for generations.

More about this project here: https://www.zeroenergy.com/brookline-deep-energy-retrofit

ZED Project Architect/Manager: Matt Genaze
Contractor: Thoughtforms
Interior Design: Julie Yen Design

Congratulations to 78-80 Porter Road in for winning a Mayor Thomas M. Menino Legacy Award! ZED's John Mucciarone, Project Manager on the project, accepted the award at the Preservation Awards ceremony on June 11th at Fenway Park.

This property was originally constructed in 1915 as an apartment building. Over time, it was used as affordable housing. The building had not undergone a substantial update in its history and retained many original systems from 1915. Cambridge Housing Authority undertook a modernization of the building - replaced outdated systems, insulated the building, and repaired and repointed the exterior - replacing inappropriate windows, and updating all units with new kitchens and bathrooms.

The interior integrity of each unit's original trim and fireplaces was retained and restored. Original wood flooring was restored, original staircases were rehabilitated to be code compliant, the masonry was sensitively repointed, and historically appropriate windows were installed, replacing vinyl windows that had detracted from the building’s historic character.

Congratulations to the team!
Structural Engineer, Inc.
Gumpertz & Heger
Engineering
KCM Group
Epsilon Associates
GVW Construction
Petersen Engineering
photos by Albie Colantonio Photography

Last week ZED hosted our Bottom Lines regional peer group on our home turf in Boston! We kicked things off in with a dual site visit to two nearby projects - one complete, one under construction. Check 'em out!

What's Bottom Lines you say? Created by , Bottom Lines is a program for NESEA members to advance their like-minded businesses that utilize a triple bottom line - People, Planet, and Profit - approach. The two-day program is organized around a peer group model for learning and sharing with other like-minded business people pursuing sustainability in the built environment. We get a ton of value from being part of Bottom Lines and highly recommend it - feel free to reach out if you're curious to learn more! Our partners below:







BPC Green Builders

We're Hiring!
https://nesea.org/job/project-architect-manager-0

Step into a well-designed, energy-efficient home and the difference is palpable. The temperature is consistent from room to room, the air is fresh without a window cracked, and the outside noise fades away. Architect Noah Fitch has spent his career designing energy-efficient homes that perform at the highest level and knows what matters most. Check out Noah's guide to creating one of these homes - and what anyone designing one should understand before they start.

https://www.zeroenergy.com/blog/how-to-build-an-energy-efficient-home

Seen here is one of Noah's recently completed projects, a Passive House Certified custom home project in Stow, MA built by Star Contracting Company, Inc. Noah can be seen enjoying a stroll (and a climb) through the house!

Glass, wood, air, and light
A house shaped with its climate
Living gently here.

Earth Day, every day!

StowMA

What is a Passive House, Really? 
From the outside, it looks like a house. A well-designed one. Quietly modern, nothing performative. The difference is what you don’t see, but will definitely feel.

Heating is the largest form of energy consumption in a typical New England home. A superinsulated, airtight building enclosure - the walls, windows, doors, foundation, and roof - can be used as a passive strategy to reduce the heating energy required. In other words, the ‘passive’ in Passive House means the design does the work.

A Passive House prioritizes:

🏡 Insulation → a continuous thermal ‘jacket’ to slow heat loss
🚪 Airtightness → no uncomfortable drafts or energy waste and improved durability
🌬️ Fresh air ventilation → consistent, healthy indoor environment for your family
🪟 High performance windows → triple pane windows allow for warmer indoor temperatures and provide extra noise reduction
🧭 Design + orientation → siting to optimize solar heat gain

The result is a home that requires a fraction of the heating and cooling energy, along with incredible thermal comfort, healthy indoor air, and a peaceful interior environment. It’s a smarter way to build, especially in cold climates.

If you’re thinking about building or renovating, these decisions matter most before the walls go up. Link in bio for more about Passive House benefits.