We’re honored that Providence Net Zero has been awarded a Gold Medal for Best Single Family Detached Home (6,000–8,000 SF) at the 2025 PRISM Awards!

This Providence home blends classic New England charm with modern, sustainable innovations. Sun-filled spaces invite reading, writing, and gathering, while thoughtful glazing connects the interiors to the lush, landscaped yard. The design fosters a unique “urban family compound,” linking nearby relatives through adjoining gardens and shared outdoor spaces. Wrapped in renewable cork insulation and powered by solar energy, the home achieves carbon-neutral comfort without fossil fuels. A green roof, spa, and beautifully designed patios complete this urban oasis balancing warmth, efficiency, and a deep connection to nature.

ZED is proud to announce that Stow Passive House gained Phius ZERO Certification, a major accomplishment that represents the highest standard of energy performance and carbon accountability in building design and construction. In addition, ZED was awarded a 2025 Phius Passive Projects Design Competition Award!

In an extensive spread, ZED’s Providence Net Zero project was featured in the July-August 2025 issue of New England Home. The striking net‑positive, all-electric home on Providence’s historic East Side beautifully marries sustainable performance with modern New England style. The home presents a familiar façade of cedar shingles and stone steps, while the rear elevation reveals contemporary flair with a charred-wood cube clad in shou sugi ban and large operable windows opening to landscaped gardens and solar power above.

In a city like Boston, where historic streets meet modern challenges like traffic congestion and rising emissions, the bicycle has become more than just a recreational option, it’s a vehicle for environmental change. As architects, we actively design for bikes, too. In cities like Somerville, there are requirements for dedicated bicycle parking in new residential projects, but even in areas without formal regulations, we at ZED often incorporate thoughtful bike storage solutions. Whether it’s a secure garage, dedicated indoor area, or weather-protected exterior space, designing with bikes in mind reflects a commitment to healthier, more resilient communities.

Zero Emissions, Maximum Impact. Whether you're coasting down the streets of Belmont or navigating the protected lanes on Mass Ave, each trip made by bike is a small but meaningful act of climate action. Bicycles produce no emissions, making them one of the cleanest modes of transport available. In Boston, where the average car commuter spends hours stuck in traffic each week, switching to a bike even a few days a week can drastically reduce your carbon footprint. According to MassBike, trips under 3 miles — perfect for biking — make up a significant portion of daily travel. Choosing bikes over gas powered vehicles helps reduce greenhouse gases, air pollution, and our dependence on fossil fuels.

Stephanie Horowitz was recently interviewed by Bluedot’s Britt Bowker to talk about Columbia Street Residences, ZED’s affordable housing project in Cambridge, MA. The article, titled, ‘How a Cambridge Triple-Decker Became a Model for Affordable, Sustainable Living,’ details this extensive interior renovation that resulted in an all-electric, super insulated building providing three apartments for low-income residents.

The Hingham Power Hour, a new video series focused on sustainability and electrification, aired its first episode, “Welcome to the Power Hour! Let’s Electrify.”

ZED’s Managing Director Stephanie Horowitz sat down in one of ZED’s net zero homes, Hingham Marshfront, for an interview about the home’s unique features and following the path to zero during the design process.

Video Link Included.

Senior Project Manager John Mucciarone, seen above in his natural habitat sketching on a napkin over a beer in Portland, ME. On this particular occasion, John was part of a gathering of architects and designers for a 'Drink + Sketch,' covered in Maine Home Design magazine. Local architects from the Portland area were invited to gather at Novare Res Bier Café in Portland for a drink and to celebrate the hand-drawn in an increasingly digital world.

The evolution of the workplace, particularly with the rise of remote work, has brought about a renewed focus on the aesthetics of our work environments, extending beyond the physical office to include the digital realm. Having a beautiful office is no longer just about creating a pleasing physical space for productivity and creativity; it's equally important to consider the visual backdrop that represents us in virtual meetings. This dual focus ensures that our professionalism and attention to detail are evident, not just in our work, but also in the environments we choose to display during video calls.

Mt. Hope Modern, a coastal home in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, was one of the featured homes in the Houzz Article, titled ‘8 Coastal Homes with Awesome Ocean Views.’

Located in the coastal neighborhood of Bristol Ferry/Common Fence Point, Rhode Island with a commanding ocean view, this seaside modern home welcomes you to its warm stylish interiors, while just as quickly shifting your gaze towards the sea. The fenestration creates a variety of views and experiences, all intended to capture natural light and ocean vistas. 

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Two of ZED’s multifamily affordable housing projects in Cambridge, MA - Porter Road Apartments and Columbia Street Apartments - recently gained Enterprise Green Communities certification! This certification program aims to promote the creation of sustainable, healthy, and environmentally responsible affordable housing.

The Enterprise Green Communities Certification is a comprehensive green building framework designed specifically for affordable housing developments in the United States. Gaining certification can be challenging, as it requires comprehensive adherence to a set of rigorous standards that cover various aspects of building design, construction and operation.

The evolution of the workplace, particularly with the rise of remote work, has brought about a renewed focus on the aesthetics of our work environments, extending beyond the physical office to include the digital realm. Having a beautiful office is no longer just about creating a pleasing physical space for productivity and creativity; it's equally important to consider the visual backdrop that represents us in virtual meetings. This dual focus ensures that our professionalism and attention to detail are evident, not just in our work, but also in the environments we choose to display during video calls.

This modern high performance home in Belmont was built in two phases, beginning with an addition to an existing 1960s-era house. The home’s two bifurcated wings informed the decision to phase the project so that the owners could live in part of the home with their three children during construction. The design kept a similar footprint and created two distinct wings with a connector in between. This central corridor is the home’s formal entry point and provides a dramatic perspective overlooking the abutting Mass Audubon sanctuary beyond.

On Friday May 19th, ZED joined Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) in leading a BuildingEnergy ProTour of a 3-unit triple decker in Cambridge that underwent a gut rehab after a fire in 2020. The project was developed by Homeowners Rehab Inc (HRI) and now provides three apartments for low-income residents.

Erika DeRoche of ZED kicked off the tour with a 45-minute overview of the project, which was then followed by a three-stage tour of the basement, exterior, and interior of one unit. Erika DeRoche from ZED, Deliandro Cruz of Alpha Smart Builders and Nate Wickman of New Ecology, Inc. hosted each station, talking about the finer points of this ambitious energy efficient renovation. Attendees were able to hear about design decisions around HVAC, Domestic Hot Water and Fire Protection systems, as well as the wall and flooring assemblies, all of which prioritized resident comfort and sustainability.

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.

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