Seven Sustainable Design Firms That Will Help You Go Green
These local pros are devoted to dreaming up eco-friendly homes.
Design by ZeroEnergy Design. Photo by Eric Roth
ZeroEnergy Design, Boston
This sustainable design firm takes a multidisciplinary approach to going green, combining diverse backgrounds in architecture, mechanical engineering, and finance. The result? Newly constructed and renovated homes that use at least 50 percent less energy than required by building codes. That means sustainability isn’t just an added bonus: It’s what drives their clean-lined, cutting-edge designs.
156 Milk St., Boston, 617-720-5002, zeroenergy.com.
Andrew Sidford Architects, Newburyport
From custom designs to historical renovations, minimizing the environmental impact of homes is the name of the game at Andrew Sidford Architects. Back in 2006, the group was the first architectural firm to join 1% For the Planet, an organization whose members promise to direct one percent of their profits towards green causes.
44 Merrimac St., Newburyport, 978-462-1657, asidfordarchitects.com.
Saltonstall Architects, Marion
Since 1980, this second-generation firm has combined New England sensibility with innovative technology to create sustainable buildings. One example? A traditional farmhouse and barn in Westwood, complete with a solar array, super insulation, and ground-source heat pumps.
380 Wareham St., Marion, 508-748-1043, saltonstallarchitects.com.
Design by A3 Architects. Photo by Dan Cutrona
A3 Architects, Dennis
Specializing in net-zero energy and passive-house projects, insulation strategies, efficient heating and cooling systems, and renewable energy strategies, this Dennis-based firm is committed to designing a greener future for the Cape and beyond. LEED accredited principal Alison Alessi, a Certified Passive House Consultant, also serves on the board of Self-Reliance, a Cape Cod-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting sustainability.
831 Main St., Dennis, 508-694-7887, a3architectsinc.com.
Flavin Architects, Boston
The Flavin team calls their approach “natural modernism”—meaning their buildings are seamlessly integrated with their surroundings. Whether creating a Vermont getaway that’s passively heated by the sun or a stone house tucked into a granite ledge in Weston, the firm strives to minimize its environmental impact by using eco-friendly materials, as well as energy- and water-conserving technologies.
175 Portland St., Boston, 617-227-6717, flavinarchitects.com.
Design by Reverse Architecture. Photo by Brian Vanden Brink
Reverse Architecture, Somerville
Reverse Architecture draws its name from “reverse engineering,” and that’s exactly how the firm designs its projects. The team analyzes a number of specific factors, including client needs and the ecology of the site, to come up with a sustainable design solution. Here, architectural and interior services run the gamut from passive-house design and certification to energy-efficient retrofit design, energy modeling, furniture design, and more.
561 Windsor St., Somerville, 617-440-3622, reversearchitecture.com.
Jill Neubauer Architects, Falmouth
As U.S. Green Building Council members, Neubauer’s team designs cottages, homes, barns, and even tented “glamp” getaways using non-toxic materials and energy saving technologies such as solar-powered hot water heating, solar electricity, and geothermal heating and cooling. Neubauer is also a founding member of Cape & Islands Green, a group of 72 area businesses that are committed to such environmentally-sound practices as saving energy and cutting down on waste.
15 Depot Ave., Falmouth, 508-548-0909, jnarchitects.com.
