What ZeroEnergy Design does

ZeroEnergy Design is a Boston-headquartered architecture firm founded in 2004 that delivers integrated design services for high-performance residential buildings. The firm operates three core service lines: Custom Home Design (new builds and deep energy retrofits for individual homeowners), Multifamily Architecture (working with developers, housing authorities, non-profits, and institutions), and Energy Consulting Services (Mechanical Design, Passive House Consulting, Building Science Consulting, and Certification Facilitation for external architects and builders). Its core methodology is the Passive House standard, supported by five Certified Passive House Consultants on staff and integrated architecture plus mechanical engineering under one roof, which allows the firm to optimize building envelope and HVAC systems as a unified system rather than as separate disciplines. Differentiated technical capabilities include superinsulated envelopes with airtightness as low as 0.049 ACH50, hydronic distribution design, geothermal calculations, and renewable energy integration planning.

The business operates as a professional services firm on a quote-based pricing model, with new inquiries routed through a Business Manager and project delivery spanning schematic design through construction administration. The firm employs approximately 10 people across Boston, Brooklyn, and Portland, and is led by Managing Director Stephanie Horowitz and Engineering Principal Jordan Goldman. It is WBE-Certified (Women's Business Enterprise) in Massachusetts, founder-controlled with no external institutional investors, and earns revenue through project fees from a mix of private homeowner clients and institutional affordable housing partners such as the Cambridge Housing Authority and RiseBoro Community Partnership. Marketing is conducted primarily through thought leadership content (an active blog), press features (New York Times, Architectural Digest, Forbes, Dwell), industry panel participation, and a consecutive Best of Houzz Design Award track record spanning 2012-2026.

Geographic focus is the New England region (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut) plus New York, with select projects in New Jersey. The firm has completed dozens of Passive House and net-zero projects over its 20+ year history and is engaged on large multifamily work including an 800-unit PHIUS+ certified building in New York, signaling selective expansion into higher-volume institutional segments without compromising its custom residential specialization.

Name

ZeroEnergy Design

Legal name

ZeroEnergy Design

Website

https://zeroenergy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ZeroEnergy Design is a Boston-based architecture firm specializing in Passive House and net-zero residential design, offering integrated architecture, mechanical engineering, and energy consulting for homeowners, developers, and housing authorities across New England and New York.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural and Energy Consulting Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Green / High-Performance Home Construction (Net-Zero, Passive House) (IMAFABAH), Independent Living Community Development & Construction (Senior Housing Developers) (HLADAAAH)

Keywords

• Passive house design
• Sustainable architecture
• Multifamily architecture services
• Energy consulting services
• Building science consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Custom Home Design Services: Full-service architectural design for custom single-family homes including new builds and deep energy retrofits. Services include site analysis, schematic design, permitting, contractor selection, design development, construction documents, and construction administration.
2. Multifamily Architecture Services: Architectural and mechanical design services for multifamily buildings working with developers, housing authorities, non-profit organizations, and institutions.
3. Energy Consulting Services: Mechanical design and Passive House consulting services provided to architects, builders, developers, and institutions. Includes energy modeling, building science review, and certification facilitation for projects ranging from single-family homes to large multifamily developments.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ZeroEnergy Design is an architecture and consulting firm that designs high-performance, energy-efficient buildings, principally residential. The firm delivers Custom Home Design for private owners, Multifamily Architecture for developers and public agencies, and Energy Consulting Services spanning mechanical design, Passive House and net-zero consulting, building science consulting, energy modeling, and certification facilitation for other architects, builders, and institutions.

Product overview

ZeroEnergy Design is a Massachusetts-based architecture and mechanical design firm offering integrated design services for custom homes, multifamily buildings, and energy consulting. The company provides three interconnected service areas: Custom Home Design for single-family residences (new builds and deep energy retrofits), Multifamily Architecture for residential buildings with developers and housing authorities, and Energy Consulting Services encompassing Mechanical Design, Passive House Consulting, Building Science Consulting, and Certification Facilitation. All services are delivered by an integrated team combining architecture, mechanical engineering, and building science expertise, with sustainability as a core standard across every project.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Home Design Architectural and energy-focused design of custom single-family homes for individual private owners, targeting high-performance, energy-efficient, often Passive House or net-zero outcomes. Delivered by ZeroEnergy Design for homeowners undertaking new construction or major renovation of a custom home.
• Multifamily Architecture Architectural and engineering services for multifamily housing developments, including new construction and deep energy retrofits targeting Passive House or net-zero performance, delivered to developers, public housing authorities, and non-profit organizations.
• Energy Consulting Services Specialist consulting offering for other architects, builders, developers, and institutions covering mechanical design, Passive House and net-zero consulting, building science consulting, energy modeling, and Passive House/net-zero certification facilitation. Engagements span custom home, multifamily, and institutional projects where ZED is not the architect of record but provides energy and engineering expertise.

Quantifiable outcome

• Heating and cooling energy reduction of 75-90% compared to typical code-compliant homes
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Paul A. Castrucci Architects (PCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZED provided energy consulting and mechanical design services for Paul A. Castrucci Architects on the Woodlawn Senior Living project in Bronx, NY. This 45,000 SF, 80-unit PHIUS+ certified senior living project required ZED's specialized Passive House and mechanical design expertise.
• Adams + Beasley AssociatescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for multiple ZED projects including Acton Passive House. Collaborated on high-performance construction with ZED's architecture and mechanical design services.
• C. Alexander BuildingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for Margate Resilient Residence project in New Jersey.
• Star Contracting Co.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborative contractor for Stow Passive House project that gained Phius ZERO Certification and won a 2025 Phius Passive Projects Design Competition Award.
• Nat Rea PhotographyminorOthersPhotography services for multiple projects including Acton Passive House and Providence Net Zero.
• Eric Roth PhotographyminorOthersPhotography services for Margate Resilient Residence project.
• Greg Lombardi DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner for Providence Net Zero project.
• Atsu Gunther DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design partner for Providence Net Zero project.
• ZRE DevelopmentminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOwner/developer for Cambridge, MA single-family home project where ZED provided energy consulting and mechanical design services.
• Alpha Smart BuildersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilder partner for Cambridge triple decker NESEA Pro Tour project.
• New Ecology, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for Cambridge affordable housing renovation project featured in NESEA Pro Tour.
• Homeowners Rehab Inc (HRI)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDeveloper for Columbia Street Residences and other Cambridge affordable housing projects. ZED provided architecture and energy consulting services for their triple decker gut rehab.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Maryann Thompson Architects: Boston-based architecture firm focused on residential and small institutional projects with a strong design quality reputation. Multiple ZED senior team members (notably John Mucciarone) previously worked there, and the firms share a Boston high-performance residential niche.
• Brooks + Scarpa: Award-winning sustainable architecture firm with strong affordable-housing and net-zero credentials. Comparable to ZED in marrying sustainability leadership with residential and multifamily project delivery.
• MOS Architects: Philadelphia-based firm practicing sustainable residential architecture with material and energy experimentation. Comparable to ZED in scale and commitment to high-performance, environmentally driven residential design.
• Olson Kundig: Seattle-based custom residential architecture firm with a strong sustainability and craft ethos. Comparable to ZED in project scale, high-end client base, and emphasis on high-performance building design.
• Interface Studio Architects: Philadelphia-based architecture firm with strong affordable-housing and sustainable-design portfolio. Comparable to ZED for its multifamily affordable housing work and integrated sustainability approach.
• Lake|Flato: San Antonio-based architecture firm known for sustainable residential and institutional design rooted in regional climate response. Comparable to ZED in integrating sustainability as a core practice and serving both custom homes and institutional clients.

Broad incumbents

• Bohlin Cywinski Jackson: Pennsylvania-based architecture firm with a celebrated custom residential practice and broader institutional work. Comparable to ZED on high-end residential design quality, but at larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Perkins&Will: Global architecture firm with a long-standing sustainability practice and deep institutional client base. Comparable as a competitor for high-performance institutional work, though at much broader scale and project mix.
• KieranTimberlake: Philadelphia-based architecture firm recognized for net-zero research and high-performance buildings (e.g., Cellophane House). Comparable to ZED for its net-zero expertise but operates at significantly larger scale and portfolio breadth.
• Studio Gang: Chicago-based architecture firm known for sustainable, environmentally responsive design across scales. Comparable for sustainability leadership but with a much larger and more diverse portfolio than ZED's residential focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ThinkZeroEnergy
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zeroenergy-design

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ZeroEnergy Design