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Rosenberg Kolb Architects is proud to announce our renovation of a 1747 timber frame house on Nantucket Island, completed in 2011. The first historic renovation project in Nantucket to receive LEED Gold status. The project was given a Grand Award by Eco Home Magazine in July, 2011.
The project included:
Restructuring the foundations to align and stabilize the structure in addition to providing for a new insulated crawl space;
A 260 square foot addition for a kitchen, bath, and new entry;
New cedar shingles, roof shingles, and restored historic windows;
The house met the strict regulations of Nantucket's Historic District.
On the inside, LEED Gold certification was met through:
High R-value insulation and reduced air leakage;
High efficiency heating, air conditioning, plumbing fixtures, and appliances;
Low-emission paints and finishes as well as a clay wall finish;
Using reclaimed materials from the original house and other sites.
The project has been published in:
N Magazine July 2011
Eco Home Magazine July 2011
New England Home June 2011

Sunlight and home orientation are a big factor when considering how to build an energy efficient Net Zero home. Exposure to the sun has a lot of implications for heating and cooling. This was the case with our clients' home which was southeast facing with a bank of large triple pane windows. That provided very bright, insulated spaces that got a lot of sunlight, reducing the need for heating in the winter time. For the hot summer days, the blinds help to reduce the amount of heat generated by sunlight, while the triple pane windows help to insulate the cool air, reducing the need for A/C cooling and leading to year round energy conservation.
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Sunlight and home orientation are a big factor when considering how to build an energy efficient Net Zero home. Exposure to the sun has a lot of implications for heating and cooling. This was the case with our clients' home which was southeast facing with a bank of large triple pane windows. That provided very bright, insulated spaces that got a lot of sunlight, reducing the need for heating in the winter time. For the hot summer days, the blinds help to reduce the amount of heat generated by sunlight, while the triple pane windows help to insulate the cool air, reducing the need for A/C cooling and leading to year round energy conservation.

Sunlight and home orientation are a big factor when considering how to build an energy efficient Net Zero home. Exposure to the sun has a lot of implications for heating and cooling. This was the case with our clients' home which was southeast facing with a bank of large triple pane windows. That provided very bright, insulated spaces that got a lot of sunlight, reducing the need for heating in the winter time. For the hot summer days, the blinds help to reduce the amount of heat generated by sunlight, while the triple pane windows help to insulate the cool air, reducing the need for A/C cooling and leading to year round energy conservation.

Sunlight and home orientation are a big factor when considering how to build an energy efficient Net Zero home. Exposure to the sun has a lot of implications for heating and cooling. This was the case with our clients' home which was southeast facing with a bank of large triple pane windows. That provided very bright, insulated spaces that got a lot of sunlight, reducing the need for heating in the winter time. For the hot summer days, the blinds help to reduce the amount of heat generated by sunlight, while the triple pane windows help to insulate the cool air, reducing the need for A/C cooling and leading to year round energy conservation.

Sunlight and home orientation are a big factor when considering how to build an energy efficient Net Zero home. Exposure to the sun has a lot of implications for heating and cooling. This was the case with our clients' home which was southeast facing with a bank of large triple pane windows. That provided very bright, insulated spaces that got a lot of sunlight, reducing the need for heating in the winter time. For the hot summer days, the blinds help to reduce the amount of heat generated by sunlight, while the triple pane windows help to insulate the cool air, reducing the need for A/C cooling and leading to year round energy conservation.

OVERVIEW
Set into a mature Boston area neighborhood, this sophisticated 2900SF home offers efficient use of space, expression through form, and myriad of green features.
MULTI-GENERATIONAL LIVING
Designed to accommodate three family generations, paired living spaces on the first and second levels are architecturally expressed on the facade by window systems that wrap the front corners of the house. Included are two kitchens, two living areas, an office for two, and two master suites.
CURB APPEAL
The home includes both modern form and materials, using durable cedar and through-colored fiber cement siding, permeable parking with an electric charging station, and an acrylic overhang to shelter foot traffic from rain.
FEATURE STAIR
An open stair with resin treads and glass rails winds from the basement to the third floor, channeling natural light through all the home’s levels.
LEVEL ONE
The first floor kitchen opens to the living and dining space, offering a grand piano and wall of south facing glass. A master suite and private ‘home office for two’ complete the level.
LEVEL TWO
The second floor includes another open concept living, dining, and kitchen space, with kitchen sink views over the green roof. A full bath, bedroom and reading nook are perfect for the children.
LEVEL THREE
The third floor provides the second master suite, with separate sink and wardrobe area, plus a private roofdeck.
ENERGY
The super insulated home features air-tight construction, continuous exterior insulation, and triple-glazed windows. The walls and basement feature foam-free cavity & exterior insulation. On the rooftop, a solar electric system helps offset energy consumption.
WATER
Cisterns capture stormwater and connect to a drip irrigation system. Inside the home, consumption is limited with high efficiency fixtures and appliances.
TEAM
Architecture & Mechanical Design – ZeroEnergy Design
Contractor – Aedi Construction
Photos – Eric Roth Photography

Sunlight and home orientation are a big factor when considering how to build an energy efficient Net Zero home. Exposure to the sun has a lot of implications for heating and cooling. This was the case with our clients' home which was southeast facing with a bank of large triple pane windows. That provided very bright, insulated spaces that got a lot of sunlight, reducing the need for heating in the winter time. For the hot summer days, the blinds help to reduce the amount of heat generated by sunlight, while the triple pane windows help to insulate the cool air, reducing the need for A/C cooling and leading to year round energy conservation.

An overall view of the low maintenance garden.
Example of a southwest home design design in Austin
Example of a southwest home design design in Austin

Modern custom home nestled in quiet Arcadia neighborhood. The expansive glass window wall has stunning views of Camelback Mountain and natural light helps keep energy usage to a minimum.
CIP concrete walls also help to reduce the homes carbon footprint while keeping a beautiful, architecturally pleasing finished look to both inside and outside.
The artfully blended look of metal, concrete, block and glass bring a natural, raw product to life in both visual and functional way

The Landsdown Collection offers four traditional designs, 11 color choices and 21 decorative window options. This durable low-maintenance collection provides section interfaces designed to reduce serious finger and hand injuries.

Minimalist+® is modern going mainstream: using simplicity of form to produce efficient construction. These are high performance homes that reduce energy use and create a model for sustainable living. SiteFab® is a new building system (part prefabricated, part site work) designed to streamline the process, reduce costs, waste and eliminate weather-related issues that lead to construction defects. The homes are carefully designed for a lifestyle of elegant simplicity: from the architecture of the spaces, to the carefully chosen window views, to the sustainable interior design choices the home inspires.

The new Mt. Vernon Insert with Efficient Energy (E2) technology is the most powerful and efficient insert ever designed by Quadra-Fire. E2 technology helps achieve 87% efficiency—saving money by burning less fuel. Plus E2 technology automatically adjusts the blower to maintain desired room temperatures. A 47 lb hopper and easy-clean cast iron firepot reduce maintenance efforts. And the Mt. Vernon E2 is the only product available with cast iron construction on all major components—proving it’s built to last.

This modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income.
FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own.
SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio.
MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch.
SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf)
RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property.
COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort.
ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements.
OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income.
PROJECT TEAM
ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer
A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor
Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry
Lisa Finch - Original Artwork
European Architectural Supply - Windows
Eric Roth Photography - Photography

At night the strategically placed lights highlight the surrounding native plants.
Example of a southwest home design design in Austin
Example of a southwest home design design in Austin

Custom thermally broken windows and door from Europe that were treated with solar film to reduce UV were installed to enhance sight lines and thermal efficiency. The exterior wall was angled to allow for a longer lap pool.
Project designer: Sherry Williamson
Architect: Andrew Mann Architecture
Landscape Architect: Scott Lewis Landscape Architecture
David Wakely Photography

Hunter Douglas | Duette®
Duette®
The original single- and double-honeycomb Duette® shades come in multiple cell sizes, a horizontal or Vertiglide™ vertical orientation, and a range of light-control options from sheer to opaque.
Energy Efficiency
COOL IN THE SUMMER, WARM IN THE WINTER
Did you know that up to 50% of a home’s heating and cooling energy can be lost through its windows? That’s why we designed this unique cellular shade that traps air in distinct pockets to help keep your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
And while the honeycomb design is praised for its efficiency, its shape and overall aesthetic are nothing short of beautiful.
Double Honeycomb
EVEN GREATER EFFICIENCIES
Our double-honeycomb construction traps air even more efficiently than our single honeycomb by sandwiching two honeycomb cells between your room and the window.
Absorb Sound
REDUCE OUTSIDE NOISE
Improve your room’s acoustics while reducing the intensity of outside sound. It starts at the windows.
The degree of sound control will depend on the fabric you choose, so if this is an important feature to you, be sure to discuss it with your sales expert.
Top-Down/Bottom-Up
PRIVACY WITH A VIEW
The Top-Down/Bottom-Up feature offers a more versatile approach to light control. Open from the top, from the bottom, or find somewhere in-between–for the perfect balance of privacy and light.
Energy Efficiency
COOL IN THE SUMMER, WARM IN THE WINTER
Did you know that up to 50% of a home’s heating and cooling energy can be lost through its windows? That’s why we designed this unique cellular shade that traps air in distinct pockets to help keep your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
And while the honeycomb design is praised for its efficiency, its shape and overall aesthetic are nothing short of beautiful.
Double Honeycomb
EVEN GREATER EFFICIENCIES
Our double-honeycomb construction traps air even more efficiently than our single honeycomb by sandwiching two honeycomb cells between your room and the window.
Absorb Sound
REDUCE OUTSIDE NOISE
Improve your room’s acoustics while reducing the intensity of outside sound. It starts at the windows.
The degree of sound control will depend on the fabric you choose, so if this is an important feature to you, be sure to discuss it with your sales expert.
Vertiglide™
FOR LARGE WINDOWS AND SLIDING DOORS
Vertiglide™ offers an exceptional, energy-efficient vertical solution for large expanses of windows and sliding glass doors.
Top-Down/Bottom-Up
PRIVACY WITH A VIEW
The Top-Down/Bottom-Up feature offers a more versatile approach to light control. Open from the top, from the bottom, or find somewhere in-between–for the perfect balance of privacy and light.
UV protection
SUNSCREEN FOR YOUR VALUABLES
Protect your furniture, flooring and artwork from fading with at least 75% protection from harmful UV rays

A meticulously crafted backyard retreat small plan home designed to redefine urban living. This energy-efficient dwelling unites the principles of sustainable design with eye-catching aesthetics to provide a functional space that's perfect for additional income, guest quarters, or extended family accommodations. Its compact layout aims to increase urban density while contributing to a reduced carbon footprint. The Retreat not only offers you the chance to embrace a greener, more efficient lifestyle but also empowers you with an opportunity to augment your income.
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