Massachusetts is in the middle of a meaningful housing shift. With the passage of the Affordable Homes Act (Chapter 150 of the Acts of 2024), Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) up to 900 square feet are now allowed by right in single-family zoning districts statewide. This policy change is one of the most significant zoning reforms…
If you’re building a new home in New England, you will almost certainly hear the term HERS rating. In many towns across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, it’s no longer optional — it’s required. But beyond compliance, a HERS rating is one of the most powerful tools available for designing a home that performs efficiently,…
Architectural beauty is easy to recognize. A well-proportioned façade, thoughtful materials, clean rooflines, and carefully placed windows can make a home feel timeless from the moment you see it. But true excellence in residential design goes deeper than appearance. In New England, where homes endure long heating seasons, high humidity, coastal exposure, and freeze–thaw cycles,…
Accessory Dwelling Units—commonly referred to as ADUs—are among the fastest-growing housing solutions across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New England. They offer flexibility, long-term value, and thoughtful density without changing the character of existing neighborhoods. An ADU is a secondary residential unit located on the same property as a primary home. It includes its own living…
Designing and building an energy-efficient home in New England requires more than good intentions and high-quality materials. In Rhode Island and Massachusetts, true performance is measured — not assumed. That’s where blower door testing becomes one of the most important tools in sustainable home design and construction. Blower door testing in Rhode Island and Massachusetts…
During the last twenty years American home buyers and builders have become slaves to large houses. Even though theaverage family size has grown smaller we continue to build houses that are substantially larger than that of our parents. With master bedrooms that you could play baseball in and foyers as large as family rooms, it…
According to jack Leary of KW Management inc. of Nashua New Hampshire, fossil-fuel demands have been wagging the world economy for over fifty years. Our nation is slipping into economic hardship: our lack of energy independence threatens our national security. Around the world global warming is a top priority. Reducing the pollution caused by fossil…
Indoor air quality deserves more attention today than in prior years. With home heating and cooling costs on the rise, and the likelihood that they will continue to rise, designers and builders are challenged to produce energy-efficient, air-tight homes. Because of this, indoor air quality issues are more important than ever. Even in large industrialized…
In selecting a lot for a new home, factors such as price, area schools and neighborhoods are universally understood. Factors, such as soil condition, topography and solar orientation should also be considered. The best building sites in terms of ease of development and desirable location have already been built on. The remaining land, especially in…
Recently I attended a conference in Boston sponsored by The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESA). There were many workshops and lectures pertaining to energy conservation and renewable energy. Attendance this year was ten times more than in previous years. With oil topping one hundred and ten dollars a barrel recently, the time to start seriously…