Thirty-five building professionals enjoyed the warmth and beauty of Massachusetts' North Shore while touring these two homes and joining in an informative workshop at the Joppa Education Center.

Site 1 - House Designed to be Net Zero Featured as Boston magazine's 2014 Design Home

• Salisbury, MA
• A home owned by Natalie and Tom Treat designed to be net zero
• Designed by BrightBuilt Home - tour led by architect Parlin Meyer
• 2,400 square foot home including a partial open concept on the first floor, three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, office, a third-floor loft, basement, screen room and patio
• ENERGY STAR® appliances, solar electricity and environmentally-preferable fixtures and finishes
• Modular construction process generates less waste and means more efficient use of resources and materials going into the home
• Boston magazine's featured 2014 Design Home
• Click here for Natalie's blog on the process of building a net zero home

Site 2 - Plum Island Home Maximizes Space and Rests Lightly on the Ground

• Plum Island, Newburyport, MA
• Adheres to stringent conservation regulations requiring 3-foot pilings to minimize dune impact
• Designed by Andrew M. Sidford Architects, tour led by architect Andrew Sidford
• 2,000 square foot home that utilizes multiple levels and generous glazing to create varied experiences and an overall feeling of spaciousness. Upside down floorplan captures spectacular views in the primary living areas.
• Significant insulation, radiant slabs, natural daylight with passive solar heating throughout, steep cathedral ceilings and fans in upper levels for natural cooling
• Hanging decks increase space while minimizing footprint
• Click here for more images of this home

Workshop Site - Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center

• Newburyport, MA
• Following the tour, architects Parlin Meyer and Andrew Sidford lead a workshop at Mass Audubon's beautiful Joppa Flats Education Center, located just off of Plum Island.
• Mass Audubon's commitment to climate change education and the fact that the Joppa Flats Center has a 9.9 kW PV system on the roof made it an ideal spot to host the workshop.
• This was a great chance to get all of those burning questions answered, and network with other professionals!
• Light refreshments were served.