Earth-friendly Quartz and Neolith Help this Hingham Home Achieve “Net-Zero” Status 

Our home says a lot about who we are. It represents our values, our passions, and our goals for the future. One local family has taken their commitment to creating a better environment for all to the next level. They worked with Zero Energy Design (ZED), an architecture and mechanical design firm here in Boston that specializes in high-performance homes and buildings to design a “net-zero” home.  As ecological sensible as it is cool and modern, the home features several surfaces from Marble & Granite, Inc. that are easy on the environment. 

 

What’s Net-Zero Anyway? 

First off, you may be wondering…what exactly does “net-zero” mean? Basically, the home creates as much energy as it uses. A net-zero home will make as much electricity on-site as it will consume over the course of a year. In sum, anything the home takes from the electrical grid will be returned. It’s also often called a passive home. 

So much more than just than solar panels and energy-efficient appliances, this modern home located in Hingham maximize sun exposure and minimizes the leakage of energy. The builders included a multitude of products that are easy on the environment, including some from our collection of manufactured stones. 

Cool, Contemporary Kitchen

The ultra-sleek and modern kitchen features a waterfall countertop made of eco-friendly quartz as well as an elegant marble-inspired backsplash from Neolith, one of the most sustainable and environmentally-friendly materials on the market.  Both materials are available here at Marble & Granite, Inc. 

Made in Italy by Santa Margherita Quartz , the Vega White countertop offers the best of both worlds. It offers a luxurious and elegant look, but at the same time it’s incredibly durable. The ideal surface for high traffic areas and everyday use, quartz is heat, scratch, and stain resistant. When compared to other quartz surfaces, Santa Margherita Quartz is exceptionally stain-resistant and easy to clean. And since the quartz is non-porous, it’s highly resistant to liquids and acids such as coffee, wine, lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, and other things in the kitchen that can be problematic for natural stone countertops. Quartz stands up to everyday cooking substances, plus it never needs to be sealed or polished. Low-maintenance and easy to clean with a damp cloth or sponge and a little soap and water, quartz countertops will last a lifetime. 

Though the full backsplash looks like marble, it is actually ultra-durable Neolith sintered stone. Made with 100% natural materials, Neolith comes in large slabs and in a wide variety of colors. The material used in this kitchen is Calacatta. You’ll notice the striking resemblance to natural Calacatta marble. Though Neolith is made of natural materials such as clay and sand, it is a powerhouse of a material. It has one of the highest levels of performance when it comes to stain, heat, scratch-, and etch-resistance. Neolith is UV proof so it won’t fade in the sun, plus it’s stain-, water-, and heat-proof. Like quartz, Neolith never needs to be sealed and it’s very easy to clean with non-abrasive household cleaners. 
 
Quartz countertops were also used in the bathroom. A double vanity features the same Vega White quartz that’s used in the kitchen. It’s a sleek look that perfectly complements the modern “floating” vanity. The same durability and stain-resistance enjoyed in the kitchen is a huge plus in the bath. Make-up, moisturizers, and other products used in the bath won’t stain the pure white quartz. 
And what’s a home in New England without a fireplace? The owners wanted this often-requested feature but it had to be carefully designed for minimum loss of energy. They worked with ZED to create a design that would be ecologically responsible, not to mention visually striking. To make it even more so, the designer again used Neolith, this time in Lava, to achieve a look that’s dramatic and elegant. 

This home is a fantastic example of how “environmentally friendly” never has to mean “boring.” In fact, as builders, designers, and architects continue to share such inspiring examples of sustainable design, some of our favorite manufactured surfacing products (such as Neolith and quartz) will continue to stand in the spotlight. If you’d like to learn more about these products, please visit our website.