The Guild Apartments

The Guild is apart of a new and improved way of living. It is Somerville's 1st fully certified Passive House Net-Zero housing project with its high-performance and all electric design. Net-Zero refers to no-off site energy being required for standard performance as well as associated carbon emissions being zero through the use of renewable energy sources. The balance between the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) that's produced and the amount that's removed from the atmosphere can be achieved through a combination of emission reduction and emission removal through the structure of the building. Cross laminated mass timber construction is incorporated to demonstrate the potential for alternative, low embodied carbon structural materials. By using these materials, we emit less GHGs into the atmosphere during production, installation, and deconstruction. Over and over, it has been shown that wood materials have lower embodied carbon than functionally equivalent alternatives. By stacking, gluing and pressing each piece together, it also calls for longer lasting construction, and reduced equipment needed. Benefits include drastically reducing energy demand, utility costs, carbon emissions, and air drafts. Also, it creates a space for better indoor air quality and quieter acoustics.