An historic home destroyed by fire comes back better than ever.
They call it the “Queen of Zero.” Completed in November 2024, this Hyattsville, Md., home represents a story rebirth: a Phoenix of a house rising from the ashes to become a one-of-a-kind Queen Anne Victorian aligned with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) standard.
A turn-of-the-20th century Victorian style home destroyed by fire in 2020 has been rebuilt with its historic look intact. But the inner workings of the new version are far more sustainable, featuring everything from solar panels to modern HVAC. Credit: Unik Creative Studio
A tragic fire in 2020 damaged the 1901 home beyond repair. The owner, a local musician and longtime Maryland resident with a deep appreciation for historic preservation, explained that “it was never a question of whether we would rebuild” the original home instead of opting for a more contemporary one. The goal was to replicate the original in appearance, keeping it in form with others in the historic Washington, D.C. suburb.
Yet, recognizing the demands of a changing climate and rising utility costs, the owner also wanted to modernize the functional aspects of his new home with advancements in energy efficiency, resiliency and comfort, according to DAKS Builders, the project’s builder.
Such an effort was actually quite appropriate. Victorian homes incorporated what were then cutting-edge techniques, such as taller double-hung windows to maximize interior air flow, and wide porches to reduce heat from direct sun, according to Hyattsville architect Michael Romero of Romero Architects.
To achieve net-zero performance, the new structure incorporated a host of innovative products and materials, such as Tesla solar shingles and Powerwall backup batteries, a SPAN smart electric panel, high-efficiency heat pump HVAC and water heating, extensive foundation waterproofing, advanced air sealing and beyond-code insulation. The exterior shell was made of structural insulated panels (SIPs), which provided superior air sealing and insulation properties.
The interior of the Queen of Zero home is up to date, with features such as energy-efficient lights and appliances, and low- and no-VOC paints. Credit: Unik Creative Studio
According to Nicole Tysvaer, CEO of Symbi Homes and director of sustainability on the project, the home was completed in about 13 months and achieved everything the team set out to do (and then some). It demonstrated that high-performance homes need not come in square boxes. The house achieved a blower door of 1.6 ACH50 air filtration with a HERS score of 15. “It was quite a feat for a design with seven different roof pitches, multiple bay windows, dormers and a turret,” Tysvaer notes.
There has been some controversy, however. Although “Queen of Zero” met Symbi Homes’ net zero performance criteria, some housing experts argued that a project this size and complex—4,600 square feet, three-stories, with six bedrooms and five bathrooms—make it too large to be considered an example of a green home. Such a massive structure requires more resources to build and generates more greenhouse gas emissions than a typical 2,000-square-foot model, making it more environmentally inefficient.
The home’s dual pane windows outperform those of its century-old predecessor, but the design and appearance remain the same. Credit: Unik Creative Studio
“Yet, the pathway to decarbonization is not a single road, but rather requires the convergence of many routes,” Tysvaer notes. “This would create a world in which sustainability becomes common vernacular across the construction industry—whether building a luxury mansion or a group of affordable townhomes.”
Alan Naditz is managing editor of Green Builder Magazine. He has covered numerous industries in his extensive career, including residential and commercial construction, small and corporate business, real estate and sustainability.
Net Zero Building Has a Queen
An historic home destroyed by fire comes back better than ever.
They call it the “Queen of Zero.” Completed in November 2024, this Hyattsville, Md., home represents a story rebirth: a Phoenix of a house rising from the ashes to become a one-of-a-kind Queen Anne Victorian aligned with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) standard.
A turn-of-the-20th century Victorian style home destroyed by fire in 2020 has been rebuilt with its historic look intact. But the inner workings of the new version are far more sustainable, featuring everything from solar panels to modern HVAC. Credit: Unik Creative Studio
A tragic fire in 2020 damaged the 1901 home beyond repair. The owner, a local musician and longtime Maryland resident with a deep appreciation for historic preservation, explained that “it was never a question of whether we would rebuild” the original home instead of opting for a more contemporary one. The goal was to replicate the original in appearance, keeping it in form with others in the historic Washington, D.C. suburb.
Yet, recognizing the demands of a changing climate and rising utility costs, the owner also wanted to modernize the functional aspects of his new home with advancements in energy efficiency, resiliency and comfort, according to DAKS Builders, the project’s builder.
Such an effort was actually quite appropriate. Victorian homes incorporated what were then cutting-edge techniques, such as taller double-hung windows to maximize interior air flow, and wide porches to reduce heat from direct sun, according to Hyattsville architect Michael Romero of Romero Architects.
To achieve net-zero performance, the new structure incorporated a host of innovative products and materials, such as Tesla solar shingles and Powerwall backup batteries, a SPAN smart electric panel, high-efficiency heat pump HVAC and water heating, extensive foundation waterproofing, advanced air sealing and beyond-code insulation. The exterior shell was made of structural insulated panels (SIPs), which provided superior air sealing and insulation properties.
The interior of the Queen of Zero home is up to date, with features such as energy-efficient lights and appliances, and low- and no-VOC paints. Credit: Unik Creative Studio
According to Nicole Tysvaer, CEO of Symbi Homes and director of sustainability on the project, the home was completed in about 13 months and achieved everything the team set out to do (and then some). It demonstrated that high-performance homes need not come in square boxes. The house achieved a blower door of 1.6 ACH50 air filtration with a HERS score of 15. “It was quite a feat for a design with seven different roof pitches, multiple bay windows, dormers and a turret,” Tysvaer notes.
There has been some controversy, however. Although “Queen of Zero” met Symbi Homes’ net zero performance criteria, some housing experts argued that a project this size and complex—4,600 square feet, three-stories, with six bedrooms and five bathrooms—make it too large to be considered an example of a green home. Such a massive structure requires more resources to build and generates more greenhouse gas emissions than a typical 2,000-square-foot model, making it more environmentally inefficient.
The home’s dual pane windows outperform those of its century-old predecessor, but the design and appearance remain the same. Credit: Unik Creative Studio
“Yet, the pathway to decarbonization is not a single road, but rather requires the convergence of many routes,” Tysvaer notes. “This would create a world in which sustainability becomes common vernacular across the construction industry—whether building a luxury mansion or a group of affordable townhomes.”
By Alan Naditz
Alan Naditz is managing editor of Green Builder Magazine. He has covered numerous industries in his extensive career, including residential and commercial construction, small and corporate business, real estate and sustainability.Also Read