High-performance homes operate as integrated systems. Each component, from your heat pump to your ERV, works in concert with the others to create an exceptionally comfortable, efficient living environment. Regular maintenance isn't just about preventing breakdowns, it's about preserving the carefully calibrated performance that has been designed into your home.

The holidays are upon us, and next week’s centers around food. And family! (But mostly food.) If you are living in a BrightBuilt Home chances are everyone thinks it is super beautiful and so began dropping very subtle hints months ago about how “It would be so lovely to have Thanksgiving in the extra warm and sunny house this year” and “I suppose if we do it at my house again, I’ll have to make everyone sit in the cellar since our dining room isn’t open concept…” Fast forward to Thanksgiving week and you’re starting to figure out how the heck to graciously host 15 people in your home. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of BrightBuilt Home features that ensures last-minute horrors won't happen. (We all remember the disaster of ’04 when Aunt Helen’s cocker spaniels ate the turkey right out of the oven…)

With autumn all around us and winter soon approaching, many of us are looking to feel the burn… from a fire, that is! One of the questions we are most often asked is: Can I put a fireplace in my high-performance home? If careful conditions are met, the answer is yes.

As the days grow shorter and the evenings get cozier, it’s only natural to reach for the light switch a little more often. But just because the lights are on longer doesn’t mean your energy bills have to spike like a vampire at sunrise.

Under clear skies and with a backdrop of stunning coastal views, our client’s team came together to bring a Winslow design to life. This moment marked a major milestone in a journey that began long before the crane arrived: a journey shaped by thoughtful planning, intentional design, and close collaboration between clients, designers, manufacturers, and builders.

Your chance to save significantly on solar and battery installations ends December 31st, 2025—here's what you need to know. (Important: Tax laws can change. Please consult with a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your situation.)‍

The path to energy independence shouldn't feel like navigating a maze of missed opportunities. Yet for many homeowners, that's exactly what happens when valuable incentives quietly expire while they're still weighing their options.

Why air quality matters and how your home can help you stay healthy and comfortable, no matter what's outside.

In recent weeks, much of New England has been blanketed in wildfire smoke drifting in from afar. As unsettling as it is to see our skies dimmed and our outdoor time limited, it's also a stark reminder of something we often take for granted: the air we breathe.

While we can't always control what's happening in the atmosphere, we can make smart, proactive choices about the environments we live in. That's where high-quality HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems and ERVs (Energy Recovery Ventilators) become essential allies in protecting our health and comfort.

Building vs. Buying: A BrightBuilt Perspective on Coastal Living (As Featured in Dwell)

When Laura Bayne began her search for a home on the shores of St. George, Maine, she faced a common challenge: finding a home on a property that matched her goals for quality, sustainability, and long-term value. Not finding anything she liked in the existing housing stock, then experiencing the frustrations of a traditional design and build approach, she reached out to us to help her create not just a house, but a thoughtfully crafted home.

When designing the interior of a new home, selecting tile plays a key role in the functionality and overall feel of the space. Here are a few things to consider and tips from our interior designer to help you navigate these tiles and tribulations (okay, okay, no more puns from us).

Whether it be shower walls, a kitchen backsplash, a mudroom entryway, or a decorative detail, tile is a great way to add color, texture, and depth to your home. Read on for some tips to consider.

Most homes aren’t built with acoustics in mind. Walls are often too thin, insulation is minimal, and windows let in as much sound as they do light. In many homes, noise travels freely, between rooms, through floors, from the outside world right into your living room. It’s why you can hear your neighbor’s dog barking from two houses away or why the sound of rain on your roof turns your entire house into a drum.

So how does a BrightBuilt Home mitigate these noise nuisances? 

There’s been a lot of discourse recently on the sizes of homes, and what makes the best sense for homebuyers and new home builders. We too have some thoughts to share about the benefits of designing smaller homes, and why they are not only practical choices but stylish ones too. While we can understand that downsizing might sound like a radical shift, in reality, it’s on-trend. In the last ten years, the average new home size has gone from 2,600 square feet to 2,400 square feet. While not a huge delta, it signals a clear trend in the marketplace - one that’s been driven both by costs and preferences. And we support this trend. To us, building small means more freedom, less waste, and a whole lot of efficiency. So, let’s dive into why we think building small is the way forward, for you and for the planet.

The season of frenzied cooking and colossal meals is fast approaching - can your kitchen keep up? High performance home design considers the efficiency and functionality of every detail, including the layout and outfitting of the rooms we use most. A well-designed kitchen improves not only the aesthetics of the space, but also its comfort and usability. To everyone who has ever dealt with a sink too small to wash pans in, or had to banish a partner from the room so there would be enough space to open the oven door; we see you, and would never do you dirty like that.

At BrightBuilt Home, we aim to design homes that are both beautiful and sustainable. To do this, we enlist a combination of materials and methods that are tuned to each other and to the environment. The net result is a home that is a holistic sum of its parts, operating harmoniously with its occupants and its surroundings. Each element plays a role.

At BrightBuilt Home, we’re thrilled to connect with like-minded individuals passionate about making their dream homes as efficient as they are beautiful. In today’s world, a green approach to building is no longer just a preference—it’s a necessity. We're proud to be at the forefront of this sustainable shift.

When we think about summer, images of beach days, barbecues, and perhaps a cooling dip in the pool come to mind. But let's face it, the reality often involves sweltering days when the air feels downright oppressive. Keeping cool becomes the top priority, and this is where a heat pump can be a game-changer.

We can’t believe it, but spring is right around the corner! Dirty snow litters the ground, bare trees shiver, and you can’t leave the house without being properly insulated. But little green plants will soon begin to poke up through the soil and the birds are singing earlier in the morning. The prospect of spring feels more real. You know what else comes with the transition to this season? That’s right - spring cleaning. We’ve compiled a few tips for you to think about as you tackle some projects in your high-performance home over the next couple of months.