Green Home + Design Awards celebrates excellence in energy-efficient, high-performing, sustainable Maine homes
GO Logic won in the New Build category for their project “Beauty in the Barrens.” From left to right (standing): Chelsey Effinger, Lead Designer, Jamie Snook, Lead Carpenter, and Leif Nelson, Project Manager. Photo by Salty Lens Photography.
Winners of the 2026 Green Home + Design Awards, presented by the publisher of Green & Healthy Maine HOMES magazine, were honored Nov. 5 at Maine Studio Works in Portland. The annual program launched in 2025 recognizes outstanding contributions in sustainable, high-performance residential design and construction in Maine. The event showcased projects that minimize operational needs, reduce embodied carbon, emphasize occupant and environmental health, and prioritize sustainability in home and landscape.
“This is the way we should be building all homes in Maine,” said Heather Chandler, producer of the event and owner of Green & Healthy Maine HOMES magazine. “The quality of applications this year was outstanding. If we could have given them all an award, we would.”
Applications were submitted in seven categories: New build; Addition, remodel, adaptive reuse; DIY/nonprofessional design/build; ADUs or small projects; Materials/methods innovation; Sustainable landscape; and (new this year) Emerging designer (student). To be considered, projects had to be residential and located in Maine (or include a Maine-based design and build team). Each application was reviewed by a panel of judges who are industry leaders from outside the state.
A total of 11 awarids were given, including eight category winners (there was a tie in the Materials/methods innovation category) and three Award of Merits:
NEW BUILD:
Category Winner: “Beauty in the Barrens” – GO Logic, LLC, Chelsey Effinger, Lead Designer – Hope, Maine
Award of Merit: “Branch Lake House” – BRIBURN, Architect, Chris Briley – Ellsworth, Maine
ADDITION, REMODEL, ADAPTIVE REUSE:
Category Winner: “Shipbuilder’s Farmhouse” – Elizabeth Newman Architect, Elizabeth Newman, Owner/Architect – Brunswick, Maine
Award of Merit: “Residential Duplex Energy Retrofit and Electrification” – Robert Morrison, Co-Owner – Belfast, Maine
DIY/NONPROFESSIONAL DESIGN/BUILD:
Category Winner: “Residential Duplex Energy Retrofit and Electrification” – Robert Morrison, Co-Owner – Belfast, Maine
ADUs/SMALL PROJECT:
Category Winner: “Maine Branch” – David Matero Architecture, David Matero, Principal – Arrowsic, Maine
Award of Merit: “Pretty Good ADU” – Mottram Architecture (now Mottram & Maines), Emily Mottram, Owner/Architect – Camden, Maine
MATERIALS/METHODS INNOVATION:
Category Winner (tie): “Beech Hill House” – Four Winds Design, Meredith Randolph, Owner – Mount Desert, Maine
Category Winner (tie): “Windy Hill Farm” – Croft, Evan Ryan, Owner – Lincolnville, Maine
SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE:
Category Winner: “Coastal Wet Meadow” – Larkspur Design, Seana Cullinan, Owner – Cumberland Foreside, Maine
EMERGING DESIGNER (STUDENT):
Category Winner: “Common Ground Cottages” by Julia Davidson, University of Maine Augusta – designed for Gorham, Maine
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Full details, including project teams, are available at greenmainehomes.com/awards.
Sponsors for the 2026 Green Home + Design Awards include Mitsubishi Electric, Pinnacle Windows & Doors, Timber Trading Group, and Zehnder America.