Ep. 172 - Designing for the Future: Net-Zero Home and the Business of Sustainability with Architect Avideh Haghighi
Fri Jan 30 2026
In this episode, Katerina sits down with Avideh Haghighi, architect and founder of Zero Houz, to explore what it truly means to commit to sustainable living through architecture. Avideh shares her unconventional path into the profession, rooted in a deep love for art, and how sustainability captured her interest long before it had a name.
The conversation dives into the financial realities of building sustainably and why understanding costs is essential to making meaningful change. Avideh discusses renovating her own decades old home as a living case study, transforming it into a net-zero energy residence and proving that high-performance, energy-efficient homes do not have to come with significant cost premiums. She also unpacks the sometimes contradictory nature of building codes, including solar requirements that may not always align with the most efficient design solutions.
Throughout the episode, Avideh opens up about entrepreneurship in architecture as an ongoing process of learning, adaptation, and values-driven decision-making. Together, she and Katerina explore how Zero Houz is evolving into a broader model for sustainable development and how architects can lead by example in shaping a more resilient, intentional built environment.
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Podcast Audio edit by LadyToluu Soile https://www.fiverr.com/users/bamisesoile/seller_dashboard.
Intro music provided by kabgig / Pond5
By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents are the property of Katerina Burianova, or used by Katerina Burianova with permission, and are protected under U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this Podcast may be made without the prior written permission of the Katerina Burianova, which may be requested by contacting honeycombeeblog@gmail.com
This podcast is for educational purposes only. The host claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the information presented herein.
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In this episode, Katerina sits down with Avideh Haghighi, architect and founder of Zero Houz, to explore what it truly means to commit to sustainable living through architecture. Avideh shares her unconventional path into the profession, rooted in a deep love for art, and how sustainability captured her interest long before it had a name. The conversation dives into the financial realities of building sustainably and why understanding costs is essential to making meaningful change. Avideh discusses renovating her own decades old home as a living case study, transforming it into a net-zero energy residence and proving that high-performance, energy-efficient homes do not have to come with significant cost premiums. She also unpacks the sometimes contradictory nature of building codes, including solar requirements that may not always align with the most efficient design solutions. Throughout the episode, Avideh opens up about entrepreneurship in architecture as an ongoing process of learning, adaptation, and values-driven decision-making. Together, she and Katerina explore how Zero Houz is evolving into a broader model for sustainable development and how architects can lead by example in shaping a more resilient, intentional built environment. Mentioned: Sign up for Zerohouz newsletter here! www.zerohouz.com https://www.instagram.com/zero.houz/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/zero.houz/ Grab your copy of The Mindful Blueprint for Launching Your Architecture Firm Use code honeycomb20 for 20% off! Support the podcast on Patreon! Subscribe to the From the Honeycomb newsletter! Meditate with Katerina on Insight Timer Follow From the Honeycomb on Instagram! Podcast Audio edit by LadyToluu Soile https://www.fiverr.com/users/bamisesoile/seller_dashboard. Intro music provided by kabgig / Pond5 By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents are the property of Katerina Burianova, or used by Katerina Burianova with permission, and are protected under U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this Podcast may be made without the prior written permission of the Katerina Burianova, which may be requested by contacting honeycombeeblog@gmail.com This podcast is for educational purposes only. The host claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the information presented herein.