Transformations Inc., a Townsend-based residential development company specializing in sustainable building and green housing, recently broke ground on eight single-family, moderately-priced, zero-net-energy homes in Devens.

Zero-net-energy development means the houses will only produce as much energy as they use, according to a statement.

"What Transformations is building in Devens is housing for the future: energy-efficient, moderately-priced homes," said MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones. "These well-priced and well-sized houses can be built anywhere in the commonwealth."

"This is an exciting time for building ultra energy-efficient housing in Massachusetts," said R. Carter Scott, of Transformations. "There is a perfect storm of federal, state and local incentives for building these homes, so the cost is now competitive with conventional construction."