The Green Builder Media Network Sat, 30 May 2026 00:48:08 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2592913 en-us © 2026 The Green Builder Media Network yes c689adaa-cd60-5346-9322-d41f7f112741 Green Builder Media episodic false From breaking news and market signals to deep dives on sustainability, value, policy, resilience, and meaning, the Green Builder Media Podcast Network brings together the industry’s most trusted voices to explore how homes are designed, built, valued, and lived in. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Green Builder Media https://storage.buzzsprout.com/4u7zol75p07lt1s2khfdjyywpid5?.jpg The Green Builder Media Network Geothermal’s Big Moment, HUD Shakeups, Passive House Affordable Housing & More Geothermal’s Big Moment, HUD Shakeups, Passive House Affordable Housing & More Could geothermal become the clean energy source everyone actually agrees on? Why is Congress considering a new EV fee? And is affordable multifamily housing one of the biggest climate solutions hiding in plain sight?

This week, we break down the biggest stories shaping sustainable building, housing, energy, and resilience—including geothermal’s breakout moment, major HUD policy shifts, the future of affordable housing, Passive House at neighborhood scale, and why fire sprinklers may deserve a second look.


In This Episode:


Upcoming Events:

💚June 3–4: Sustainability Symposium 2026 (Free Virtual Event)💚

https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/sustainability-symposium-2026-systems-reckoning?hsCtaAttrib=212234382646

June 1–4: NAREE’s 60th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference Miami https://www.naree.org/annual-conference

June 10–13: AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 San Diego https://conferenceonarchitecture.com/

June 11–12: Next Generation Water Summit Santa Fe https://ngws.vfairs.com/

June 18–July 30:  High Performance Home Master Class Series—plus CEU opportunities for builders and pros (Coupon Code for AM class $90 discount:  https://www.learningedgellc.com/offers/HMh73TFf/checkout?coupon_code=GBM0226AM; Coupon Code for PM class $90 discount: https://www.learningedgellc.com/offers/EmLrNsoL/checkout?coupon_code=GBM0226PM)

June 22–24: 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo Las Vegas https://www.nfpa.org/events/conference

June 23–25: Trellis Impact 26 San Francisco https://trellis.net/teaser-ti26/

July 22–23: Sunbelt Builders Show, San Antonio, Texas  https://www.sunbeltbuildersshow.com/

September 9–10: Building Fire Safety Symposium https://web.cvent.com/event/cae6dc8d-a2c4-4b4b-970d-42b14c08a21a/register

September 16–18: EEBA Summit 2026 St. Paul, Minn. https://summit2026.eeba.org/registration

October 20–23: Greenbuild 2026 New York, NY https://greenbuild.informaconnect.com/2026/registrations/Attendee

November 4–5: The Building Products Customer Workshop, Nashville  https://www.venveo.com/2027?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-93MVoaxjiTvIX5b86Dwm32UwmhDVTtdCDx9lAcwyK3IP77-_xYB9kTtcajBxcjnzFFmRXRYYJ48uAiCTLdMj6PgYv2FcEcLIKCqoxxj9lbX7e471c&_hsmi=414332482&utm_content=414332482&utm_source=hs_email

About:

Green Builder Media www.greenbuildermedia.com is North America’s leading green building and sustainable living media company. Through our magazine, website, demonstration homes, and data services, we provide actionable information to consumers and builders about how to build and remodel sustainable homes. We focus on net-zero building, green products, energy efficiency, healthy homes, resilience, connected living, and building science.

Subscribe to our once-a-week Vantage enewsletter: https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/enewsletter-subscribe

Follow Green Builder Media:

LinkedIn: @green-builder-media-llc

Facebook: @greenbuildermedia

Bluesky: @greenbuildermedia

Threads: @greenbuildermedia

#HousingMarket #SustainableBuilding #Homebuilding #ConstructionNews #SmartHomes #SolarEnergy #FloridaBuildingCodes #AffordableHousing #AIInfrastructure #DataCenters #GreenBuilding #EnergyEfficiency #Resilience #HomeDesign #HousingNews

]]> Could geothermal become the clean energy source everyone actually agrees on? Why is Congress considering a new EV fee? And is affordable multifamily housing one of the biggest climate solutions hiding in plain sight?

This week, we break down the biggest stories shaping sustainable building, housing, energy, and resilience—including geothermal’s breakout moment, major HUD policy shifts, the future of affordable housing, Passive House at neighborhood scale, and why fire sprinklers may deserve a second look.


In This Episode:


Upcoming Events:

💚June 3–4: Sustainability Symposium 2026 (Free Virtual Event)💚

https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/sustainability-symposium-2026-systems-reckoning?hsCtaAttrib=212234382646

June 1–4: NAREE’s 60th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference Miami https://www.naree.org/annual-conference

June 10–13: AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 San Diego https://conferenceonarchitecture.com/

June 11–12: Next Generation Water Summit Santa Fe https://ngws.vfairs.com/

June 18–July 30:  High Performance Home Master Class Series—plus CEU opportunities for builders and pros (Coupon Code for AM class $90 discount:  https://www.learningedgellc.com/offers/HMh73TFf/checkout?coupon_code=GBM0226AM; Coupon Code for PM class $90 discount: https://www.learningedgellc.com/offers/EmLrNsoL/checkout?coupon_code=GBM0226PM)

June 22–24: 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo Las Vegas https://www.nfpa.org/events/conference

June 23–25: Trellis Impact 26 San Francisco https://trellis.net/teaser-ti26/

July 22–23: Sunbelt Builders Show, San Antonio, Texas  https://www.sunbeltbuildersshow.com/

September 9–10: Building Fire Safety Symposium https://web.cvent.com/event/cae6dc8d-a2c4-4b4b-970d-42b14c08a21a/register

September 16–18: EEBA Summit 2026 St. Paul, Minn. https://summit2026.eeba.org/registration

October 20–23: Greenbuild 2026 New York, NY https://greenbuild.informaconnect.com/2026/registrations/Attendee

November 4–5: The Building Products Customer Workshop, Nashville  https://www.venveo.com/2027?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-93MVoaxjiTvIX5b86Dwm32UwmhDVTtdCDx9lAcwyK3IP77-_xYB9kTtcajBxcjnzFFmRXRYYJ48uAiCTLdMj6PgYv2FcEcLIKCqoxxj9lbX7e471c&_hsmi=414332482&utm_content=414332482&utm_source=hs_email

About:

Green Builder Media www.greenbuildermedia.com is North America’s leading green building and sustainable living media company. Through our magazine, website, demonstration homes, and data services, we provide actionable information to consumers and builders about how to build and remodel sustainable homes. We focus on net-zero building, green products, energy efficiency, healthy homes, resilience, connected living, and building science.

Subscribe to our once-a-week Vantage enewsletter: https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/enewsletter-subscribe

Follow Green Builder Media:

LinkedIn: @green-builder-media-llc

Facebook: @greenbuildermedia

Bluesky: @greenbuildermedia

Threads: @greenbuildermedia

#HousingMarket #SustainableBuilding #Homebuilding #ConstructionNews #SmartHomes #SolarEnergy #FloridaBuildingCodes #AffordableHousing #AIInfrastructure #DataCenters #GreenBuilding #EnergyEfficiency #Resilience #HomeDesign #HousingNews

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-19250019 Wed, 27 May 2026 13:00:00 -0600 671 full false New Homes Save Money, Builders Face Lawsuits, AI Competes for Power New Homes Save Money, Builders Face Lawsuits, AI Competes for Power Florida may be rewriting the rules of homebuilding. New homes could save buyers thousands. And the AI boom? It may be competing with communities for power.

This week on This Week in Sustainable Building News, Ronan Mirza breaks down the forces quietly reshaping housing, affordability, resilience, and infrastructure.

From Florida’s proposed building code overhaul to a new study showing buyers of newly built homes may save $25,000 over ten years, the definition of housing value is changing fast. But so are the risks. Major builders are facing a growing wave of construction defect lawsuits, while labor shortages tied to immigration policy could put even more pressure on affordability and housing supply.

Meanwhile, the AI boom is creating a new kind of infrastructure tension. Reno just advanced a temporary moratorium on new data centers, and a new report suggests Lake Tahoe could lose much of its electricity supply as power shifts toward Northern Nevada’s exploding digital economy.

Also in this episode:

•  Why stronger building codes may become unavoidable in climate-vulnerable states like Florida.

• The hidden long-term savings behind new construction homes.
 

• What rising construction defect claims say about speed, labor, and quality in housing.
 

• How immigration policy may be affecting housing supply and construction jobs. 

• Why communities are pushing back on AI-driven data center growth.
 

• Could solar shift from a sustainability play to an energy security strategy?
 

• What consumers actually want from smart homes. 

• A surprisingly cool new insulation material made from fungi and construction waste

• Why buyers care more about how a home feels than fancy finishes.


• The Valuation Metric with Matthew Cooper


Upcoming Events:

💚June 3–4: Sustainability Symposium 2026 (Free Virtual Event)💚

May 27–28: California Green Building Conference 2026 Berkeley 

June 1–4: NAREE’s 60th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference Miami

June 10–13: AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 San Diego

June 11–12: Next Generation Water Summit Santa Fe

June 18–July 30:  High Performance Home Master Class Series—plus CEU opportunities for builders and pros: 

Coupon Code for AM class $90 discount

Coupon Code for PM class $90 discount

June 22–24: 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo Las Vegas

June 23–25: Trellis Impact 26 San Francisco

July 22–23: Sunbelt Builders Show, San Antonio, Texas

September 9–10: Building Fire Safety Symposium

September 16–18: EEBA Summit 2026 St. Paul, Minn.

October 20–23: Greenbuild 2026 New York, NY

November 4–5: The Building Products Customer Workshop, Nashville


About:

Green Builder Media www.greenbuildermedia.com is North America’s leading green building and sustainable living media company. Through our magazine, website, demonstration homes, and data services, we provide actionable information to consumers and builders about how to build and remodel sustainable homes. We focus on net-zero building, green products, energy efficiency, healthy homes, resilience, connected living, and building science.

Subscribe to our once-a-week Vantage e newsletter: https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/enewsletter-subscribe

]]> Florida may be rewriting the rules of homebuilding. New homes could save buyers thousands. And the AI boom? It may be competing with communities for power.

This week on This Week in Sustainable Building News, Ronan Mirza breaks down the forces quietly reshaping housing, affordability, resilience, and infrastructure.

From Florida’s proposed building code overhaul to a new study showing buyers of newly built homes may save $25,000 over ten years, the definition of housing value is changing fast. But so are the risks. Major builders are facing a growing wave of construction defect lawsuits, while labor shortages tied to immigration policy could put even more pressure on affordability and housing supply.

Meanwhile, the AI boom is creating a new kind of infrastructure tension. Reno just advanced a temporary moratorium on new data centers, and a new report suggests Lake Tahoe could lose much of its electricity supply as power shifts toward Northern Nevada’s exploding digital economy.

Also in this episode:

•  Why stronger building codes may become unavoidable in climate-vulnerable states like Florida.

• The hidden long-term savings behind new construction homes.
 

• What rising construction defect claims say about speed, labor, and quality in housing.
 

• How immigration policy may be affecting housing supply and construction jobs. 

• Why communities are pushing back on AI-driven data center growth.
 

• Could solar shift from a sustainability play to an energy security strategy?
 

• What consumers actually want from smart homes. 

• A surprisingly cool new insulation material made from fungi and construction waste

• Why buyers care more about how a home feels than fancy finishes.


• The Valuation Metric with Matthew Cooper


Upcoming Events:

💚June 3–4: Sustainability Symposium 2026 (Free Virtual Event)💚

May 27–28: California Green Building Conference 2026 Berkeley 

June 1–4: NAREE’s 60th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference Miami

June 10–13: AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 San Diego

June 11–12: Next Generation Water Summit Santa Fe

June 18–July 30:  High Performance Home Master Class Series—plus CEU opportunities for builders and pros: 

Coupon Code for AM class $90 discount

Coupon Code for PM class $90 discount

June 22–24: 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo Las Vegas

June 23–25: Trellis Impact 26 San Francisco

July 22–23: Sunbelt Builders Show, San Antonio, Texas

September 9–10: Building Fire Safety Symposium

September 16–18: EEBA Summit 2026 St. Paul, Minn.

October 20–23: Greenbuild 2026 New York, NY

November 4–5: The Building Products Customer Workshop, Nashville


About:

Green Builder Media www.greenbuildermedia.com is North America’s leading green building and sustainable living media company. Through our magazine, website, demonstration homes, and data services, we provide actionable information to consumers and builders about how to build and remodel sustainable homes. We focus on net-zero building, green products, energy efficiency, healthy homes, resilience, connected living, and building science.

Subscribe to our once-a-week Vantage e newsletter: https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/enewsletter-subscribe

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-19211483 Wed, 20 May 2026 13:00:00 -0600 544 full false Price Is a Snapshot. Value Is a Story Price Is a Snapshot. Value Is a Story  In this episode, Sara and Cynthia expose a major economic blind spot: we’ve optimized for the transaction, not the experience. 

]]>  In this episode, Sara and Cynthia expose a major economic blind spot: we’ve optimized for the transaction, not the experience. 

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-19203967 Tue, 19 May 2026 11:00:00 -0600 1935 full false This Week in Housing: Resilient Homes Get Payback, AI Reveals Climate-Risk Pricing, Two Paths to IECC Code. This Week in Housing: Resilient Homes Get Payback, AI Reveals Climate-Risk Pricing, Two Paths to IECC Code. Resilient homes may finally start paying homeowners back, AI pulls back the curtain on climate-risk insurance pricing, affordable housing financing faces new uncertainty, and the future of building codes may be getting a major rewrite.

Stories:

Why states are beginning to reward resilient homes with insurance discounts, grants, and incentives

How AI is helping uncover how climate risk is priced into insurance markets

Why lenders are warning about potential cuts to a little-known affordable housing program

Changes to the 2030 International Energy Conservation Code

Why the next labor shortage may be a resilience skills shortage

Wellness design is becoming more about affordability, resilience, and lower operating costs than luxury

COGNITION Smart Data reveals why people care about indoor air quality

Why The Valuation Metric with Nick Fazli

Editors’ product pick: VELUX skylights

Upcoming Events:

💚June 3–4: Sustainability Symposium 2026 (Free Virtual Event)💚

https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/sus...

May 15: Green Building United’s Sustainability Symposium Philadelphia

May 20: Virtual Webinar—Solar Tax Credits Are Gone. Now What?

May 27–28: California Green Building Conference 2026 Berkeley

June 1–4: NAREE’s 60th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference Miami

June 10–13: AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 San Diego

June 11–12: Next Generation Water Summit Santa Fe

June 18–July 30:  High Performance Home Master Class Series—plus CEU opportunities for builders and pros 

     Coupon Code for AM class $90 discount 

     Code for PM class $90 discount

June 22–24: 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo Las Vegas

June 23–25: Trellis Impact 26 San Francisco

]]> Resilient homes may finally start paying homeowners back, AI pulls back the curtain on climate-risk insurance pricing, affordable housing financing faces new uncertainty, and the future of building codes may be getting a major rewrite.

Stories:

Why states are beginning to reward resilient homes with insurance discounts, grants, and incentives

How AI is helping uncover how climate risk is priced into insurance markets

Why lenders are warning about potential cuts to a little-known affordable housing program

Changes to the 2030 International Energy Conservation Code

Why the next labor shortage may be a resilience skills shortage

Wellness design is becoming more about affordability, resilience, and lower operating costs than luxury

COGNITION Smart Data reveals why people care about indoor air quality

Why The Valuation Metric with Nick Fazli

Editors’ product pick: VELUX skylights

Upcoming Events:

💚June 3–4: Sustainability Symposium 2026 (Free Virtual Event)💚

https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/sus...

May 15: Green Building United’s Sustainability Symposium Philadelphia

May 20: Virtual Webinar—Solar Tax Credits Are Gone. Now What?

May 27–28: California Green Building Conference 2026 Berkeley

June 1–4: NAREE’s 60th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference Miami

June 10–13: AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 San Diego

June 11–12: Next Generation Water Summit Santa Fe

June 18–July 30:  High Performance Home Master Class Series—plus CEU opportunities for builders and pros 

     Coupon Code for AM class $90 discount 

     Code for PM class $90 discount

June 22–24: 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo Las Vegas

June 23–25: Trellis Impact 26 San Francisco

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-19173711 Wed, 13 May 2026 16:00:00 -0600 476 full false The Impact Series: Tim O'Brien The Impact Series: Tim O'Brien Mike and Tim talk about high-performance homes, workforce development and a whole lot more on the Impact Series. 

]]> Mike and Tim talk about high-performance homes, workforce development and a whole lot more on the Impact Series. 

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-19166016 Tue, 12 May 2026 14:00:00 -0600 3309 full false This Week in Housing: AI Disrupts Jobsites, $9B Rebates in Limbo, 55+ Buyers Surge This Week in Housing: AI Disrupts Jobsites, $9B Rebates in Limbo, 55+ Buyers Surge In this week’s housing and construction news roundup, we break down the forces reshaping where—and how—we build, from climate risk and water constraints to AI-powered jobsite tool, shifting federal housing policy, and a new generation of cash-rich homebuyers changing demand. 

In this episode:

Why some cities like New Orleans are beginning to question long-term livability

Turner Construction’s new AI-powered safety tool

The latest on $9B in federal home efficiency and electrification rebates

New efforts to enforce “Buy American” rules—and what it means for materials, costs, and compliance

Why 55+ buyers are driving a $900B market shift

A real-world look at high-performance housing at VISION House Austin

Why wildfire building codes are becoming a critical factor in where we build

A new Colorado River plan to stabilize water supply

A workforce gap in construction—and why training alone isn’t solving the labor shortage

Why housing needs to rethink value—insights from The Valuation Metric podcast with Dennis Webb

A smarter approach to water quality—this week’s product pick: the Nuvo Pro 7000 system

A new High Performance Home Master Class Series—plus CEU opportunities for builders and pros. June 18 to July 30

Upcoming Events

💚June 3–4: Sustainability Symposium 2026 (Free Virtual Event)💚

May 8: Seven Habits of Highly Effective Builders: Powerful Fundamentals for Better Homes at Lower Cost Denver

May 15: Green Building United’s Sustainability Symposium Philadelphia

May 27–28: California Green Building Conference 2026 Berkeley

June 1–4: NAREE’s 60th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference Miami

June 10–13: AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 San Diego

June 11–12: Next Generation Water Summit Santa Fe

June 22–24: 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo Las Vegas

June 23–25: Trellis Impact 26 San Francisco

]]> In this week’s housing and construction news roundup, we break down the forces reshaping where—and how—we build, from climate risk and water constraints to AI-powered jobsite tool, shifting federal housing policy, and a new generation of cash-rich homebuyers changing demand. 

In this episode:

Why some cities like New Orleans are beginning to question long-term livability

Turner Construction’s new AI-powered safety tool

The latest on $9B in federal home efficiency and electrification rebates

New efforts to enforce “Buy American” rules—and what it means for materials, costs, and compliance

Why 55+ buyers are driving a $900B market shift

A real-world look at high-performance housing at VISION House Austin

Why wildfire building codes are becoming a critical factor in where we build

A new Colorado River plan to stabilize water supply

A workforce gap in construction—and why training alone isn’t solving the labor shortage

Why housing needs to rethink value—insights from The Valuation Metric podcast with Dennis Webb

A smarter approach to water quality—this week’s product pick: the Nuvo Pro 7000 system

A new High Performance Home Master Class Series—plus CEU opportunities for builders and pros. June 18 to July 30

Upcoming Events

💚June 3–4: Sustainability Symposium 2026 (Free Virtual Event)💚

May 8: Seven Habits of Highly Effective Builders: Powerful Fundamentals for Better Homes at Lower Cost Denver

May 15: Green Building United’s Sustainability Symposium Philadelphia

May 27–28: California Green Building Conference 2026 Berkeley

June 1–4: NAREE’s 60th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference Miami

June 10–13: AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 San Diego

June 11–12: Next Generation Water Summit Santa Fe

June 22–24: 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo Las Vegas

June 23–25: Trellis Impact 26 San Francisco

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-19136872 Wed, 06 May 2026 13:00:00 -0600 590 full false Making Carbon Visible in Housing Making Carbon Visible in Housing  Sara Gutterman talks with Matthew Cooper, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at PEG, about how energy modeling, performance validation, and embodied carbon measurement are changing the way homes are designed, built, financed, and valued. Together, they explore why first cost and price per square foot no longer tell the full story—and how tools like RESNET 1550 can help builders, manufacturers, municipalities, and homeowners better understand the true long-term value of healthier, higher-performing, lower-carbon homes. 

]]>  Sara Gutterman talks with Matthew Cooper, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at PEG, about how energy modeling, performance validation, and embodied carbon measurement are changing the way homes are designed, built, financed, and valued. Together, they explore why first cost and price per square foot no longer tell the full story—and how tools like RESNET 1550 can help builders, manufacturers, municipalities, and homeowners better understand the true long-term value of healthier, higher-performing, lower-carbon homes. 

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-19131413 Wed, 06 May 2026 13:00:00 -0600 2551 full false Childcare Costs vs. Housing Prices: A Cost Squeeze with No Easy Way Out Childcare Costs vs. Housing Prices: A Cost Squeeze with No Easy Way Out In this week’s housing and construction news roundup, we break down the real forces driving costs higher—from childcare expenses now exceeding affordability benchmarks in every state, to infrastructure uncertainty, water constraints, and shifting federal policy that could impact how homes are built and priced.

In this episode:

Upcoming Events

May 5–6: Reuters Responsible Business USA 2026 Boston

May 6: Virtual Webinar: 30 Years of Energy Star for Homes: The Origin Story

May 8: Seven Habits of Highly Effective Builders: Powerful Fundamentals for Better Homes at Lower Cost Denver

May 15: Green Building United’s Sustainability Symposium Philadelphia

May 27–28: California Green Building Conference 2026 Berkeley

June 1–4: NAREE’s 60th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference Miami

June 10–13: AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 San Diego

June 11–12: Next Generation Water Summit Santa Fe

June 22–24: 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo Las Vegas

June 23–25: Trellis Impact 26 San Francisco

]]> In this week’s housing and construction news roundup, we break down the real forces driving costs higher—from childcare expenses now exceeding affordability benchmarks in every state, to infrastructure uncertainty, water constraints, and shifting federal policy that could impact how homes are built and priced.

In this episode:

Upcoming Events

May 5–6: Reuters Responsible Business USA 2026 Boston

May 6: Virtual Webinar: 30 Years of Energy Star for Homes: The Origin Story

May 8: Seven Habits of Highly Effective Builders: Powerful Fundamentals for Better Homes at Lower Cost Denver

May 15: Green Building United’s Sustainability Symposium Philadelphia

May 27–28: California Green Building Conference 2026 Berkeley

June 1–4: NAREE’s 60th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference Miami

June 10–13: AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 San Diego

June 11–12: Next Generation Water Summit Santa Fe

June 22–24: 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo Las Vegas

June 23–25: Trellis Impact 26 San Francisco

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-19100000 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0600 747 full false Stop Building for Resale. Start Building for Life. Stop Building for Resale. Start Building for Life. Nick Fazli, Director of Sustainability for Sekisui House, offers a provocative look at how short-term thinking is eroding long-term value in housing and the economy, and how to reverse it.

]]> Nick Fazli, Director of Sustainability for Sekisui House, offers a provocative look at how short-term thinking is eroding long-term value in housing and the economy, and how to reverse it.

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-19092224 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0600 2358 full false Housing Affordability vs Energy Codes, The Rise of Green Homes, and Pre-Approved Housing Housing Affordability vs Energy Codes, The Rise of Green Homes, and Pre-Approved Housing In this week’s Sustainable Building News, we break down one of the biggest shifts happening right now: the growing divide between housing affordability and performance—and why the metrics we’ve relied on may be leading us in the wrong direction.

Stories:

Events:

April 29–30: Solar & Energy Storage Summit Denver

May 5–6: Reuters Responsible Business USA 2026 Boston

May 6: Virtual Webinar: 30 Years of Energy Star for Homes: The Origin Story

May 8: Seven Habits of Highly Effective Builders: Powerful Fundamentals for Better Homes at Lower Cost Denver

May 15: Green Building United’s Sustainability Symposium Philadelphia

May 27–28: California Green Building Conference 2026 Berkeley

June 1–4: NAREE’s 60th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference Miami

June 10–13: AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 San Diego

June 11–12: Next Generation Water Summit Santa Fe

June 22–24: 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo Las Vegas

June 23–25: Trellis Impact 26 San Francisco

]]> In this week’s Sustainable Building News, we break down one of the biggest shifts happening right now: the growing divide between housing affordability and performance—and why the metrics we’ve relied on may be leading us in the wrong direction.

Stories:

Events:

April 29–30: Solar & Energy Storage Summit Denver

May 5–6: Reuters Responsible Business USA 2026 Boston

May 6: Virtual Webinar: 30 Years of Energy Star for Homes: The Origin Story

May 8: Seven Habits of Highly Effective Builders: Powerful Fundamentals for Better Homes at Lower Cost Denver

May 15: Green Building United’s Sustainability Symposium Philadelphia

May 27–28: California Green Building Conference 2026 Berkeley

June 1–4: NAREE’s 60th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference Miami

June 10–13: AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 San Diego

June 11–12: Next Generation Water Summit Santa Fe

June 22–24: 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo Las Vegas

June 23–25: Trellis Impact 26 San Francisco

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-19061293 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:00:00 -0600 571 full false Selling Trust in a Transactional World Selling Trust in a Transactional World Sara and Dennis explore how the principles that power great retail—trust, relationships, and customer experience—offer a blueprint for fixing how value is created in housing and across the entire economy. 

]]> Sara and Dennis explore how the principles that power great retail—trust, relationships, and customer experience—offer a blueprint for fixing how value is created in housing and across the entire economy. 

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-19054567 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0600 1802 full false Policy Shifts, Energy Strain, Fire Readiness Policy Shifts, Energy Strain, Fire Readiness Housing policy, energy affordability, wildfire resilience, and climate action—here are the biggest sustainable building stories this week:

White House Housing Deregulation

West Virginia Energy Affordability

Insulation Institute Energy Insecurity Data

Wildfire Resilience and New Fire Codes

-Texas

-Colorado

-California

Sustainability Initiatives

Engineered Wood

The Impact Series: Kate Berglund

VISION House SHAWOOD

Green Builder Magazine

Editors’ Product Pick: A. O. Smith Voltex X Heat Pump

COGNITION Hot Take: Outdoor Living

Upcoming Events:

Save the Date! Our 10th Annual Sustainability Symposium will be held virtually June 3–4. Registration will open soon. 

Enter our Eco Leaders program

-April 22–23: Dallas BUILD Expo 2026

-April 29-30: Solar & Energy Storage Summit

-May 5–6: Reuters Responsible Business USA 2026

-May 6: 30 Years of Energy Star for Homes: The Origin Story

-May 8: Seven Habits of Highly Effective Builders: Powerful Fundamentals for Better Homes at Lower Cost

-May 15: Green Building United’s Sustainability Symposium

-May 27-28: California Green Building Conference 2026

-June 1–4: NAREE’s 60th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference

-June 10–13: AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026

-June 11-12: Next Generation Water Summit

]]> Housing policy, energy affordability, wildfire resilience, and climate action—here are the biggest sustainable building stories this week:

White House Housing Deregulation

West Virginia Energy Affordability

Insulation Institute Energy Insecurity Data

Wildfire Resilience and New Fire Codes

-Texas

-Colorado

-California

Sustainability Initiatives

Engineered Wood

The Impact Series: Kate Berglund

VISION House SHAWOOD

Green Builder Magazine

Editors’ Product Pick: A. O. Smith Voltex X Heat Pump

COGNITION Hot Take: Outdoor Living

Upcoming Events:

Save the Date! Our 10th Annual Sustainability Symposium will be held virtually June 3–4. Registration will open soon. 

Enter our Eco Leaders program

-April 22–23: Dallas BUILD Expo 2026

-April 29-30: Solar & Energy Storage Summit

-May 5–6: Reuters Responsible Business USA 2026

-May 6: 30 Years of Energy Star for Homes: The Origin Story

-May 8: Seven Habits of Highly Effective Builders: Powerful Fundamentals for Better Homes at Lower Cost

-May 15: Green Building United’s Sustainability Symposium

-May 27-28: California Green Building Conference 2026

-June 1–4: NAREE’s 60th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference

-June 10–13: AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026

-June 11-12: Next Generation Water Summit

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-19022493 Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:00:00 -0600 484 full false The Impact Series: Chris Castro The Impact Series: Chris Castro  Mike and Chris talk about clean energy, public service and a whole lot more. 

]]>  Mike and Chris talk about clean energy, public service and a whole lot more. 

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-19016045 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0600 4379 full false This Week's Sustainable Building News: Where Housing Is Headed Next This Week's Sustainable Building News: Where Housing Is Headed Next Housing policy, energy codes, and affordable housing innovation—here are the biggest sustainable building stories this week. From federal policy shakeups to a gas utility entering geothermal—this week signals major shifts in how we build. Plus editors’ green product pick, calendar of events for the building industry, and more. 

This week’s stories:

Cuts to HUD

D.R Horton Pex Lawsuit

FEMA Bric Funding

AI in Architecture

AIA’s Document D503 for sustainable projects

Editors’ Product Pick: INKAS recycled concrete

COGNITION Hot Take: Resilience Disconnect

RMI on Resilience

The Valuation Metric: Scott Tew, Vice President of Sustainability at Trane Technologies

2026 Eco Leaders program

Upcoming Events

-Save the Date! Green Builder Media’s 10th Annual Sustainability Symposium will be held virtually June 3–4. Bill McKibbon of 350.org will be the keynote speaker. Subscribe to our Vantage newsletter to stay informed! Registration will be open in a few weeks. 

-April 13–16: The National Home Performance Conference Columbus, Ohio 

-April 22: Housing 2.0 Seminar: Six Strategies for Better Homes at Lower Costs with Sam Rashkin In-Person Houston

-April 22–23: Dallas BUILD Expo 2026

-April 29-30: Solar & Energy Storage Summit Denver

-May 5–6: Reuters Responsible Business USA 2026 Boston

-May 6: Virtual Webinar: 30 Years of Energy Star for Homes: The Origin Story

-May 8: Seven Habits of Highly Effective Builders: Powerful Fundamentals for Better Homes at Lower Cost In-Person Denver

-May 15: Green Building United’s Sustainability Symposium Philadelphia

-May 27-28: California Green Building Conference 2026 Berkeley

-June 1–4: NAREE’s 60th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference Miami

-June 10–13: AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 San Diego 

-June 22–24: 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo Las Vegas

-June 23–25: Trellis Impact 26 San Francisco

]]> Housing policy, energy codes, and affordable housing innovation—here are the biggest sustainable building stories this week. From federal policy shakeups to a gas utility entering geothermal—this week signals major shifts in how we build. Plus editors’ green product pick, calendar of events for the building industry, and more. 

This week’s stories:

Cuts to HUD

D.R Horton Pex Lawsuit

FEMA Bric Funding

AI in Architecture

AIA’s Document D503 for sustainable projects

Editors’ Product Pick: INKAS recycled concrete

COGNITION Hot Take: Resilience Disconnect

RMI on Resilience

The Valuation Metric: Scott Tew, Vice President of Sustainability at Trane Technologies

2026 Eco Leaders program

Upcoming Events

-Save the Date! Green Builder Media’s 10th Annual Sustainability Symposium will be held virtually June 3–4. Bill McKibbon of 350.org will be the keynote speaker. Subscribe to our Vantage newsletter to stay informed! Registration will be open in a few weeks. 

-April 13–16: The National Home Performance Conference Columbus, Ohio 

-April 22: Housing 2.0 Seminar: Six Strategies for Better Homes at Lower Costs with Sam Rashkin In-Person Houston

-April 22–23: Dallas BUILD Expo 2026

-April 29-30: Solar & Energy Storage Summit Denver

-May 5–6: Reuters Responsible Business USA 2026 Boston

-May 6: Virtual Webinar: 30 Years of Energy Star for Homes: The Origin Story

-May 8: Seven Habits of Highly Effective Builders: Powerful Fundamentals for Better Homes at Lower Cost In-Person Denver

-May 15: Green Building United’s Sustainability Symposium Philadelphia

-May 27-28: California Green Building Conference 2026 Berkeley

-June 1–4: NAREE’s 60th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference Miami

-June 10–13: AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 San Diego 

-June 22–24: 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo Las Vegas

-June 23–25: Trellis Impact 26 San Francisco

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18984048 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0600 481 full false The Valuation Metric: A Crisis of Conscience The Valuation Metric: A Crisis of Conscience Sara queries, what if the affordability crisis is not just a market failure, but a reflection of deeper internal and cultural misalignment? 

]]> Sara queries, what if the affordability crisis is not just a market failure, but a reflection of deeper internal and cultural misalignment? 

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18969698 Tue, 07 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0600 1244 full false This Week's Sustainable Building News: The Housing Reset Is Already Underway This Week's Sustainable Building News: The Housing Reset Is Already Underway The Housing Reset Is Already Underway with housing policy, energy codes, and affordable housing innovation.

Judge blocks requirements from HUD and USDA enforcing 2021 IECC energy code on federally financed housing

White House executive order eliminates housing regulatory barriers

ROAD to Housing Act

HUD Green and Resilient Retrofit Program

Missouri HB2384

Link to oppose HB2384

Santa Monica’s modular, affordable homes

Vermont utility tries geothermal

LA 50L Home Coalition project with water conservation

Editors’ Product Pick: Focal heat system

Fairview Passive home

Nature-Positive Economy and Investment Report

COGNITION Hot Take: Healthy Home Data

The Impact Series with Dr. Jim White

Events

Save the Date! Green Builder Media’s 10th Annual Sustainability Symposium to be held virtually June 3–4 with Bill McKibbon of 350.org as the keynote. Subscribe to our Vantage newsletter to stay informed! Registration opens soon.

]]> The Housing Reset Is Already Underway with housing policy, energy codes, and affordable housing innovation.

Judge blocks requirements from HUD and USDA enforcing 2021 IECC energy code on federally financed housing

White House executive order eliminates housing regulatory barriers

ROAD to Housing Act

HUD Green and Resilient Retrofit Program

Missouri HB2384

Link to oppose HB2384

Santa Monica’s modular, affordable homes

Vermont utility tries geothermal

LA 50L Home Coalition project with water conservation

Editors’ Product Pick: Focal heat system

Fairview Passive home

Nature-Positive Economy and Investment Report

COGNITION Hot Take: Healthy Home Data

The Impact Series with Dr. Jim White

Events

Save the Date! Green Builder Media’s 10th Annual Sustainability Symposium to be held virtually June 3–4 with Bill McKibbon of 350.org as the keynote. Subscribe to our Vantage newsletter to stay informed! Registration opens soon.

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18946648 Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:00:00 -0600 564 full false The Impact Series: Kate Berglund The Impact Series: Kate Berglund Mike and Kate talk about Burning Man, AI and a whole lot more on the Impact Series.

]]> Mike and Kate talk about Burning Man, AI and a whole lot more on the Impact Series.

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18938380 Tue, 31 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0600 2148 full false This Week's Sustainable Building News: 3/25 This Week's Sustainable Building News: 3/25 The biggest stories shaping sustainable building this week: In this episode of This Week’s Sustainable Building News, Cati O’Keefe breaks down a new report on green building news, housing policy, energy codes, Editors’ Product Pick, calendar of events for the building industry, and more. 


This week’s stories include:


NAR’s report on green shift in housing on MLS


Kansas City, MO City Council walks back their own progressive energy code


Illinois: Solar on Balconies


Rising Insurance Costs


Geothermal Legislation by Sens. Hickenlooper and Daines


Austin Turns Closed School Into Affordable Housing


The Impact Series: Deirdre Irwin, Water Conservation Coordinator, St. Johns River Water Management District


Editors’ Product Pick of the Week: Solar Charging Umbrella


COGNITION Weekly Hot Take


Calendar: 

]]> The biggest stories shaping sustainable building this week: In this episode of This Week’s Sustainable Building News, Cati O’Keefe breaks down a new report on green building news, housing policy, energy codes, Editors’ Product Pick, calendar of events for the building industry, and more. 


This week’s stories include:


NAR’s report on green shift in housing on MLS


Kansas City, MO City Council walks back their own progressive energy code


Illinois: Solar on Balconies


Rising Insurance Costs


Geothermal Legislation by Sens. Hickenlooper and Daines


Austin Turns Closed School Into Affordable Housing


The Impact Series: Deirdre Irwin, Water Conservation Coordinator, St. Johns River Water Management District


Editors’ Product Pick of the Week: Solar Charging Umbrella


COGNITION Weekly Hot Take


Calendar: 

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18908010 Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:00:00 -0600 537 full false The Valuation Metric: Reimagining Business Value The Valuation Metric: Reimagining Business Value  For decades, businesses have optimized for short-term returns—quarterly earnings, first costs, and price per square foot. But as climate risk, resource constraints, and economic instability rise, a new question is emerging: 

Are we using the wrong metrics entirely? 

In this episode of The Valuation Metric, Sara Gutterman sits down with sustainability leader Scott Tew of Trane Technologies to explore a fundamental shift happening across industries: 

Sustainability is no longer a cost center—it’s a driver of growth, resilience, and competitive advantage. 

We break down: 

- Why sustainability has moved from “nice-to-have” to core business strategy 

- How resilience is becoming the new currency of value 

- Why companies that think long-term are outperforming 

- How AI and real-time data are transforming building performance 

- The critical shift from price per square foot → value per square foot 

This conversation will change how you think about business, buildings, and the future of the economy. 

Watch now to understand what’s really driving value in today’s market. 

]]>  For decades, businesses have optimized for short-term returns—quarterly earnings, first costs, and price per square foot. But as climate risk, resource constraints, and economic instability rise, a new question is emerging: 

Are we using the wrong metrics entirely? 

In this episode of The Valuation Metric, Sara Gutterman sits down with sustainability leader Scott Tew of Trane Technologies to explore a fundamental shift happening across industries: 

Sustainability is no longer a cost center—it’s a driver of growth, resilience, and competitive advantage. 

We break down: 

- Why sustainability has moved from “nice-to-have” to core business strategy 

- How resilience is becoming the new currency of value 

- Why companies that think long-term are outperforming 

- How AI and real-time data are transforming building performance 

- The critical shift from price per square foot → value per square foot 

This conversation will change how you think about business, buildings, and the future of the economy. 

Watch now to understand what’s really driving value in today’s market. 

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18877054 Tue, 24 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0600 2303 full false This Week's Sustainable Building News: 3/18 This Week's Sustainable Building News: 3/18 In this episode of This Week in Sustainability, Cati O’Keefe breaks down the most important housing and building news shaping the industry right now.  This episode covers:


Events

]]> In this episode of This Week in Sustainability, Cati O’Keefe breaks down the most important housing and building news shaping the industry right now.  This episode covers:


Events

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18869505 Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0600 537 full false The Impact Series: Dr. Jim White The Impact Series: Dr. Jim White  This isn’t a future problem. It’s already happening. 

In this episode of The Impact Series, Mike Collignon sits down with Dr. Jim White—leading climate scientist and Dean at UNC Chapel Hill—to break down what decades of research are telling us: 

Sea level rise is inevitable. And once it starts, it doesn’t simply reverse. From melting ice sheets to warming oceans and shifting global systems, the changes are already in motion—and the timeline isn’t what most people think.

In this episode: 

• Why sea level rise can accelerate faster than expected 

• The hidden role of ocean heat—and why it matters more than air temperature 

• What “tipping points” really mean for climate and society 

• How insurance markets may be the first real signal of change 

• The long-term consequences we’re passing to future generations 

And one sobering truth: We don’t live on a planet of instant fixes. This isn’t just about climate science. It’s about what happens next—and who pays the price. 

Watch the full conversation. Then decide how urgent this really is. 

]]>  This isn’t a future problem. It’s already happening. 

In this episode of The Impact Series, Mike Collignon sits down with Dr. Jim White—leading climate scientist and Dean at UNC Chapel Hill—to break down what decades of research are telling us: 

Sea level rise is inevitable. And once it starts, it doesn’t simply reverse. From melting ice sheets to warming oceans and shifting global systems, the changes are already in motion—and the timeline isn’t what most people think.

In this episode: 

• Why sea level rise can accelerate faster than expected 

• The hidden role of ocean heat—and why it matters more than air temperature 

• What “tipping points” really mean for climate and society 

• How insurance markets may be the first real signal of change 

• The long-term consequences we’re passing to future generations 

And one sobering truth: We don’t live on a planet of instant fixes. This isn’t just about climate science. It’s about what happens next—and who pays the price. 

Watch the full conversation. Then decide how urgent this really is. 

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18843290 Tue, 17 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0600 2804 full false This Week's Sustainable Building News: 3/11 This Week's Sustainable Building News: 3/11 In this episode of This Week in Sustainability, Cati O’Keefe breaks down how the intersection of energy volatility, AI expansion, and building/code policy is creating new pressures—and perhaps opportunities—for sustainable housing.

Iran War

Temporary construction towns built to support AI data centers

Utilities across North America push back on aggressive building electrification timelines

How Utilities Profit from Electric Demand

Colorado introduced 18 energy bills

New York Republicans try to slow or roll back parts of the state’s aggressive clean energy transition

Arizona to expand energy development and grid capacity

New Mexico considers bills focused on grid modernization, community solar expansion, and clean electricity

NABH Celebrates court decision that vacated the federal mandate tying HUD financing to the 2021 IECC

NAHB’s Housing Market Index survey

CARB Regulations

Colorado Strategic Growth

Michigan Housing Policy

Insulation Institute's warning on reflective insulation products testing

Editors’ Product Pick of the Week: Dowel Laminated Timber

Multifamily and EV Adoption

The Impact Series with Bill Lazar

COGNITION Weekly Hot Take

EVENTS:

]]> In this episode of This Week in Sustainability, Cati O’Keefe breaks down how the intersection of energy volatility, AI expansion, and building/code policy is creating new pressures—and perhaps opportunities—for sustainable housing.

Iran War

Temporary construction towns built to support AI data centers

Utilities across North America push back on aggressive building electrification timelines

How Utilities Profit from Electric Demand

Colorado introduced 18 energy bills

New York Republicans try to slow or roll back parts of the state’s aggressive clean energy transition

Arizona to expand energy development and grid capacity

New Mexico considers bills focused on grid modernization, community solar expansion, and clean electricity

NABH Celebrates court decision that vacated the federal mandate tying HUD financing to the 2021 IECC

NAHB’s Housing Market Index survey

CARB Regulations

Colorado Strategic Growth

Michigan Housing Policy

Insulation Institute's warning on reflective insulation products testing

Editors’ Product Pick of the Week: Dowel Laminated Timber

Multifamily and EV Adoption

The Impact Series with Bill Lazar

COGNITION Weekly Hot Take

EVENTS:

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18830654 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0600 693 full false The Valuation Metric: The Truth About “Price Per Square Foot” No One Says Out Loud The Valuation Metric: The Truth About “Price Per Square Foot” No One Says Out Loud The system is broken. And everyone knows it. In this episode of The Valuation Metric, Sarah Gutterman sits down with Steve Byers (Energy Logic) to expose a hard truth: The housing market rewards the wrong things. 

Builders who invest in energy efficiency, resilience, and healthier homes? They’re often forced to cut those features just to compete. Why? Because everything still comes down to one outdated metric: price per square foot. And it’s distorting everything. 

In this episode: 

• Why high-performance homes are getting stripped down 

• The real reason affordability keeps getting worse 

• What buyers aren’t being told (but should be asking)

• The hidden costs that never show up in the purchase price 

• The metric that could change everything—if the industry lets it 

This podcast is about how we define value—and who pays the price when we get it wrong. Watch the full conversation. 

]]> The system is broken. And everyone knows it. In this episode of The Valuation Metric, Sarah Gutterman sits down with Steve Byers (Energy Logic) to expose a hard truth: The housing market rewards the wrong things. 

Builders who invest in energy efficiency, resilience, and healthier homes? They’re often forced to cut those features just to compete. Why? Because everything still comes down to one outdated metric: price per square foot. And it’s distorting everything. 

In this episode: 

• Why high-performance homes are getting stripped down 

• The real reason affordability keeps getting worse 

• What buyers aren’t being told (but should be asking)

• The hidden costs that never show up in the purchase price 

• The metric that could change everything—if the industry lets it 

This podcast is about how we define value—and who pays the price when we get it wrong. Watch the full conversation. 

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18823042 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0600 2566 full false This Week's Sustainable Building News: 3/4 This Week's Sustainable Building News: 3/4 In this episode of This Week in Sustainability, Cati O’Keefe breaks down the most important housing and building news shaping the industry right now.  This episode covers: 


  • Baldwin Village by Thrive Living built over a Costco. https://www.grocerydive.com/news/more-than-a-store-costco-apartments-residential-development/811639/
  • Mayor Mamdani Addresses Affordable Housing with President Trump. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-meeting-trump-washington-rcna260831
  • Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro tackles affordable housing. https://www.pa.gov/governor/newsroom/2026-press-releases/governor-shapiro-unveils-pennsylvania-s-first-ever-housing-actio
  • Sustainability Superhero Announced: Allan Merrill, CEO of Beazer Homes. https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/blog/mission-possible
  • Download our January-February issue and read about all the winners of the Green Home of the Year Awards. https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/january-february-2026-18th-annual-green-home-of-the-year-awards
  • Massachusetts adopts Specialized Stretch Code. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.mass.gov/doc/building-energy-code-adoption-by-municipality/download
  • Colorado advanced statewide building performance standards for large commercial and multifamily buildings. https://cdphe.colorado.gov/press-release/colorado-establishes-new-standards-for-large-buildings-to-use-less-energy-reduce
  • California aims to require insurers to factor wildfire mitigation into underwriting. https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2025/release079-2025.cfm
  • Home Innovation Research Labs certifies 750,000 homes. https://www.nahb.org/blog/2026/03/top-10-ngbs-states-2025
  • Generational Marketing 2026 webinar. youtube.com/watch?v=zZjRkxvgf5U&feature=youtu.be
  • The Impact Series Podcast featuring Nathan Good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRH4aKbd3us&t=2659s
  • Fixing the appraisal process to value durability and sustainability. https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/blog/the-problem-with-appraisals
  • AI trends in building systems. https://mashable.com/article/how-ai-changing-smart-home
  • IAPMO’s March4Water 2026 Program. https://www.uniformcodes.org/march4water
  • Reclaiming Affordability: Watch the videos and learn more about Value Per Square Foot. https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/value-per-square-foot
  • Events: 
    • DesignColumbus https://designcolumbus.org/
    • RESNET Conference https://www.resnet.us/2026-conference/
    • The Living Future Conference https://living-future.org/events/lf26/

The Gulf Coast Green Building Conference https://architecturehouston.org/gulf-coast-green/

]]> In this episode of This Week in Sustainability, Cati O’Keefe breaks down the most important housing and building news shaping the industry right now.  This episode covers: 


  • Baldwin Village by Thrive Living built over a Costco. https://www.grocerydive.com/news/more-than-a-store-costco-apartments-residential-development/811639/
  • Mayor Mamdani Addresses Affordable Housing with President Trump. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-meeting-trump-washington-rcna260831
  • Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro tackles affordable housing. https://www.pa.gov/governor/newsroom/2026-press-releases/governor-shapiro-unveils-pennsylvania-s-first-ever-housing-actio
  • Sustainability Superhero Announced: Allan Merrill, CEO of Beazer Homes. https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/blog/mission-possible
  • Download our January-February issue and read about all the winners of the Green Home of the Year Awards. https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/january-february-2026-18th-annual-green-home-of-the-year-awards
  • Massachusetts adopts Specialized Stretch Code. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.mass.gov/doc/building-energy-code-adoption-by-municipality/download
  • Colorado advanced statewide building performance standards for large commercial and multifamily buildings. https://cdphe.colorado.gov/press-release/colorado-establishes-new-standards-for-large-buildings-to-use-less-energy-reduce
  • California aims to require insurers to factor wildfire mitigation into underwriting. https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2025/release079-2025.cfm
  • Home Innovation Research Labs certifies 750,000 homes. https://www.nahb.org/blog/2026/03/top-10-ngbs-states-2025
  • Generational Marketing 2026 webinar. youtube.com/watch?v=zZjRkxvgf5U&feature=youtu.be
  • The Impact Series Podcast featuring Nathan Good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRH4aKbd3us&t=2659s
  • Fixing the appraisal process to value durability and sustainability. https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/blog/the-problem-with-appraisals
  • AI trends in building systems. https://mashable.com/article/how-ai-changing-smart-home
  • IAPMO’s March4Water 2026 Program. https://www.uniformcodes.org/march4water
  • Reclaiming Affordability: Watch the videos and learn more about Value Per Square Foot. https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/value-per-square-foot
  • Events: 
    • DesignColumbus https://designcolumbus.org/
    • RESNET Conference https://www.resnet.us/2026-conference/
    • The Living Future Conference https://living-future.org/events/lf26/

The Gulf Coast Green Building Conference https://architecturehouston.org/gulf-coast-green/

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18792539 Wed, 04 Mar 2026 17:00:00 -0700 620 full false The Impact Series: Bill Lazar The Impact Series: Bill Lazar  Everyone’s talking about affordability. Almost no one is defining it correctly. 

In this episode of The Impact Series, Mike Collignon sits down with Bill Lazar—affordable housing leader with nearly four decades of experience—to break down what’s really driving the housing crisis. 

Spoiler: it’s not just supply and demand. From corporate investors buying up single-family homes to broken valuation systems that ignore operating costs, the system is pushing working families further out—while calling it “normal.”

In this episode: 

• Why “affordable housing” doesn’t mean what you think it does 

• How investors are reshaping entire housing markets 

• The real reason builders aren’t building starter homes anymore 

• Why energy efficiency and lower utility bills actually matter more than price 

• The policies, financing gaps, and incentives missing from the system 

And one uncomfortable truth: Builders will build anything—but only if the system allows them to survive. This isn’t just a housing problem. It’s a system problem. Watch the full conversation. Then rethink what affordability really means. 

]]>  Everyone’s talking about affordability. Almost no one is defining it correctly. 

In this episode of The Impact Series, Mike Collignon sits down with Bill Lazar—affordable housing leader with nearly four decades of experience—to break down what’s really driving the housing crisis. 

Spoiler: it’s not just supply and demand. From corporate investors buying up single-family homes to broken valuation systems that ignore operating costs, the system is pushing working families further out—while calling it “normal.”

In this episode: 

• Why “affordable housing” doesn’t mean what you think it does 

• How investors are reshaping entire housing markets 

• The real reason builders aren’t building starter homes anymore 

• Why energy efficiency and lower utility bills actually matter more than price 

• The policies, financing gaps, and incentives missing from the system 

And one uncomfortable truth: Builders will build anything—but only if the system allows them to survive. This isn’t just a housing problem. It’s a system problem. Watch the full conversation. Then rethink what affordability really means. 

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18620203 Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0700 3489 full false This Week's Sustainable Building News: 2/25 This Week's Sustainable Building News: 2/25 In this episode of This Week in Sustainability, Cati O’Keefe breaks down the most important housing and building news shaping the industry right now. 

This episode covers: 

]]> In this episode of This Week in Sustainability, Cati O’Keefe breaks down the most important housing and building news shaping the industry right now. 

This episode covers: 

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18749823 Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:00:00 -0700 993 full false This Week's Sustainable Building News: 2/11 This Week's Sustainable Building News: 2/11 This news wrap-up drops every Wednesday. Subscribe, share, and help us grow the Green Builder Media Network! In this episode of This Week's Sustainable Building News, Cati O’Keefe breaks down the most important housing and building news shaping the industry right now. 

This episode covers: 

Plus: 

 • Next Generation Water Summit 

 • Webinar Archive 

 • Subscribe to Our Vantage Newsletter to stay on top of news and trends 

 • Learn more about this podcast  

]]> This news wrap-up drops every Wednesday. Subscribe, share, and help us grow the Green Builder Media Network! In this episode of This Week's Sustainable Building News, Cati O’Keefe breaks down the most important housing and building news shaping the industry right now. 

This episode covers: 

Plus: 

 • Next Generation Water Summit 

 • Webinar Archive 

 • Subscribe to Our Vantage Newsletter to stay on top of news and trends 

 • Learn more about this podcast  

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18666239 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 15:00:00 -0700 578 full false The Impact Series: Nathan Good The Impact Series: Nathan Good  “The battle to prevent climate change… may already be lost.” In this episode of The Impact Series, Mike Collignon sits down with Nathan Good—renowned sustainable architect and early LEED pioneer—to confront a shift the industry doesn’t want to admit: It’s no longer just about sustainability. It’s about survival. 

From wildfires to hurricanes to prolonged power outages, the conversation is changing—from efficiency to resilience. But the market isn’t keeping up. 

In this episode: 

• Why climate-responsive design is no longer optional 

• The disconnect between high-performance homes and mass-market building 

• How affordability is slowing progress toward resilient housing 

• The role of insurance, disasters, and risk in shaping the future of housing 

• Why most homeowners don’t even know what they’re missing 

And one uncomfortable reality: We’re still building homes for a world that no longer exists. This conversation challenges the entire premise of modern housing—and what it needs to become next. Watch the full conversation. Then ask yourself: is your home built for the future… or the past? 

]]>  “The battle to prevent climate change… may already be lost.” In this episode of The Impact Series, Mike Collignon sits down with Nathan Good—renowned sustainable architect and early LEED pioneer—to confront a shift the industry doesn’t want to admit: It’s no longer just about sustainability. It’s about survival. 

From wildfires to hurricanes to prolonged power outages, the conversation is changing—from efficiency to resilience. But the market isn’t keeping up. 

In this episode: 

• Why climate-responsive design is no longer optional 

• The disconnect between high-performance homes and mass-market building 

• How affordability is slowing progress toward resilient housing 

• The role of insurance, disasters, and risk in shaping the future of housing 

• Why most homeowners don’t even know what they’re missing 

And one uncomfortable reality: We’re still building homes for a world that no longer exists. This conversation challenges the entire premise of modern housing—and what it needs to become next. Watch the full conversation. Then ask yourself: is your home built for the future… or the past? 

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18620161 Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0700 2846 full false The Impact Series: Deirdre Irwin on What's Really Driving Florida's Water Shortage The Impact Series: Deirdre Irwin on What's Really Driving Florida's Water Shortage It looks like there’s water everywhere. There isn’t. 

In this episode of The Impact Series, Mike Collignon sits down with Deirdre Irwin—water conservation leader with over 30 years at the St. Johns River Water Management District—to unpack a surprising reality: Florida doesn’t have a water shortage. It has a cheap water shortage. 

Behind the palm trees, rainfall, and coastlines is a system under pressure—from population growth, overuse, and rising costs of alternative water sources. And the solution? It’s already reshaping how homes are built. 

In this episode:

 • Why Florida is restricting water despite heavy rainfall 

• The real reason water costs are rising—and what’s coming next 

• How builders went from voluntary programs to mandatory water rules 

• The role of irrigation, HOAs, and homeowner behavior in the crisis 

• Why reclaimed wastewater may be the future of drinking water 

This isn’t just a Florida story. It’s a preview of what’s coming to water systems everywhere. Watch the full conversation. Then rethink what “water abundance” really means. 

]]> It looks like there’s water everywhere. There isn’t. 

In this episode of The Impact Series, Mike Collignon sits down with Deirdre Irwin—water conservation leader with over 30 years at the St. Johns River Water Management District—to unpack a surprising reality: Florida doesn’t have a water shortage. It has a cheap water shortage. 

Behind the palm trees, rainfall, and coastlines is a system under pressure—from population growth, overuse, and rising costs of alternative water sources. And the solution? It’s already reshaping how homes are built. 

In this episode:

 • Why Florida is restricting water despite heavy rainfall 

• The real reason water costs are rising—and what’s coming next 

• How builders went from voluntary programs to mandatory water rules 

• The role of irrigation, HOAs, and homeowner behavior in the crisis 

• Why reclaimed wastewater may be the future of drinking water 

This isn’t just a Florida story. It’s a preview of what’s coming to water systems everywhere. Watch the full conversation. Then rethink what “water abundance” really means. 

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18620137 Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0700 2311 full false The Valuation Metric: The “Town of the Future” That Already Exists The Valuation Metric: The “Town of the Future” That Already Exists  What if we’ve been building communities completely backward? In this episode of The Valuation Metric, Sarah Gutterman talks with Lucienne Pears of Babcock Ranch—the first fully solar-powered town in the U.S.—about a radical idea: Build with nature. Not against it. When Hurricane Ian hit Florida, entire communities flooded and lost power. Babcock Ranch didn’t. No power loss. No major damage. No lives lost. That wasn’t luck. It was design. 

In this episode: 

• How a solar-powered town stayed online during a major hurricane 

• Why restoring natural water systems prevented flooding 

• The hidden flaw in how we design modern communities 

• Why insurance companies still don’t reward resilience (yet) 

• What “value per square foot” really looks like in real life 

And a bigger question: What if homes didn’t dictate how we live—but actually supported it? This isn’t just about one town. It’s a blueprint for the future of housing, resilience, and human well-being. Watch the full conversation. Then rethink what a community should be. 

]]>  What if we’ve been building communities completely backward? In this episode of The Valuation Metric, Sarah Gutterman talks with Lucienne Pears of Babcock Ranch—the first fully solar-powered town in the U.S.—about a radical idea: Build with nature. Not against it. When Hurricane Ian hit Florida, entire communities flooded and lost power. Babcock Ranch didn’t. No power loss. No major damage. No lives lost. That wasn’t luck. It was design. 

In this episode: 

• How a solar-powered town stayed online during a major hurricane 

• Why restoring natural water systems prevented flooding 

• The hidden flaw in how we design modern communities 

• Why insurance companies still don’t reward resilience (yet) 

• What “value per square foot” really looks like in real life 

And a bigger question: What if homes didn’t dictate how we live—but actually supported it? This isn’t just about one town. It’s a blueprint for the future of housing, resilience, and human well-being. Watch the full conversation. Then rethink what a community should be. 

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18619767 Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0700 2692 full false The Valuation Metric: From Price to Purpose: Rewriting the Rules of Value The Valuation Metric: From Price to Purpose: Rewriting the Rules of Value Price per square foot built the last century of housing. Value per square foot should build the next.

For most of the 20th century, the American housing market was fundamentally local. Small and mid-sized builders worked hand-in-hand with local banks and savings-and-loans (S&Ls) to finance homes for families in their communities.

This system created a virtuous cycle: homes created wealth for local families, which in turn strengthened local banks, which then reinvested into the same communities. Homebuilding was not only an engine of economic growth but also a foundation for community stability and generational wealth creation.

That system began to unravel with the Savings & Loan crisis of the 1980s, which dismantled localized lending and ushered in a new era of housing financialization. Wall Street entered the sector at scale, commoditizing homes into investment vehicles. Capital markets became the dominant funding source for large builders, and institutional investors quickly learned how to extract value from housing in the form of quarterly profits and shareholder returns.

This shift transformed the industry’s valuation model. Where homes were once evaluated based on their capacity to provide long-term value—stability, affordability, and resilience for families and communities, valuations shifted to price per square foot, a crude metric that strips housing of its deeper social, environmental, and economic benefits.

The results have been stark. Housing supply has not kept pace with demand, not solely because of overburdensome zoning requirements or regulations, as some people point out, but because consolidation, speculative investment, and financial engineering have also made it more profitable to constrain supply than to expand it.

As a result, home values and rents have risen faster than wages, while ownership rates have declined. Communities once anchored by locally owned housing now find themselves increasingly controlled by distant capital.

To correct this imbalance, sustainability must shift from a “nice-to-have” feature that can be extracted in down markets to a transactional, non-negotiable component that elevates home valuation. This transformation requires that sustainability is embedded into every stage of the housing lifecycle:

Design: Right-sized, efficient layouts that minimize waste and maximize livability. 

Product Specification: Prioritizing high-performance, resilient, healthy materials such as heat pump technologies, smart panels, renewable energy systems, whole-home air filtration systems, resilient exterior products, and water-conserving technologies.

Construction: Expanding offsite, prefab, and modular approaches that cut waste by up to 90% while ensuring precision and quality control.

Operations: Leveraging solar + storage, demand-side energy management, and connected technologies to lower energy costs, improve comfort, and enhance resilience.

End of Life: Designing for disassembly, recyclability, and carbon sequestration. 

When sustainability is embedded in these processes, homes shift from being short-term assets to long-term value creators.

Subscribe to our channel and visit our website for more information: https://www.greenbuildermedia.com

]]> Price per square foot built the last century of housing. Value per square foot should build the next.

For most of the 20th century, the American housing market was fundamentally local. Small and mid-sized builders worked hand-in-hand with local banks and savings-and-loans (S&Ls) to finance homes for families in their communities.

This system created a virtuous cycle: homes created wealth for local families, which in turn strengthened local banks, which then reinvested into the same communities. Homebuilding was not only an engine of economic growth but also a foundation for community stability and generational wealth creation.

That system began to unravel with the Savings & Loan crisis of the 1980s, which dismantled localized lending and ushered in a new era of housing financialization. Wall Street entered the sector at scale, commoditizing homes into investment vehicles. Capital markets became the dominant funding source for large builders, and institutional investors quickly learned how to extract value from housing in the form of quarterly profits and shareholder returns.

This shift transformed the industry’s valuation model. Where homes were once evaluated based on their capacity to provide long-term value—stability, affordability, and resilience for families and communities, valuations shifted to price per square foot, a crude metric that strips housing of its deeper social, environmental, and economic benefits.

The results have been stark. Housing supply has not kept pace with demand, not solely because of overburdensome zoning requirements or regulations, as some people point out, but because consolidation, speculative investment, and financial engineering have also made it more profitable to constrain supply than to expand it.

As a result, home values and rents have risen faster than wages, while ownership rates have declined. Communities once anchored by locally owned housing now find themselves increasingly controlled by distant capital.

To correct this imbalance, sustainability must shift from a “nice-to-have” feature that can be extracted in down markets to a transactional, non-negotiable component that elevates home valuation. This transformation requires that sustainability is embedded into every stage of the housing lifecycle:

Design: Right-sized, efficient layouts that minimize waste and maximize livability. 

Product Specification: Prioritizing high-performance, resilient, healthy materials such as heat pump technologies, smart panels, renewable energy systems, whole-home air filtration systems, resilient exterior products, and water-conserving technologies.

Construction: Expanding offsite, prefab, and modular approaches that cut waste by up to 90% while ensuring precision and quality control.

Operations: Leveraging solar + storage, demand-side energy management, and connected technologies to lower energy costs, improve comfort, and enhance resilience.

End of Life: Designing for disassembly, recyclability, and carbon sequestration. 

When sustainability is embedded in these processes, homes shift from being short-term assets to long-term value creators.

Subscribe to our channel and visit our website for more information: https://www.greenbuildermedia.com

]]> Green Builder Media Buzzsprout-18618941 Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0700 1578 full false