Our latest demonstration project is a real-time response to the changing housing market.
In today’s housing market, buzzwords like net zero, prefab, workforce housing, multifamily, and build-to-rent dominate the conversation—and for good reason. They reflect the urgent demand from both consumers and the industry to deliver homes that are efficient, resilient, and attainable.
Green Builder Media’s latest VISION House project, the VISION House Hickory Grove, located in Hickory, North Carolina, checks every one of those boxes.
This project is a timely and necessary response to the moment we’re in—one defined by a growing affordability crisis, intensifying climate events, and surging demand for smarter, healthier homes.
A Partnership That Delivers
We’re thrilled to partner with Rob Howard, President of Howard Building Science, a true trailblazer in sustainable construction who built North Carolina’s first net zero energy home nearly two decades ago. Rob brings a deep understanding of building science, community, and smart development strategy.
In Rob’s words: “We’re taking the best of what we know about climate responsive design, building science, prefab, and sustainable building and using it to create homes that people can actually afford to live in. This isn’t just a development project. It’s a housing solution.”
VISION House Hickory Grove is a 12-unit prefab multifamily community nestled in the charming Viewmont neighborhood of Hickory, N.C. The project includes two floorplans, one that is 1,150 square feet with two bedrooms and 2.5 baths, and the other that is 575 square feet with one bedroom and one bath.
These net zero carbon units, designed to meet DOE’s Zero Energy Ready Home certification and the FORTIFIED Home certification for resilience, will be constructed offsite for enhanced precision and speed. They will be certified to use up to 50% less energy than code-built homes, and include solar + storage for full energy independence.
Targeted toward workforce renters (think teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, recent graduates, and retirees), the project redefines what attainable, sustainable housing looks like.
Community amenities include a shared green space, dog park, and community garden—all designed to foster interaction with nature and connection with neighbors.
Meeting a National Challenge
Communities across the U.S. are sounding the alarm on the disappearing ‘missing middle’ of the housing market. According to a Housing Forward Colorado report (a SWEEP project), states like Colorado and cities like Portland, OR have taken bold steps to expand access to missing middle housing, including duplexes, townhomes, and ADUs, that fill the gap between single-family homes and high-rise apartments.
In Hickory, housing costs have surged, and local leaders are seeking ways to retain talent and support essential workers. The VISION House Hickory Grove directly addresses this growing challenge by offering homes that meet both economic realities and a changing climate.
Powered by Innovation
The VISION House Hickory Grove will showcase products from companies that are committed to climate-smart housing, including:
Broan: Ventilation and ERVs for clean indoor air
Fabral: Durable, beautiful metal roofing
JinkoSolar: High-efficiency photovoltaics
LP: Carbon-neutral engineered siding
Opta: Advanced low-carbon concrete using recycled glass
Schneider Electric: Smart electrical panels, demand-side energy management systems, and battery storage solutions
LG: Energy-efficient heat pump HVAC systems and water heaters, plus high-performance appliances
Huber Engineered Woods: ZIP System™ sheathing for enhanced moisture resistance and air sealing
Knauf: High performance insulation designed to make homes healthier, quieter, and more comfortable.
We’ll also measure and offset the full carbon footprint of each home through Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Carbon Offset Marketplace, ensuring net zero embodied and operational carbon.
We invite you to follow our progress: subscribe to our weekly Vantage enewsletter and keep an eye open for ongoing posts about the project as we document the design, construction, and post-occupancy journey of what it truly means to build the future
Rentals: The Long Game
To help make the project possible, Rob reimagined how these homes can generate long-term value through rental income. By designing them from the start as build-to-rent, Rob found a way to make the project both affordable and financially viable.
“Factoring in future rental revenue helped us with financing. And if we decide to sell them down the line, the homes will still be incredibly marketable,” Rob explains. It’s a replicable model for other developers struggling to make workforce housing pencil out.
As cofounder and CEO of Green Builder Media, Sara is a visionary thought leader and passionate advocate for sustainability. A former venture capitalist, she has participated in the life cycle (from funding to exit) of over 20 companies, with an emphasis on combining sustainability and profitability. She lives in Lake City, Colo., with her husband, where she is an avid long-distance runner, snowboarder, and Crossfit trainer. She is also on the Board of Directors at Dvele, runs the Rural Segment for Energize Colorado, and is a former County Commissioner.
Announcing VISION House Hickory Grove
Our latest demonstration project is a real-time response to the changing housing market.
In today’s housing market, buzzwords like net zero, prefab, workforce housing, multifamily, and build-to-rent dominate the conversation—and for good reason. They reflect the urgent demand from both consumers and the industry to deliver homes that are efficient, resilient, and attainable.
Green Builder Media’s latest VISION House project, the VISION House Hickory Grove, located in Hickory, North Carolina, checks every one of those boxes.
This project is a timely and necessary response to the moment we’re in—one defined by a growing affordability crisis, intensifying climate events, and surging demand for smarter, healthier homes.
A Partnership That Delivers
We’re thrilled to partner with Rob Howard, President of Howard Building Science, a true trailblazer in sustainable construction who built North Carolina’s first net zero energy home nearly two decades ago. Rob brings a deep understanding of building science, community, and smart development strategy.
In Rob’s words: “We’re taking the best of what we know about climate responsive design, building science, prefab, and sustainable building and using it to create homes that people can actually afford to live in. This isn’t just a development project. It’s a housing solution.”
VISION House Hickory Grove is a 12-unit prefab multifamily community nestled in the charming Viewmont neighborhood of Hickory, N.C. The project includes two floorplans, one that is 1,150 square feet with two bedrooms and 2.5 baths, and the other that is 575 square feet with one bedroom and one bath.
These net zero carbon units, designed to meet DOE’s Zero Energy Ready Home certification and the FORTIFIED Home certification for resilience, will be constructed offsite for enhanced precision and speed. They will be certified to use up to 50% less energy than code-built homes, and include solar + storage for full energy independence.
Targeted toward workforce renters (think teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, recent graduates, and retirees), the project redefines what attainable, sustainable housing looks like.
Community amenities include a shared green space, dog park, and community garden—all designed to foster interaction with nature and connection with neighbors.
Meeting a National Challenge
Communities across the U.S. are sounding the alarm on the disappearing ‘missing middle’ of the housing market. According to a Housing Forward Colorado report (a SWEEP project), states like Colorado and cities like Portland, OR have taken bold steps to expand access to missing middle housing, including duplexes, townhomes, and ADUs, that fill the gap between single-family homes and high-rise apartments.
In Hickory, housing costs have surged, and local leaders are seeking ways to retain talent and support essential workers. The VISION House Hickory Grove directly addresses this growing challenge by offering homes that meet both economic realities and a changing climate.
Powered by Innovation
The VISION House Hickory Grove will showcase products from companies that are committed to climate-smart housing, including:
We’ll also measure and offset the full carbon footprint of each home through Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Carbon Offset Marketplace, ensuring net zero embodied and operational carbon.
We invite you to follow our progress: subscribe to our weekly Vantage enewsletter and keep an eye open for ongoing posts about the project as we document the design, construction, and post-occupancy journey of what it truly means to build the future
Rentals: The Long Game
To help make the project possible, Rob reimagined how these homes can generate long-term value through rental income. By designing them from the start as build-to-rent, Rob found a way to make the project both affordable and financially viable.
“Factoring in future rental revenue helped us with financing. And if we decide to sell them down the line, the homes will still be incredibly marketable,” Rob explains. It’s a replicable model for other developers struggling to make workforce housing pencil out.
By Sara Gutterman
As cofounder and CEO of Green Builder Media, Sara is a visionary thought leader and passionate advocate for sustainability. A former venture capitalist, she has participated in the life cycle (from funding to exit) of over 20 companies, with an emphasis on combining sustainability and profitability. She lives in Lake City, Colo., with her husband, where she is an avid long-distance runner, snowboarder, and Crossfit trainer. She is also on the Board of Directors at Dvele, runs the Rural Segment for Energize Colorado, and is a former County Commissioner.Also Read