Affordable Green Duplexes Help Solve Housing Crisis
5:37
Our newest VISION House project showcases affordable, comfortable duplex living in North Carolina.
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 consumers and the construction industry to deliver homes that are efficient, resilient and attainable.
Green Builder Media’s latest VISION House project, the VISION House Hickory Grove, 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.
VISION House Hickory Grove, a planned prefab multifamily community, will consist of 12 net zero carbon units that meet the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) certification and the FORTIFIED Home certification for resilience. CREDIT: Courtesy of Rob Howard, Howard Building Science
A Partnership That Delivers
We’re thrilled to partner with Rob Howard, president of Howard Building Science. He’s a true trailblazer in sustainable construction who built North Carolina’s first net zero energy home nearly two decades ago. He brings a deep understanding of building science, community and smart development strategy.
“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,” Howard says. “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. The project includes two floor plans: one that is 1,150 square feet with 2 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, and the other that is 575 square feet with 1 bedroom and 1 bath.
These net zero carbon units, designed to meet the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) 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 percent less energy than code-built homes, and include solar plus 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.
Floorplans are still being finalized, but they will reflect these model layouts, integrating sustainable features in multi-level, comfortable attached homes. CREDIT: Courtesy of Rob Howard, Howard Building Science
Rentals: The Long Game
To help make the project possible, Howard 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 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,” he explains. “It’s a replicable model for other developers struggling to make workforce housing pencil out.”
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 Southwest Energy Efficiency Project [SWEEP] project), states such as Colorado and cities like Portland, Oregon have taken bold steps to expand access to missing middle housing, including duplexes, townhomes and accessory dwelling units (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 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 energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) for clean indoor air
Fabral: Durable, beautiful metal roofing
JinkoSolar: High-efficiency photovoltaics
Knauf: Innovative, energy efficient insulating materials, and high-performance drywall systems, and plaster and ceiling solutions
LP: Carbon negative 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
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.
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.
Affordable Green Duplexes Help Solve Housing Crisis
Our newest VISION House project showcases affordable, comfortable duplex living in North Carolina.
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 consumers and the construction industry to deliver homes that are efficient, resilient and attainable.
Green Builder Media’s latest VISION House project, the VISION House Hickory Grove, 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.
VISION House Hickory Grove, a planned prefab multifamily community, will consist of 12 net zero carbon units that meet the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) certification and the FORTIFIED Home certification for resilience. CREDIT: Courtesy of Rob Howard, Howard Building Science
A Partnership That Delivers
We’re thrilled to partner with Rob Howard, president of Howard Building Science. He’s a true trailblazer in sustainable construction who built North Carolina’s first net zero energy home nearly two decades ago. He brings a deep understanding of building science, community and smart development strategy.
“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,” Howard says. “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. The project includes two floor plans: one that is 1,150 square feet with 2 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, and the other that is 575 square feet with 1 bedroom and 1 bath.
These net zero carbon units, designed to meet the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) 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 percent less energy than code-built homes, and include solar plus 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.
Floorplans are still being finalized, but they will reflect these model layouts, integrating sustainable features in multi-level, comfortable attached homes. CREDIT: Courtesy of Rob Howard, Howard Building Science
Rentals: The Long Game
To help make the project possible, Howard 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 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,” he explains. “It’s a replicable model for other developers struggling to make workforce housing pencil out.”
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 Southwest Energy Efficiency Project [SWEEP] project), states such as Colorado and cities like Portland, Oregon have taken bold steps to expand access to missing middle housing, including duplexes, townhomes and accessory dwelling units (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 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 e-newsletter and keep an eye open for ongoing posts about the project.
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