Frontlines of Climate Action: Green Building Grit and Gumption

Frontlines of Climate Action: Green Building Grit and Gumption
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To mark Green Builder Media’s 20th Anniversary, we’re rolling out a fresh editorial series, Frontlines of Climate Action, where we’ll shine the spotlight on the people, projects, and products revolutionizing the building industry.

Green Builder is 20When we kicked off Green Builder Media in 2005, our conversations revolved around energy efficiency and building science—because that’s what got ears to perk up. Fast forward two decades, and the industry has undergone a sea change. Today, sustainability isn’t just an option; it’s a baseline expectation.

Thanks to a network of brilliant, passionate, and downright stubborn individuals, sustainability has strutted into the spotlight. In this series, I’ll have the privilege of chatting with some of these trailblazers who are driving transformative change. Expect plenty of inspiration, insight, storytelling—and, knowing this crowd, more than a few laughs.

In the Beginning…

Like all great origin stories, Green Builder Media started with a visionary: our President, Co-Founder, and guiding star, Ron Jones. In 1996, long before “green building” was even a buzzword, Ron locked down the trademark Green Builder®. By the time we launched the company in 2005, Ron had already spent 20 years as an award-winning builder—and a relentless advocate for greener practices.

When I asked Ron what’s changed most in the past 20 years, his answer was straightforward: “There’s no debate anymore about the necessity for sustainability.” But it wasn’t always that way. Early in his career, he recalls being told, “Don’t demonstrate that you can do it, because if you do, someone will make us do it. Now? Builders are asking about the upside. “That,” Ron says, “has shifted.”

Of course, challenges remain—particularly around upfront costs. But Ron’s optimistic. “The long-game savings always outweigh the initial costs. First cost challenges are surmountable, and they’re diminishing,” he notes.

Ron’s big-picture philosophy elevates the whole industry: “It raises the status of homebuilding when we engage in solving the world’s problems instead of trying to dodge them.”

 

Fighting the Good Fight

Ron’s journey wasn’t without battles. As chair of the committee established by the International Code Council (ICC) and National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) to create the National Green Building Standard, he faced resistance from skeptics—and at one point had to wrangle a group of dissenters trying to derail the process. “It was me against about 6 of them,” Ron recalls with a smile, “and I walked away thinking it was a fair fight.”

For Ron, sustainability is deeply personal. He defines it as “intergenerational prosperity that is the result of ecological accountability.” In plain terms: respect the resources we have, especially in the face of challenges like climate change, population growth, and extreme weather events.

Looking Ahead

Peering into his crystal ball, Ron is optimistic about the next two decades. “When we collectively realize that we don’t have to build homes with sticks anymore—when we embrace high-performance, resilient, and affordable methods—it’ll unleash a floodgate of opportunity,” he predicts. He points to 3D printing and alternative building envelope systems as examples.

His parting advice? “Don’t let someone else define your commitment to sustainability. Set your own standard—and measure yourself against it.”

For more Ron-isms and insights, check out the full video. Trust me, it’s a masterclass in green building wisdom, served with a side of wit.

Here’s to the next 20 years of building a better, greener world!


Publisher’s Note: Green Builder's 20th Anniversary celebration is sponsored by: Carrier.