From low-carbon concrete to carbon-smart decision making, Mattamy Homes is paving the way for a new era in residential construction.
At a time when the building industry is still coming to terms with its carbon footprint, Mattamy Homes is leaning in—hard. One of the largest privately owned homebuilders in North America is taking bold steps to reduce both operational and embodied carbon in its homes.
I recently sat down with Philip Squires, Corporate Vice President of Sustainability and Procurement for Mattamy, to talk about their strategy, their breakthroughs, and what it will take to shift the industry as a whole.
“We want our carbon footprint to be as small as possible,” Squires says. “All carbon production has an impact on climate change, whether it’s operational or embodied emissions.”
That’s why Mattamy is now focused on the elephant in the room: embodied carbon—the emissions tied to the materials and construction processes used before a homeowner ever moves in.
Their biggest carbon-related move to date? Partnering with concrete manufacturers across North America to guarantee that the mixes used on their sites are verified low-carbon blends. “Concrete can be a major contributor to carbon emissions,” Squires says. “We work diligently to lower the impact concrete can have on our environment.”
That’s a big deal, considering concrete alone is responsible for over 8% of global CO₂ emissions.
The builder is also redefining how solar decisions are made—not just based on marketing or incentives, but on what Philip calls ROCI, or “Return on Carbon Invested.”
In certain Canadian markets where the grid is already clean, adding rooftop solar can sometimes increase a home’s total carbon footprint due to the embodied carbon in the panels themselves. “We use third-party building science professionals to evaluate both the embodied and operational carbon impacts of products,” he explains. “If the ROCI doesn’t meet our threshold, we look for better options.”
This analytical approach reflects a deeper commitment to carbon literacy within the company. But translating that into a value proposition for consumers—especially in a market fixated on price-per-square-foot—is no small feat. Squires shared that the breakthrough moment came when the company started looking beyond upfront price to the total cost of homeownership.
“The cost of home ownership includes taxes, insurance, and utilities,” he says. “If we can reduce utility costs through better performance, the total cost of the home might not change—even if it’s a higher-performance house.”
This full-cost framing is exactly what we’ve been tracking at Green Builder Media. Our COGNITION Smart Data shows that—for the first time ever—every generation influencing the housing market (Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z) now prioritizes long-term operating costs over upfront costs. That’s a sea change.
Squires credits the company’s ownership with setting the tone. “Our owner, Peter Gilgan, says we’re the first generation with the tools to do something about climate change and the last that can,” he says. “As a founder, father, and grandfather, that message resonates with me personally.”
Still, challenges remain. Low-carbon materials often come at a premium, or worse, aren’t available in every market.
“Why are we still being charged more for green products that would clearly make the industry better?” Squires asks. “If we can provide homes with lower operational costs and greater resilience at the same sale price, what are we waiting for?”
When it comes to progress across the industry, he pointed to innovations in concrete and drywall, where lower-carbon versions are already in use. But he also notes that too often, greener versions of standard materials are treated as premium options. “Anything that’s available in a lower-carbon version should be the standard for everyone,” he argues. “That’s how we get economies of scale.”
So how do we move beyond incremental gains to a true “moonshot” moment? For Squires, it starts with mandatory reporting. “There needs to be a standard way to track and report embodied carbon,” he says. “And manufacturers should be required to publish Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for everything they make.”
Interestingly, Squires doesn’t see regulation as the main hurdle—he sees culture and mindset as the real drivers of transformation. “The change will be brought about by accountability. Our customers are starting to demand more from us, and we’re demanding more from our suppliers. That’s what will move the needle.”
When I asked him what keeps him up at night, he didn’t hesitate: “Apathy. We know how to build more resilient homes with lower operational costs, but we still face resistance when it comes to adoption,” he says. “Let’s push manufacturers to make high-performance products the default. Lower SKU counts. Higher profits. Better results for the planet.”
I couldn’t agree more. If builders like Mattamy can lead the charge—not just in building better homes, but in shifting the entire supply chain—we may finally start to see the pace of change match the urgency of our climate goals.
Publisher’s Note: Green Builder's 20th Anniversary celebration is sponsored by: Carrier,Trex, and Mohawk.
Want to learn more about zero carbon building? Enroll in Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Academy, which has robust courses on net zero carbon building, green building fundamentals, green product essentials and green building program like ENERGY STAR, Zero Energy Ready Homes, Indoor airPLUS, WaterSense, and HERS ratings.
And, be sure to check out the COGNITION Carbon Offsets Marketplace if you’re interested in purchasing carbon offsets to mitigate emissions from your products, projects or lifestyle.
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.
Frontlines of Climate Action: Mattamy Homes Tackles Net Zero Carbon
From low-carbon concrete to carbon-smart decision making, Mattamy Homes is paving the way for a new era in residential construction.
At a time when the building industry is still coming to terms with its carbon footprint, Mattamy Homes is leaning in—hard. One of the largest privately owned homebuilders in North America is taking bold steps to reduce both operational and embodied carbon in its homes.
I recently sat down with Philip Squires, Corporate Vice President of Sustainability and Procurement for Mattamy, to talk about their strategy, their breakthroughs, and what it will take to shift the industry as a whole.
“We want our carbon footprint to be as small as possible,” Squires says. “All carbon production has an impact on climate change, whether it’s operational or embodied emissions.”
That’s why Mattamy is now focused on the elephant in the room: embodied carbon—the emissions tied to the materials and construction processes used before a homeowner ever moves in.
Their biggest carbon-related move to date? Partnering with concrete manufacturers across North America to guarantee that the mixes used on their sites are verified low-carbon blends. “Concrete can be a major contributor to carbon emissions,” Squires says. “We work diligently to lower the impact concrete can have on our environment.”
That’s a big deal, considering concrete alone is responsible for over 8% of global CO₂ emissions.
The builder is also redefining how solar decisions are made—not just based on marketing or incentives, but on what Philip calls ROCI, or “Return on Carbon Invested.”
In certain Canadian markets where the grid is already clean, adding rooftop solar can sometimes increase a home’s total carbon footprint due to the embodied carbon in the panels themselves. “We use third-party building science professionals to evaluate both the embodied and operational carbon impacts of products,” he explains. “If the ROCI doesn’t meet our threshold, we look for better options.”
This analytical approach reflects a deeper commitment to carbon literacy within the company. But translating that into a value proposition for consumers—especially in a market fixated on price-per-square-foot—is no small feat. Squires shared that the breakthrough moment came when the company started looking beyond upfront price to the total cost of homeownership.
“The cost of home ownership includes taxes, insurance, and utilities,” he says. “If we can reduce utility costs through better performance, the total cost of the home might not change—even if it’s a higher-performance house.”
This full-cost framing is exactly what we’ve been tracking at Green Builder Media. Our COGNITION Smart Data shows that—for the first time ever—every generation influencing the housing market (Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z) now prioritizes long-term operating costs over upfront costs. That’s a sea change.
Squires credits the company’s ownership with setting the tone. “Our owner, Peter Gilgan, says we’re the first generation with the tools to do something about climate change and the last that can,” he says. “As a founder, father, and grandfather, that message resonates with me personally.”
Still, challenges remain. Low-carbon materials often come at a premium, or worse, aren’t available in every market.
“Why are we still being charged more for green products that would clearly make the industry better?” Squires asks. “If we can provide homes with lower operational costs and greater resilience at the same sale price, what are we waiting for?”
When it comes to progress across the industry, he pointed to innovations in concrete and drywall, where lower-carbon versions are already in use. But he also notes that too often, greener versions of standard materials are treated as premium options. “Anything that’s available in a lower-carbon version should be the standard for everyone,” he argues. “That’s how we get economies of scale.”
So how do we move beyond incremental gains to a true “moonshot” moment? For Squires, it starts with mandatory reporting. “There needs to be a standard way to track and report embodied carbon,” he says. “And manufacturers should be required to publish Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for everything they make.”
Interestingly, Squires doesn’t see regulation as the main hurdle—he sees culture and mindset as the real drivers of transformation. “The change will be brought about by accountability. Our customers are starting to demand more from us, and we’re demanding more from our suppliers. That’s what will move the needle.”
When I asked him what keeps him up at night, he didn’t hesitate: “Apathy. We know how to build more resilient homes with lower operational costs, but we still face resistance when it comes to adoption,” he says. “Let’s push manufacturers to make high-performance products the default. Lower SKU counts. Higher profits. Better results for the planet.”
I couldn’t agree more. If builders like Mattamy can lead the charge—not just in building better homes, but in shifting the entire supply chain—we may finally start to see the pace of change match the urgency of our climate goals.
Publisher’s Note: Green Builder's 20th Anniversary celebration is sponsored by: Carrier, Trex, and Mohawk.
Want to learn more about zero carbon building? Enroll in Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Academy, which has robust courses on net zero carbon building, green building fundamentals, green product essentials and green building program like ENERGY STAR, Zero Energy Ready Homes, Indoor airPLUS, WaterSense, and HERS ratings.
And, be sure to check out the COGNITION Carbon Offsets Marketplace if you’re interested in purchasing carbon offsets to mitigate emissions from your products, projects or lifestyle.
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