The Green Builder Media Network

Google Wants to Sell Homes, HERS for Manufactured Homes, and Why Home Batteries Are Winning

July 8, 2026—This Week's Sustainable Building News [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwQAcwOzaQyfAMZ7xA2Mz2acdLVauKFlV] We cover the latest housing policy, building science, energy, and consumer trends shaping the future of homebuilding. From the pending 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to Google's growing role in real estate, plus new HERS ratings for manufactured homes, smarter appraisals, Gen Z homebuyers, and a Green Builder Media study recently featured in Forbes, here's what you need to know. Featured stories and resources: 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act  [https://rollcall.com/2026/06/29/housing-bill-sent-to-trump-starting-countdown-to-enactment/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] RESNET launches HERS Ratings for manufactured homes  [https://www.resnet.us/about/resnet-launches-program-for-modern-manufactured-homes/] Vermont's ultra-efficient manufactured homes  [https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/energy-efficiency/vermont-cut-utility-bills-manufactured-homes] Google expands home listings with Bright MLS and HouseCanary [https://www.realestatenews.com/2026/06/26/new-integration-to-give-bright-mls-listings-a-boost-on-google] Getting a Real ROI on Energy Efficient Features [https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/blog/getting-a-real-roi-on-energy-efficient-features] California Heat Pump Access Act [https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb222#utm_source=chatgpt.com] Bloomberg: Home batteries are taking off [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-01/us-home-battery-installations-boosted-by-state-incentives] McKinsey State of the Consumer Report [https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/state-of-consumer] Editor's Product Pick: Novano Building Products [https://novanobuildingproducts.com/en-us/about-novano-usa/] COGNITION Hot Take: A House That Doesn't Perform Offers Zero Value [https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/blog/a-house-that-doesnt-perform-offers-zero-value] Forbes features Green Builder Media's COGNITION Smart Data [https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiegold/2026/07/07/5-wellness-bathroom-features-that-homeowners-are-actually-paying-for/] Register for our free webinar: Understanding the Ventilation Puzzle [https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/webinar-understanding-the-ventilation-puzzle] Upcoming Sustainable Building Events: July 15–16: The Flooring Sustainability Summit [http://www.flooringsummit.com], Arlington, Va.  July 22–23: Sunbelt Builders Show [https://www.sunbeltbuildersshow.com/], San Antonio, Texas July 23–24: Industrialized Housing Summit [https://cvent.utexas.edu/event/510d0030-a4ca-4a44-a4ea-028cce12f260/summary], Austin August 2-7: 2026 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings [https://www.aceee.org/2026-summer-study-energy-efficiency-buildings], Pacific Grove, Calif.  September 9–10: Building Fire Safety Symposium [https://web.cvent.com/event/cae6dc8d-a2c4-4b4b-970d-42b14c08a21a/register] September 15-16: U.S. Heat Pump Summit [https://www.usheatpumpsummit.com/tickets?], Worcester, Mass. September 16–18: EEBA Summit 2026 [https://summit2026.eeba.org/registration] St. Paul, Minn. October 20–23: Greenbuild 2026 [https://greenbuild.informaconnect.com/2026/registrations/Attendee?] New York, NY November 4–5: The Building Products Customer Workshop [https://www.venveo.com/2027?utm_mediu], Nashville November 18: 2026 Southwest Utility Energy Efficiency Workshop [https://e.eventform.com/?eid=YLj1XQKOvJmfupVEl9wdChk6KwLLunGQf-2], Santa Fe, N.M. About Green Builder Media 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/ene... Follow Green Builder Media: LinkedIn: @green-builder-media-llc Facebook: @greenbuildermedia Bluesky: @greenbuildermedia Threads: @greenbuildermedia

When Open Space Becomes the Asset

Sara Gutterman talks with Curt Johansen, Development Director at Triad Development and the visionary behind Lagoon Valley, the Bay Area’s first conservation community, about rethinking the relationship between housing, land, resilience, and value.

Housing Finance Overhaul, Home Batteries as a Side Hustle, and a Crystal Sauna You Have to See

This Week's Sustainable Building News [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwQAcwOzaQyfAMZ7xA2Mz2acdLVauKFlV] covers new housing finance legislation in Congress, a home battery program that pays homeowners to support the grid, the rapid rise of heat pumps, new state housing and infrastructure initiatives, innovative sustainable design, and a remarkable home with a $4.20 monthly utility bill. Featured stories and resources: * Housing finance legislation package (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac & construction loans) [https://fitzgerald.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-fitzgerald-introduces-package-housing-legislation-end-gse-conservatorship]  * Proposed VA loan fee changes [https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6047]  * FranklinWH virtual power plant program  [https://www.franklinwh.com/news/northern-california-homeowners-can-now-earn-up-to-6000-to-connect-franklinwh-batteries-to-the-grid] * Virginia infrastructure plan [https://www.constructiondive.com/news/virginia-approves-6-year-infrastructure-plan/823308/?] * Pennsylvania ADU legislation [https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb2186] * Massachusetts Mass Save Funding  [https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/energy-efficiency/massachusetts-senate-preserves-energy-efficiency-funding?] * Heat pumps poised to outsell air conditioners [https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/heat-pumps/heat-pumps-air-conditioners] * Home sharing among older adults  [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/27/well/older-adults-home-sharing.html] * Maine housing production report [https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/06/29/new-housing-permit-data-shows-maine-is-meeting-annual-production-goals/]  * The Valuation Metric with Sara Gutterman [https://youtu.be/fnIGqVtq5oo?si=ACxlUOFmkJEBrEkQ]  * Editors' Product Pick: Nu Bare by Daltile at VISION House Asheville [https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/blog/building-product-durability-on-display]  * Crystal Sauna at Sweden's Climate Action Park  [https://www.visitskelleftea.se/en/se26/wasteland/] * Montana's Living Building home with a $4.20 utility bill  [ https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/business/article_cc315acd-65c5-49a8-ba63-6f4c799229ff.html] About Green Builder Media 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/ene... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1VjNGhLYVhJWXdneUV4M19XUmpXdDhoTGdMQXxBQ3Jtc0tuTnM0Y3czVThXOGdCdmxBSjh4X1NtVFMzcThKd0tMLU5uZHZrQWJUTGJPaTdQVE0zMVQ3MnYweG9Zd3JGVjNDcUlDemFXQ1pOdHcxem1ITlNBcVF5OHZuU2VQNFFSV2pDLWtBb0VkVjNOYjczd1JQYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.greenbuildermedia.com%2Fenewsletter-subscribe&v=3HcuRQMUQ68] Follow Green Builder Media: LinkedIn: @green-builder-media-llc Facebook: @greenbuildermedia Bluesky: @greenbuildermedia Threads: @greenbuildermedia

4M Homes Missing, 6K Homes on 10 Acres, and an $11B Power Line

America is short roughly 4 million homes, yet one Indigenous-led development in Vancouver is building 6,000 homes on just 10 acres. Meanwhile, a new $11 billion transmission line highlights the massive infrastructure investments needed to support a growing, electrified future. In this week's sustainable building news: • Green Builder Media officially launches VISION House Asheville, a climate-ready demonstration home in partnership with Alair Homes and Alair Asheville | Red Tree • The Squamish Nation's groundbreaking Sen̓áḵw development challenges conventional thinking about housing density, affordability, and urban growth. [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/15/opinion/vancouver-housing-crisis-development.html?] • Why states building more homes are generally seeing better affordability outcomes—and why America remains millions of homes short. * https://commercialobserver.com/2026/06/nyc-multifamily-construction-boom/ [https://commercialobserver.com/2026/06/nyc-multifamily-construction-boom/] * https://www.realtor.com/research/state-report-cards-2026 [https://www.realtor.com/research/state-report-cards-2026] * https://www.inman.com/2026/06/12/median-home-price-tops-400k-buyer-demand-falls/ [https://www.inman.com/2026/06/12/median-home-price-tops-400k-buyer-demand-falls/] * https://www.zillow.com/research/million-dollar-starter-home-36452/ [https://www.zillow.com/research/million-dollar-starter-home-36452/] • The debate over whether loosening building codes can reduce housing costs without compromising safety [https://stateline.org/2026/06/22/states-are-changing-fire-codes-to-make-housing-cheaper-some-safety-experts-are-worried/] • SunZia, one of the largest clean energy infrastructure projects in U.S. history, officially comes online. [https://electrek.co/2026/06/19/sunzia-one-giant-us-power-line-wind-power-for-1-million-homes/] • Why internet connectivity is becoming essential infrastructure in multifamily housing. [https://www.parksassociates.com/downloads]  • New COGNITION Smart Data reveals what homeowners say they want in their bathrooms versus what they actually install. [https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/blog/the-bathroom-wellness-gap] • Editors’ Product of the Week: A front door designed to make moving large furniture a little easier. [https://www.provia.com/vented-sidelites-and-removable-mullions/]  • Plus, some encouraging news on heat pumps, solar, and why energy-efficient homes may be worth more than many sellers realize. [https://smartenergycc.org/research-release-home-buying-in-the-energy-transition/]  Upcoming Sustainability Events:  June 23–25: Trellis Impact 26 [https://trellis.net/teaser-ti26/] San Francisco  [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWV5dXNBZWd0U19OQzFvWjFSRjVvazdHVXdEZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttX2lTcjRZMjA0dDIyMmsyNDRMNFY3S1FGTHpaNktXWWdPZXhxaVlKR1NLYjVyVWFNRzBaVjZsU0pLc0NuaXBOQkYzcm1ibkM4YVczejlKaVFCdWwwV2xhVjJla3ZyU1o3LU1ENFRHcmt1UEFMbmFxWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Ftrellis.net%2Fteaser-ti26%2F&v=gbE1wWDXrmU] July 15–16: The Flooring Sustainability Summit [http://www.flooringsummit.com], Arlington, Va. July 22–23: Sunbelt Builders Show [https://www.sunbeltbuildersshow.com/], San Antonio, Texas  July 23–24: Industrialized Housing Summit [https://cvent.utexas.edu/event/510d0030-a4ca-4a44-a4ea-028cce12f260/summary], Austin  September 9–10: Building Fire Safety Symposium  [https://web.cvent.com/event/cae6dc8d-a2c4-4b4b-970d-42b14c08a21a/register] September 15-16: U.S. Heat Pump Summit [https://www.usheatpumpsummit.com/tickets], Worcester, Mass. September 16–18: EEBA Summit 2026 [https://summit2026.eeba.org/registration] St. Paul, Minn. October 20–23: Greenbuild 2026 [https://greenbuild.informaconnect.com/2026/registrations/Attendee?_mc=barter_x_x_x_cli_x_BE-Exchange_03-26-2026] New York, NY November 4–5: The Building Products Customer [https://www.venveo.com/2027?utm_mediu..] Workshop, Nashville   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbV9jRmhFb1FwUzZMX0JYZXJ1RTNuTkNtZXZLUXxBQ3Jtc0tsRi1TenI2R3N3azVWbTY1QTRCRUh4RWNMMTR1Q2l2aDRobmFmck5URjZoTTNxZWVaVWVnRDl4RF9KaElwYVRtQVhJajRvMmY4aUl0YzA5dlJGcVR4RVRfSy0zZDMyNWVZcG1aVTBoLUVOVVhGblF2WQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.venveo.com%2F2027%3Futm_mediu..&v=gbE1wWDXrmU] About Green Builder Media 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

The Affordability Reckoning

Our current affordability crisis is the result of how we define value, what we measure, what we subsidize, and what we ignore. Sustainability, resilience, and wellness are the missing variables in a system obsessed with first cost and blind to long-term consequence. In this episode, Sara questions existing paradigms and offers innovative solutions that blend sustainability and profitability to address our pressing economic, social, and environmental challenges.