Green Canopy NODE is honored to have received the 2024 National Institute of Building Sciences Innovator Award! The NIBS Innovator Award recognizes an individual, organization, or project that has made groundbreaking advances and significant technological contributions to the built environment.

Prefabricated construction holds immense potential, promising to mitigate risks, reduce costs, and minimize waste, while accelerating construction timelines by up to 50%. However, in the United States, the adoption of permanent modular construction remains largely untapped, representing only a fraction of the vast construction market.

With a critical shortage of housing units exacerbating societal challenges, fostering growth in the prefabricated construction sector has become imperative. The primary obstacle lies in the misalignment between prefabricated production systems and traditional construction business models, necessitating transformative solutions to reconcile these differences.

Recognizing the urgent need for change, Green Canopy NODE has emerged as a trailblazer, reshaping the landscape of construction through innovative approaches that address industry challenges and drive unparalleled progress. 

Over the past five years, Green Canopy NODE has spearheaded a paradigm shift within the construction industry by reimagining the conventional business model. As a vertically integrated full-service development company encompassing construction, design, and research and development (R&D), Green Canopy NODE approaches the entire value chain as a dynamic product in need of continuous innovation.

Innovation is the cornerstone of progress, and Green Canopy NODE exemplifies the transformative power of visionary leadership and bold experimentation. By challenging conventions, embracing technological advancements, and fostering collaboration across sectors, Green Canopy NODE is reshaping the built environment and paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient future. 

Green Canopy NODE is honored to be included in TIME and Statista's ranking of America's Top GreenTech Companies of 2024. This recognition underscores Green Canopy NODE's commitment to leveraging innovation and cutting-edge construction technology to address pressing environmental challenges.

As TIME stated in its ranking, the green-technology sector has emerged as a vital force for positive change, with predictions indicating its potential to grow to $9.5 trillion by 2030. In acknowledgment of this, TIME, in collaboration with Statista, conducted a comprehensive statistical ranking of 250 sustainability-focused companies in America. The ranking criteria encompassed factors such as environmental impact, financial strength, and innovation, highlighting those companies making significant strides in curbing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainability.

Green Canopy NODE‘s dedication to sustainability and innovative approach to construction. Through integrated development services, including pre-development consulting, architectural design, prefabrication, and general contracting, the company delivers carbon-negative housing solutions that redefine traditional construction methods.

Supported by investors and grants from esteemed institutions like the Department of Energy and the US Forest Service, Green Canopy NODE is at the forefront of revolutionizing the construction industry. Our prefabricated building components not only streamline the construction process but also contribute to reducing carbon emissions, making a positive impact on the environment.

By prioritizing environmental responsibility and embracing innovation, Green Canopy NODE is not only reshaping the industry but also paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future.

Green Canopy NODE is pleased to share we have been selected as a Top Impact Company by Real Leaders for 2024.Our commitment to advancing sustainable building practices through innovative approaches like Mass Timber and the power of manufacturing has played a key role in receiving this award for a fifth year. Many thanks to our clients, partners, and team for your unwavering support in our work to make fast, sustainable, and cost-effective home assembly a reality 🏘️

📰 Read more about the Impact Awards and find us on page 28 in Real Leaders Magazine: https://real-leaders.com/top-impact-companies

Learn more about Green Canopy NODE’s impact and work to revolutionize the built environment through innovative construction-tech systems to build sustainable homes faster.    

About Green Canopy NODE 

Green Canopy NODE is an integrated construction technology and real estate development company. Over its history, it has sought to embrace the innovation required to change the current paradigm of housing development and deliver on its commitment to help regenerate communities and environments. The company works with its clients and investors to develop high-performing, deep green, all-electric, and healthy housing.  

About Real Leaders 

Real Leaders is a membership community for impact leaders with a global media platform dedicated to driving positive change. It’s on a mission to unite farsighted leaders to transform our shortsighted world. Founded in 2010, Real Leaders recognized early on that businesses bore a responsibility to be as cognizant of their impact on employees, society, and the planet as they are on their bottom line. Real Leaders is a B Corporation, member of the UN Global Compact, and is independently owned. 

Green Canopy NODE is pleased to announce the firm was selected as an ImpactAssets 50 fund manager (IA50). This is the third time Green Canopy NODE has been included. The IA50 is a free publicly available, searchable database of impact investment fund managers for impact investors, family offices, corporations, foundations, and institutional investors. The 2023 edition of IA 50 features a record number of private impact fund managers delivering social and environmental impact as well as financial returns.   

For many investors, sourcing investment offerings that intentionally target financial, social and environmental returns can be a time consumptive process. The rigor that the IA 50 Review Committee conducts to source impact investment fund managers provides not just a leg up for investors but for the field at large.   

“This acknowledgement comes at an exciting time. Green Canopy NODE will soon be announcing its fifth real estate investment fund, the Douglas Fir Fund, which expects to deploy investment capital primarily in projects that utilize sustainable mass timber,” says Aaron Fairchild, Co-CEO.   

About Green Canopy NODE  

Green Canopy NODE is a construction technology company transforming builders into assemblers with our prefabricated home and apartment assembly kits. ​With a mission to regenerate communities and environments, Green Canopy NODE is working to address the acute pain in the housing industry and help our clients deliver sustainable, healthy housing faster. Green Canopy NODE Capital has managed four real estate funds aligned to this mission while providing investors resilient financial, social and environmental returns.    

About the ImpactAssets 50   

The IA 50 is the first publicly available database that provides a gateway into the world of impact investing for donors and/or investors and their financial advisors, offering an easy way to identify experienced impact investment firms and explore the landscape of potential investment opportunities. The IA 50 is intended to illustrate the breadth of impact investment fund managers operating today, though it is not a comprehensive list. Firms have been selected to demonstrate a wide range of impact investing activities across geographies, sectors and asset classes.   

About ImpactAssets   

ImpactAssets is an impact investing trailblazer, dedicated to changing the trajectory of our planet’s future and improving the lives of all people. As a leading impact investing firm, we offer deep strategic expertise to help our clients define and execute on their impact goals. Founded in 2010, ImpactAssets increases flows of money to impact investing in partnership with our clients through our impact investment platform and field-building initiatives, including the IA 50 database of private debt and equity impact fund managers.  ImpactAssets has more than $2 billion in assets in 1,700 donor advised fund accounts, working with purpose-driven individuals and their wealth managers, family offices, foundations and corporations. ImpactAssets is an independent 501(c)(3) organization.   

For more information, please contact:    

Susan Fairchild     
Chief Marketing Officer    
susan@greencanopynode.com   

SEATTLE, Washington (January 18, 2023) – Green Canopy NODE is honored to be recognized as one of the 300 Top Impact Companies Award by Real Leaders 2023, featured in the real estate sector. “It is an honor to stand with so many inspiring companies working to create the world we know is possible,” said Bec Chapin, co-CEO of Green Canopy NODE.  

Each year, Real Leaders magazine acknowledges top-impact companies from around the globe, solving critical problems through innovative and sustainable solutions. “This is our fifth annual ranking, and the number of award winners has tripled. It’s encouraging to see how this movement is going mainstream with businesses worldwide,” said Mark Van Ness, Founder of Real Leaders.  “We are excited to welcome new and past company winners to the impact movement and into the Real Leaders Impact Awards community.” 

Green Canopy NODE has been featured for the fourth consecutive time. “We are thrilled to be recognized by Real Leaders among many other values-aligned companies,” said co-CEO Aaron Fairchild. “Our long-term focus on regenerating communities and environments through sustainable homes for everyone has been a huge part of achieving this award; the rest is thanks to our incredible team effort and our community stakeholder’s on-going support.” 

A virtual ceremony will be held on February 16, 2023, to honor the winners and will feature several high-profile keynote speakers.  The 2023 list features a mix of respected impact brands of all sizes and various industries with companies such as Advantage Capital, FuelCell Energy, and Patagonia, among many others. 

Learn more about Green Canopy NODE’s impact and work to revolutionize the built environment through innovative construction-tech systems to build sustainable homes faster.    

About Green Canopy NODE 

Green Canopy NODE is an integrated construction technology, real estate development, and fund management company. Over its history, it has sought to embrace the innovation required to change the current paradigm of housing development and deliver on its commitment to help regenerate communities and environments. The company works with its clients and investors to develop high-performing, deep green, all-electric, and healthy housing.  

About Real Leaders 

Real Leaders is a membership community for impact leaders with a global media platform dedicated to driving positive change. It’s on a mission to unite farsighted leaders to transform our shortsighted world. Founded in 2010, Real Leaders recognized early on that businesses bore a responsibility to be as cognizant of their impact on employees, society, and the planet as they are on their bottom line. Real Leaders is a B Corporation, member of the UN Global Compact, and is independently owned. 

For more information, please contact:  
Susan Fairchild   
Chief Marketing Officer 
susan@greencanopynode.com  
206-792-7280  

SEATTLE, Washington (January 17, 2023) – Green Canopy NODE was recently named one of Seattle Business magazine’s 2022 Washington’s Best Companies to Work for. “We are both humbled and excited by this recognition. In good and hard times, we always keep our company’s mission and co-created values centered and guiding us forward,” said Aaron Fairchild, co-CEO of Green Canopy NODE.  

Washington’s Best Companies to Work for was created by Seattle Business magazine and Best Companies Group to identify, recognize, and honor the best employers in Washington, benefiting the area's economy, workforce, and businesses.  

“Our team shows up with courage and vulnerability to co-create a culture in which we can all see our fingerprints, nurturing us to be more caring and aware,” remarked Ami Nieto, HR Director. Green Canopy NODE’s talent management strategy prioritizes diversity and inclusion, cultivating a work environment in which all team members can thrive in authenticity.  

This accolade acknowledges companies based on workplace policies, practices, and philosophy. Employee experience is also surveyed, and this component is key when deciding. Green Canopy NODE believes that employees resonate with a culture they can call their own. “Together, we're building the future of housing. We're deeply committed to being a team – driven by innovation and collaboration. We know that it’s people working together that brings change,” concluded co-CEO Bec Chapin.  

Green Canopy NODE recently took another step toward inclusion by pushing to democratize company investment through its first Equity Crowdfunding campaign – allowing everyone to invest in more sustainable and healthy homes for all. Learn more about Green Canopy NODE’s offering and how to invest at https://www.startengine.com/offering/greencanopynode 

 
About Green Canopy NODE 

Green Canopy NODE is an integrated construction technology, real estate development, and fund management company. Over its history, it has sought to embrace the innovation required to change the current paradigm of housing development and deliver on its commitment to help regenerate communities and environments. The company works with its clients and investors to develop high-performing, deep green, all-electric, and healthy housing.  

For more information, please contact:  
Susan Fairchild  
Chief Marketing Officer  
susan@greencanopynode.com  

We are proud to share that Green Canopy NODE's co-CEOs, Bec Chapin and Aaron Fairchild, have been named to the 2022 MO 100 Top Impact CEO Ranking!

This award recognizes the 100 most impactful leaders sparking positive social and environmental change. Explore the MO100 ranking and learn more about what being an impact leader means to Bec + Aaron:

What does being an ‘impact leader’ mean to you?

Being an impact leader means three things to us: Finding the alignment between our skill sets and our values, creating alignment through a shared purpose, and solving complex challenges by working in partnership, across sectors. We aren’t going to solve our housing and our climate crises by ourselves. 

How has the theme of regeneration – of breaking down to break through – played out in your career?

Our company mission is to regenerate communities and environments. And to do so, we must first reflect on ourselves as individuals and create change within. This is done, in part, through eco-cycle mapping, which is a critical tool for us in evaluating our work. Plotting ourselves and our work on an eco-cycle map invites change and helps determine where we might be stagnating or where we can break down processes in order to improve.

Impact + Company Focus:

Green Canopy NODE intends to rapidly scale construction technology to lower building costs and help decarbonize the built environment. We combine smart construction technology solutions with a long track record of sustainable design, development, construction, and fund management expertise to seamlessly lower costs, shorten construction timelines, and create highly impactful housing for communities throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Green Canopy NODE is humbled by being recognized as a 2022 ImpactAssets 50 fund manager. Impact investments are made to generate measurable social and environmental positive impact alongside financial returns. Green Canopy NODE hopes to inspire all investors to align their capital investments with their values by continuing to demonstrate that with thoughtfulness and care, rewarding financial returns can be earned using an impact investment approach. The IA50 recognizes a diverse group of impact investment fund managers who demonstrate a commitment to generating positive social, environmental, and financial impact.

"If we want to create a better future, we have to invest in that better future." -Susan Fairchild, Chief Marketing Officer, Green Canopy NODE

This acknowledgement comes at an exciting time. Green Canopy NODE, in partnership with other strategically aligned organizations, is in the process of developing its fifth real estate investment fund, to be announced later this year. The Fund is being designed to invest in residential real estate that is built using the power of manufacturing with carbon-smart construction methods, materials, and technologies for families at various income levels, while generating favorable returns to its investors.

“As impact investing continues its inexorable rise, it is critical to provide investors with a curated, objective evaluation of impact fund managers. The IA 50 is built to filter out the noise that is growing louder in impact investing and help investors focus on deep, meaningful impact." Jennifer Kenning, CEO and Co-Founder, Align Impact, IA 50 Senior Investment Advisor

Together, we can build the future of housing - Our partnership with Grow Community was featured in the New York Times in the article Energy-Efficient Isn’t Enough, So Homes Go ‘Net Zero’ as a project incorporating all-electric, Net Zero Ready technology. Read more about our Bainbridge Island partnership here.

As Green Canopy NODE, together we’re building the future of housing. Learn more about our merger, our co-CEO’s, and how we’re modernizing construction in the latest from Geekwire.

“We have a ‘king complex’ in the U.S. It ends up that we can really collaborate. Together we can be exponentially more effective.”

— Green Canopy NODE co-CEO, Bec Chapin

Green Canopy is proud to be a driving force in the movement towards all-electric.

Green Canopy has been committed to addressing the challenges of climate change and resource scarcity in our urban infill communities since 2009. Homes and the built environment are responsible for 40% of the annual global carbon emissions, the leading source of climate change.

“Transforming the built environment towards greater sustainability is fundamental to our core beliefs. Building all-electric homes is a no-brainer. It is a key solution to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. It creates healthier, safer communities, and eliminating gas pipes and air ducts reduces the cost to build,” says Aaron Fairchild, CEO.

One of Green Canopy’s all-electric townhomes across from the Ballard Locks

Photo of Green Canopy CEO Aaron Fairchild, by Grant Hindsley for The New York Times

Green Canopy has built and sold hundreds of homes; every one of them clean, all-electric. 

We choose to build this way because we believe business has a role to play in solving for our local housing and global climate crisis. Building all-electric releases the dependence on fracked gas and provides a healthier, more resilient future for our homeowners and our communities.

Dustin Van Wyck, Real Estate Broker with Van Wyck & Porter Real Estate shares that “since 2009, Green Canopy has been ahead of the curve serving as the leading advocate for adopting eco-friendly building trends across the Pacific Northwest. They build homes based on the understanding of how it can impact the present and future health of the environment, as well as the health of the people in our City.”

We are pleased to share The New York Times highlighted Green Canopy as a developer leading the charge towards building all-electric. Green Canopy is blazing a path for other developers to build all-electric, even before regulation is put in place.

View the NODE Trillium Series in Dwell Magazine

Read about NODE Madrona Series in Dwell

By Susan Fairchild | Director, Investor Relations and Impact | Green Canopy Homes

The Rockefeller Foundation strives to “promote the well-being of humanity throughout the world” by scaling transformative innovations, creating unlikely partnerships spanning sectors, and taking risks others cannot. To catalyze cross-sector pollinization from the social sector to impact investing, the Rockefeller Foundation recently released a case study on Green Canopy’s theory of change - “Putting Impact at the Center of Impact Investing: A Case Study of how Green Canopy Designed its Impact Thesis.”

"The case study provides an illuminating example of how investors can adapt theory of change to serve their impact management needs. By demonstrating the relevance and transferability of this tool for articulating, measuring, and managing impact, the hope is that this case study can contribute to strengthening other investors’ approaches, in turn contributing to building the evidence base for the “impact” of impact investments."

We encourage impact investors and impact enterprises to similarly consider integrating this tool into their organizations.  You can read more about Green Canopy’s theory of change and send any questions to susan@greencanopy.com.

Green Canopy Cofounder, Sam Lai, was featured by Presidio Graduate School (PGS) in the article, "Net Zero Hero". Sam is an alumnus of the Sustainable MBA program at PGS — the graduate school that "educates and inspires a new generation of skilled, visionary and enterprising leaders to transform business and public policy and create a more just, prosperous and sustainable world." Presidio Graduate School has earned accreditation in the sustainability-sphere and acquired Pinchot University (formerly Bainbridge Graduate Institute).

Sam tells Shawna Cain, "I selected PGS after a process of visiting classes and interviewing students and asking what their experiences were like. I realized that what I wanted was:

1. A tribe. I wanted to be connected to people who cared about what I care about. I didn't want to be just another number, just another competitor

2. I wanted to deepen my commitment and I wanted have a broader view of the way the systems work that perpetuate some of these challenges like climate change that we deal with all the time

Finally, the biggest impact that I think graduate school has had for me, beyond some of the hard skills, is that when you go to Presidio Graduate School you're able to look deep within yourself, and understand how to optimize our own personal growth, and I don't think any graduate school is able to do that the way PGS does​."

Green Canopy's Alexa Ashley further interviewed Sam on his time at Presidio Graduate School and the value he took away from the Sustainable MBA Program:

AA: How did PGS teach you to think in systems?
SL: One of the things we did in first quarter was systems mapping, which is its own discipline, where you look at different components of how the world is structured, how  businesses are structured, environmental systems are structured. You deconstruct them, allowing you to understand the components and then you can see how they’re integrated. So often in business you might be a specialist and you might have mastery in one thing — but you may be working 100% in the wrong direction because you haven’t taken that high-level, systems-level view.

AA: What is the most value that you took away from the Presidio Graduate School MBA Program?
SL: The opportunity to practice and take big risks, and explore ideas, that typically — in the business setting — there just isn’t enough bandwidth or space or willingness from everyone, to just take a wild idea, to play with it, to deconstruct it, and to go all the way with it in a risk-free environment.

I saw lots of people grow from not having much experience in public speaking to feeling comfortable with it at the end of the program. For me, I was able to take storytelling and public presentation and be able to have a very formal structure to bounce off of and play with to where now I feel very confident. I now have a process to be able to get from point A to point B in a very short amount of time because that’s what the process forces you to do. It says, “Okay you have an idea? Okay, test it. Prototype it. Get up and talk about it." That’s a lot of what we do in business. We iterate through ideas very rapidly — and that’s what’s required for progress. 

It’s really encouraging and energizing to see other people that are just as passionate about sustainability and improving our world and that they are professionals engaged in business, and the curation of those two characteristics are unique to the PGS tribe.

Watch Shawna Cain's interview with Sam Lai below and read her article, "Net Zero Hero".

"Having beautiful product that is also incredibly energy efficient means it costs less to own and we mitigate more greenhouse gas emissions.”

We’re proud to share that we were recently featured in the Summer 2015 issue of Modern Builder + Design magazine! Our own Aaron Fairchild outlined Green Canopy’s mission, process, and motivations in the eight page spread.  He speaks to the importance of recognizing the impact our builds are making on both the environment, and on the community around us. 

“With educational programs, green building and renovation techniques, and unparalleled community engagement, Green Canopy is as much a movement as it is a business. 
Green Canopy Homes’ earth-friendly ethos is not limited to an end product: homes, renovations- and now custom- properties that sell for up to $1.5 million and meet rigorous standards for energy efficiency, quality and beauty. 
The company goes beyond its relationship with individual homebuyers to try to affect change in the market overall- through innovative education channels and partnerships. 
‘We have shifted this local market toward greater awareness of the benefits of resource efficiency and certified green product at the time homes are bought and sold,’ President Aaron Fairchild says.” (p. 63)

The article continues on to highlight Aaron’s goals and specific processes for accomplishing the Green Canopy mission.  He even mentions the Empower Happy Hours! 

We are also so thankful for Ballard Reuse, Northwest Electric & Solar, and Performance Insulation for being a part of this spread with us. 

Check out more here: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/translucent/mbd_2015summer/#/62

Contributed by Sonja Gustafson:

This spring, after only 7 days on the market, G2B Homes entered into a sales contract for The Sequoia House!  The final sales price was within .05% of our listing price, so we essentially were able to command our price – an excellent indicator of market response to our product.

As a team, we couldn’t be more thrilled with the fruits of our efforts at taking a neighborhood eyesore and turning it into a lovely jewel of green and efficiency.  Not only is it aesthetically beautiful, the house was certified 4-star BuiltGreen and energy testing revealed a tripling of its per-square-foot energy efficiency!

I could go on and on about The Sequoia House (and encourage you to view our cool Before/After video here) and our innovative, sustainable approach to reviving homes in vibrant neighborhoods.

But what I’d rather reflect upon is the affect this project has had on our team and the full complement of specialists and tradespeople who worked on this wonderful home.  From our beginning “charette” meeting where we invited various experts to the house to give us their perspectives (captured in this KUOW radio story), to the local Eco-Building Guild seminar on air sealing, to the house color vote where 40+ votes were cast by engaged neighbors, the home became a place where people could come to imagine, design, learn, teach, and otherwise get involved in sustainable building. Some 86 tradesmen and women plied their skills during the course of construction, many of whom learned about advanced drywall approach, rain gardens, or solar hot water for the first time and can now employ these skills with future clients.

And it won’t be the last time.  Our team at G2B has proven to itself and to the market that our approach of turning existing homes green in healthy urban neighborhoods works.  It really works - seven days to sales agreement, solid pricing, happy homeowners, and energy savings of 15,000 kwH/year certainly support this point!

We are eager to get working on another home, and another, and another still.  Our team has spent the past weeks documenting best practices, finding ways to be even better next time, and getting ourselves ready to roll.  We are heading out to the investment community to raise the funds necessary to operate our company and bring it to scale.

And I just want to say what a joy it has been to work on this project with such talented and passionate people.   It’s a joy to make this one home consume a mere third of the energy it otherwise would.  It’s a joy to have created not just a house, but a home that a community has touched.  And it’s a joy to be working on sustainable, energy efficient housing in an era and community where these ideas matter.