Built America Magazine | South
Right now, Sycamore is preparing a deeply personal project: Dakota’s own family home. “It’s going to be a near Passive House, Zero Energy Ready, Energy Star certified,” he shares. “And it’s a renovation which is green in and of itself because we’re not building new construction.” That home will debut in the local Parade of Homes and later as a showcase house — a physical manifesto of what Sycamore stands for. “The greenest and most sustainable building is the one that already exists,” Dakota notes. “We’re excited to show what we’re capable of.” Changing the Industry, One Brick at a Time Sycamore is proudly part of the Green Built Alliance, and Dakota sees collaboration as the only way forward. “Net zero requires intentionality and forethought,” he says. “The Green Built Alliance brings like-minded companies together. True pursuit of net zero is collaborative at its core.” He’s also frank about the industry’s hurdles. “A lot of builders and designers still say, ‘This is the way we’ve always done it,’” he explains. “That mindset has to shift. And there’s this stigma that sustainable homes are way more expensive —
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