but that’s not always the case. You can build a very energy-efficient home for only a small increase in cost.”
His advice to other builders? Start small.
“You can’t flip a switch and suddenly be a sustainable company,” Dakota says. “It’s like eating an elephant... one bite at a time. One brick at a time. Just do it piece by piece, and over time you become a whole lot more sustainable in your methods.” Looking Ahead Over the next decade, Dakota sees Sycamore becoming a leader and advocate for attainable sustainability — not just in Western North Carolina, but in the broader industry dialogue. “We just want to be involved,” he says. “We want to sit next to like-minded people who are pursuing sustainability and learn from them. Because we can’t do it alone.” That humility, rare in an industry often driven by ego, may be Sycamore’s greatest strength. The Legacy They Hope to Leave When asked what he hopes people will feel walking into a Sycamore home, Dakota pauses. “I think they’ll first notice the quality and the comfort,” he says slowly. “But I hope they also notice the relationality. The collaboration. The transparency. The stewardship.”
S P E C I A L E D I T I O N 40
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