Buildertrend > Case Studies > GreenHalo Builds: Affordable Green Building through IoT

GreenHalo Builds: Affordable Green Building through IoT

Technology Category

Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms

Applicable Industries

Buildings
Cement

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Building Automation & Control
Construction Management

About The Customer

GreenHalo Builds is a Minnesota-based company that specializes in building Net-Zero-ready homes. These homes are designed to minimize energy usage and generate their own power. The company was established in 2019 and has since become an industry leader in green building of sustainable homes. GreenHalo's homes are Scandinavian-style, offering a sleek look and low energy bills. The company's goal is to make these eco-conscious custom homes affordable, bringing down the price point from $1 million to $600,000. GreenHalo has been successful in selling out its ecovillage lots even before breaking ground on a single home, indicating a strong market demand for its product.

The Challenge

John Sharkey’s GreenHalo Builds, based in Stillwater, Minnesota, was facing a surge in demand for Net-Zero-ready homes. These homes are designed to minimize energy usage and generate their own power. However, the challenge was to make these eco-conscious custom homes affordable, bringing down the price point from $1 million to $600,000. This required offering custom home design elements but executing it with only healthy, energy-saving products. The company also needed to manage the construction process efficiently, keeping track of costs, bids, and daily logs, while ensuring transparency for clients. The challenge was compounded by the need to expand the GreenHalo product beyond the Stillwater footprint.

The Solution

GreenHalo turned to Buildertrend, a construction project management software, to manage the construction process and make the dream of affordable green homes a reality. The Estimates feature of Buildertrend allowed GreenHalo to project the costs to build the new Net-Zero homes and check them against the desired price point. Bid Requests efficiently pushed out packages to find the best vendors for the eco-friendly and healthy materials needed. The software also helped GreenHalo to expand its product beyond Stillwater. Construction tech allowed the team to keep tabs on projects from inside the office and out in the field. The Lien Waivers tool saved the team time by eliminating the need to track down crucial building documents during closing. The software also ensured that subcontractors showed up only when they were needed and got paid on time. The Daily Logs feature kept clients informed about the work on their projects without the need to visit the job site.

Operational Impact

The use of Buildertrend's construction project management software has revolutionized GreenHalo's operations. The software has made it possible for GreenHalo to accurately estimate costs, efficiently send out bid requests, and keep track of daily logs. This has not only streamlined the construction process but also made it transparent for clients. The software has also enabled GreenHalo to expand its footprint beyond Stillwater, partnering with builders on projects over an hour’s drive away. The company is now set to explore new markets for sustainable home building in communities in western Wisconsin, outside the Twin Cities Metro, and even in Colorado. The software has given GreenHalo the tools to stay ahead of competitors in this emerging housing market.

Quantitative Benefit

A 2,166-square-foot GreenHalo model cost only $300 to heat and cool in all of 2020.
The monthly energy bill for another GreenHalo home was only $10.
GreenHalo accounted for 42 of the 50 builds in progress recently.