🌐 He's The World's Greenest Home Builder, That Wasn't The Plan

Marshall Gobuty isn’t your typical green builder. In 2015, when he developed Mirabella—the first residential community in the U.S. to achieve LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)—he wasn’t aiming to save the planet.

As a first-time developer under his company, Pearl Homes, Marshall was looking to gain the trust of Florida homebuyers. LEED certification provided that credibility. Buyers didn’t need to rely on his word; they could trust the rigorous quality and sustainability standards that came with a LEED-certified home.

But Marshall isn’t the kind of entrepreneur to settle for “good enough.” If he was going to do it, why not aim for LEED Platinum—the highest level of certification?

160 homes later, that project was a success.

While sustainability wasn’t his initial focus, something shifted. Marshall realized there was even more potential to unlock.

Others saw it too. Then-USGBC CEO Mahesh Ramanujam challenged Marshall to pursue an even greater ambition: net-zero energy homes.

According to Marshall: “He (Mahesh) made me crazy because he said you can do net zero. And I said, ‘Mahesh, what's net zero? Like, literally, what is it?’”

What if he could build homes that didn’t just consume less energy — but actually produced more than they used, entirely through renewable energy? What if these homes on Florida’s coast could deliver the perks of waterfront living and withstand Category 5 hurricanes?

Marshall got to work. He built a prototype, tested it for 18 months inside a warehouse, and leaned on the wisdom of experienced experts — those whose decades of practical knowledge the industry often overlooks.

His background in fashion, where he developed Arizona Jeans into a powerhouse brand at JCPenney, honed his sourcing expertise. When supply chains faltered during the pandemic, Marshall kept his project on track by directly sourcing everything from beds to custom low-flow toilets.

The result? Hunters Point.

An 86-home community on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Hunters Point became the first in the world to earn LEED Zero Energy certification. Since residents moved in 2022, no one has seen an energy bill. Solar panels and battery storage power the homes, and these residences produce more energy than they consume.

As hurricanes Ian, Idalia, Helene, and Milton have swept through Florida, the homes at Hunters Point have weathered the storms unscathed.

Sometimes, pushing an industry beyond its comfort zone takes an outsider. Marshall Gobuty is redefining sustainable neighborhoods in ways many couldn’t have imagined — until now.

Marshall joins Josh on Supercool to share his insights into the future of green building and what’s next for housing that lowers carbon and enhances quality of life.

Take me to the podcast: Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube, and all other platforms.

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Number of the week: -13

That’s the average HERS score for a Hunters Point house, the industry standard by which a home’s energy efficiency is measured. A negative score means a home produces more energy than it consumes using renewable sources.

By comparison, a typical new construction home scores 100. A score of 50 indicates a home that’s 50% more energy-efficient than standard new builds. Hunters Point’s score represents a paradigm shift in residential construction.

Quote of the Week:

“Hunters Point is the ‘greenprint’ for the future of clean energy homes and sustainable, cost-effective master-planned communities. This is my thing. Breaking barriers is what I like to do.”

— Marshall Gobuty, CEO of Pearl Homes, the developer of Hunters Point

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Hunters Point sets the bar for master-planned, fossil-fuel-free communities. But multi-family residential apartment developers are also transforming the net-zero living landscape.

Here are five projects pushing the envelope:

Affordable Housing Goes Net Zero in New York City

In a city notoriously expensive, developers are pursuing low-carbon strategies to build more affordably. The 275 apartments at Chestnut Commons in Brooklyn are designated for people earning 20-80% of the area's median income. Designed to Passive House Standards, they are the city's most energy-efficient apartments. 

Below are the sustainable features Dattner Architects incorporated into the project.

The Term Energiesprong Has Entered The Building

Thousands of Europe’s older, inefficient buildings are getting a net-zero makeover with Energiesprong—a rapid deep-energy retrofit solution. Prefab facades, solar panels, and heat pumps transform these old structures into net-zero, future-ready gems.

Net Zero Rental Units in Spokane Are Built Entirely from Wood

Blockhouse Life in Spokane, Washington, went net zero and was built with sustainable materials. Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), made by compressing and gluing together lumber boards to form structural panels and beams, gives the development its stunning aesthetic. The rental units draw their power from solar panels installed on the roof of Perry Street Brewing, the microbrewery just a short, buzzy stroll away.

Net Zero Living in Sunny Santa Monica, California

In California, Brunson Terrace offers 48 affordable housing apartments incorporating traditional California living motifs like internal courtyards. The flats are eight times more energy-efficient than the average area building, showing how sustainability and affordability can go hand in hand.

Build Net Zero, and They Will Come For the Health Benefits

Research shows that renters believe green buildings benefit their health. Verde at Esterra Park in Redmond, WA, proves it. These 634 luxury zero-carbon rentals create healthier living environments with tight building envelopes and advanced air systems. Renters rave about it.

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City Spotlight: Freiburg, Germany

Nestled in the Black Forest of southwest Germany, Freiburg is a prime example of high-quality, low-carbon residential living. This 900-year-old city, known for its economic vitality and fairy-tale charm, has been racking up awards for livability and sustainability for decades. And while the self-given title of “Green City” might seem bold elsewhere, here, it fits to a tee.

Here is what’s supercool about Freiburg.

1. Solar-powered everything: SC Freiburg, the city’s beloved soccer club, plays in a solar-powered stadium. And Freiburg’s city hall? It’s the world’s first net-positive public building, generating more energy than it consumes. 880 solar modules are integrated into its facade.

2. Bikes and Pedestrians First: With twice as many bicycles as cars and miles of dedicated bike lanes, Freiburg has long prioritized people over vehicles. While most post-WWII cities were built for cars, Freiburg expanded roads for trams and pedestrians instead.

3. Vauban: Over 25,000 urban planners and sustainability pros flock to Freiburg every year to learn from its approach. The eco-friendly Vauban neighborhood, largely car-free, solar-powered, and energy-efficient, is high on the list. 5,000 inhabitants collectively consume 50% less energy than in other similarly sized German neighborhoods.

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