Performance, not promises
Build a healthier, lower-energy home — matched with the right green builder
EverGrain Built is a free matching and guide service for homeowners who want a healthier, lower-energy, green, or passive-style home. We help you understand the basics in plain language, then match you with experienced builders near you so you can compare and choose who to hire.
- Energy-first builders
- Independent matching
- Always free for homeowners
- 10 languages
Building systems
What an energy-first home does differently
A green or passive-house build isn't one product — it's a handful of systems working together. Tap any to learn what it means for your home.
Performance, not promises
Honest cost ranges for green building
How a passive build works
How a passive build works
Five fundamentals that make a home quiet, comfortable, and cheap to run — whatever the climate.
Thick, unbroken insulation around the whole house — walls, roof, and floor — keeps heat in during winter and out during summer, so rooms stay an even temperature.
A measured air barrier stops drafts and uncontrolled leaks. Builders confirm it with a blower-door test, reported as air changes per hour (ACH).
Triple- or good double-glazed windows and insulated frames cut heat loss, block street noise, and remove the cold spots near glass.
An HRV/ERV brings in constant filtered fresh air and recovers most of the heat from the air it removes — comfortable air without opening windows.
Because the shell does most of the work, a small heat pump and a solar-ready electrical panel are usually enough — lower bills and a clear path to net-zero.
Free matching
How EverGrain Built works
Four clear steps — and you stay in control the whole way.
Your location, the kind of home you want, and how to reach you. Project basics and contact details only — never financial account numbers.
We connect you with green, energy-focused custom-home builders who serve your area, at no cost to you.
Compare experience, certifications, and written estimates. Ask each builder how they handle insulation, airtightness, and ventilation.
You decide who to hire and sign directly with the builder. Confirm scope and price in writing before any work starts.
Honest cost ranges
Honest cost ranges for green building
Real numbers depend on your home's size, your climate, your site, and how far you push performance. These are typical ranges, not quotes or guarantees.
Building systems
The building systems that make a home efficient
The work the green and passive-house builders we match you with focus on.
How a continuous, well-insulated building shell keeps a green home comfortable and cheap to run, and how builders detail it to avoid thermal bridges and moisture problems.
Learn more → Airtightness & air sealingWhy airtight construction is the quiet workhorse of an efficient home, how the blower-door test measures it in ACH, and what a tight air barrier means for comfort and bills.
Learn more → High-performance windows & doorsHow triple- and high-spec double-glazed windows and insulated doors cut heat loss, block noise, and remove cold spots — and how to read U-factor and SHGC.
Learn more → Fresh-air ventilation (HRV / ERV)How heat- and energy-recovery ventilation delivers constant filtered fresh air while recovering most of the heat, and why a tight home needs mechanical ventilation.
Learn more → Heat pumps & efficient HVACWhy a high-performance shell lets a small, all-electric heat pump heat and cool a whole home, how to size it right, and what efficient HVAC looks like in a green build.
Learn more → Solar-ready & net-zero homesWhat it means to build solar-ready and all-electric, how net-zero and net-zero-ready homes work, and the simple wiring and panel choices that keep the option open.
Learn more →Start with a clear plan for your home
A good green home starts with good planning. That means thinking about your climate, your lot, your budget, and how you want the home to feel and work every day.
We help you learn the basics before you talk with builders. That includes insulation R-value, airtightness measured by ACH, high-performance windows with U-factor and SHGC, fresh-air systems like HRV or ERV, and efficient heating and cooling such as heat pumps. You can read more on /learn/ and /systems/.
If you want a very low-energy home, we can also help you understand passive-house ideas and goals like net-zero readiness. Results vary by design, site, climate, and builder, so it is important to confirm scope and performance targets in writing with the licensed builder you choose.
How our free matching service helps
EverGrain Built is not a builder, architect, or contractor. We are a free service that helps you prepare, ask better questions, and get matched with builders who have experience in green or high-performance homes.
Here is what we help with:
- Explain common green-building terms in plain English.
- Help you think through goals, priorities, and tradeoffs.
- Match you with builders near you who may fit your project.
- Give you questions to ask about details, testing, timeline, and written scope.
You compare options and decide who to hire. Always review licenses, insurance, references, and the contract details yourself. If you are ready to begin, start here: /get-matched/.
What to ask builders before you hire
Not every builder works the same way. A beautiful home can still miss key energy details if the plan, materials, and jobsite process are not aligned.
Ask simple, direct questions such as:
1. How do you handle air sealing, insulation, and moisture control?
2. Do you use blower-door testing, and what airtightness target are you aiming for?
3. What window performance levels do you suggest for this climate?
4. Will the home use an HRV or ERV for fresh air?
5. How will you show the final scope, allowances, and price in writing?
You can also review common budget questions on /costs/ and see the full process on /how-it-works/. A good builder should be able to explain their approach clearly and put the agreed scope in writing.
We help you understand green home basics and get matched with experienced builders near you. Our service is free, and you choose who to hire after comparing your options.
Ready to build greener? Get matched with the right builder
Free for homeowners. Project basics and contact details only. You compare builders and choose who to hire, and confirm scope and price in writing before any work starts.