EverGrain Built
Project stories
These stories share how real homeowners planned greener, more energy-efficient custom homes. We remove names and private details, but keep the useful parts: their goals, the systems they chose, and what they learned during design and construction.
An anonymized project story: A family's first passive build in a cold state. The goals, the building systems chosen, and what the homeowners learned working with a green builder.
Open → A 1970s home, deeply retrofitted for comfortAn anonymized project story: A 1970s home, deeply retrofitted for comfort. The goals, the building systems chosen, and what the homeowners learned working with a green builder.
Open → A net-zero-ready home built to a tight budgetAn anonymized project story: A net-zero-ready home built to a tight budget. The goals, the building systems chosen, and what the homeowners learned working with a green builder.
Open → An efficient ADU for a multigenerational familyAn anonymized project story: An efficient ADU for a multigenerational family. The goals, the building systems chosen, and what the homeowners learned working with a green builder.
Open →What you can learn from these project stories
Every home is different. Climate, lot shape, sun, budget, local code, and builder experience all affect the final plan. That is why these stories focus on decisions and tradeoffs, not promises.
You will see how homeowners compared options like better insulation, airtightness targets, blower-door testing, high-performance windows, HRV or ERV ventilation, and heat pumps. Some aimed for a simple efficient home. Others wanted a low-energy or near net-zero design.
- What the family wanted most, such as lower energy use, better indoor air, or all-electric systems
- Which building systems were chosen, and why
- What changed during design, pricing, or construction
- Questions the homeowners wish they had asked earlier
If you want help comparing builders who understand these systems, get matched for free. EverGrain Built is a matching and guide service. You compare options and choose who to hire.
How to use these stories in your own project
Use each story as a planning tool, not a guarantee. A wall assembly that works well in one region may not be the best fit in another. The same is true for window specs, slab details, roof design, and ventilation choices.
- Write down your top goals. Examples are comfort, lower energy use, good indoor air, fewer fossil fuels, or future solar.
- Learn the basics of key systems on our systems and learn pages.
- Ask each builder to explain scope, materials, testing, and price in writing.
- Review allowances, exclusions, and who is responsible for details like air sealing and commissioning.
Our stories can help you ask better questions about R-value, ACH, U-factor, SHGC, duct design, moisture control, and equipment sizing. If you are early in the process, see how it works or get matched to start comparing experienced green custom-home builders near you.
These stories show how other homeowners made green building choices, what changed, and what they learned. Use them to ask smarter questions, then compare builders and get the details in writing.
Thinking about an energy-efficient or passive home?
Start with the basics of how a high-performance home works. Then get matched, free, with green builders who serve your area. You compare and choose who to hire — and confirm the price in writing before any work starts.