Scaling green developments with Aaron Fairchild

What if real estate could be used as a force for good, rather than further degradation?

It is no secret that the infrastructure our civilization is built upon is outdated, extractive, and harmful to our health and the environment. Buildings account for nearly 40% of all energy consumed globally and are notorious for wanton waste.

One person that has answered that question is Aaron Fairchild, co-founder and CEO of Green Canopy. Aaron's background seeking to do good and make an impact has roots dating to his time spent in Peace Corps and in the banking and the alternative energy sectors.

In 2008, Aaron and his co-founder Sam created Green Canopy in Seattle to see if they could create a better, healthier, greener homes. What started as deep retrofits morphed into net zero infill developments of single family and multifamily homes and communities.

Aaron and his team take a unique approach to green development and see scaling as an opportunity to drive change. With each energy efficient and healthy home they bring to the market they set a high water mark for other builders and developers to aim towards. During the company's existence they've seen 7-8% of new homes have sustainable features to now over 50% in the Seattle area.

Green Canopy brings a level of sophistication not commonly seen in the green building space. Their model has attracted investors that are seeking to do good with their funds while still returning a healthy profit. Their for-profit ventures also enable them to provide affordable housing options and work with community-based and socially justice organizations like Nehemiah Initiative Seattle and Habitat for Humanity.

This is a great podcast episode for those that are interested in the green building field and real estate professionals. Aaron has some incredible life lessons and take-aways that help to illuminate how one can make an impact in their lives, careers, and with their money. 

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This podcast isn’t just about ideas—it’s about action. From these conversations, two organizations have emerged to bring regenerative real estate to life:

Latitude Regenerative Real Estate is the world’s first regenerative-focused real estate brokerage, dedicated to aligning values-driven buyers and sellers. With a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions, Latitude also supports purpose-driven developments across North America through strategic marketing and branding services. If you're looking to buy, sell, or amplify a regenerative project, Latitude is your trusted partner.

Hamlet Capital is an investment and development firm committed to building resilient communities rooted in working farms. If you’re developing an agrihood or conservation community, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can turn visionary ideas into thriving, place-based investments.