The Building Code: Building the green way- How to make jobs more sustainable with Matt Hoots

Summary: Episode 162: On this episode of “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley are chatting with Matt Hoots, owner of SawHorse design-build in Atlanta, Georgia. Matt has over 20 years of experience in green building and dedicates a lot of his time to educating fellow builders and clients on the importance of using sustainable methods. Tune in to the full episode to hear more about what it means to be a green builder and how to implement these building standards into your business.   What is something that’s becoming more popular in the realm of green technology? “Because of COVID-19, I think people realize we do need filtration, we do need fresh air. And finally, that's come to the forefront again, and we can do this not only in commercial spaces but in your own home. You can go into a house, and I tell you the indoor air quality is much worse than it is outside even if you're in a city, ironically. So, that's the challenge because we spend most of our time inside. I think the health aspect is something I've always been aware of because I have allergies, but a lot of people just don't realize that you don't have to have allergies, especially if you're inside all the time, and you're sneezing. Well, there's something that's triggering and creating those reactions. So, what can we do to that environment to keep that from happening?”   Where should builders start if they’re looking to get started in green building? “Green building is just one of those tools that allow you to offer better services or just better understand how things are installed. I would start by just looking at what certifications are offered for you. Take a class on that. Maybe even take a class on something that's not even offered in your area and see how different building programs are put together. The building science physics and principles are pretty much the same across all different areas. Just come up with what you’re going to make standard in your business. I think once builders see some of these things, and they see how their risk can go down when they build a certain way, more people will want to do this.”     LINKS AND MORE   Related content: Follow along with the SawHorse team’s #1920sMakeoverATL showcase project where learning, green building and luxury design come together. Follow SawHorse on their YouTube channel and their blog for more educational content. Listen to the last episode of “The Building Code” to hear more about Buildertrend’s new, simplified process for paying subs and vendors digitally. Subscribe here, and never miss an episode. Got podcast topic suggestions? Reach out to us at podcast@buildertrend.com.   The Better Way, a podcast by Buildertrend: Looking to improve how your team plans projects with the top residential construction management platform this year? Pick up Buildertrend project planning pro tips on the newest season of “The Better Way, a podcast by Buildertrend.” Subscribe and stream all five bingeable episodes on your favorite listening app now. Follow us on social: Instagram Facebook Listen to “The Building Code” on YouTube! And be sure to head over to Facebook to join The Building Code Crew fan page for some fun discussions with fellow listeners.