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B.PUBLIC Prefab Paving the Way for Local Homebuilders to Accelerate Green Building

The adage “think globally—act locally” is at the heart of the New Mexico-based B.PUBLIC Prefab. The start-up is dedicated to enabling healthier, climate-friendly homes for more people by providing high-performance, prefabricated assemblies that simplify and speed the building process.

Co-founder Edie Dillman welcomed a tour from the Passive House Network’s annual conference.

B.PUBLIC Prefab recognizes the potential of local expertise and provides them with the means to build greener homes.

Creating a new building approach and shifting the practice of U.S. architects and builders is no simple task. Perhaps it was naive when they entered the market with high-performance building components that “build it and they will come” would be faster and simpler than they imagined. As with most start-ups, what begins as a simple idea quickly grows into a series of complexities. Fortunately, as a public benefit corporation, B.PUBLIC doubled down on market transformation and started creating programs to evolve its offering beyond products including builder training and workshops for architects.

Off-site construction is only 4 percent of U.S. construction and is mostly in commercial projects. Most small-to-midsize homebuilders have never worked with off-site construction, so they needed to be trained and empowered to add prefab into their practice. “We designed a product for contractors to build months faster and to the highest green performance, but realized we needed to support them well past providing estimates and panels, said Charlotte Lagard, B.PUBLIC’s COO and co-founder. “So, we created the first-of-its-kind training program at our Las Vegas, New Mexico facility. We know that tradespeople have the power to take climate action every day by using carbon-positive materials and building super energy-efficient buildings, and we can help them harness their skills for the better. By adding to their expertise in a day we have made them ready.” The quarterly installer two-day training covers a lot quickly to jump-start teams into the future of construction. The training will be offered April 19-20 and July 19-20.

Firms are shifting to sustainability as a core principle in design and they are looking for materials and technology to realize that mission.

B.PUBLIC Prefab is leading the charge, empowering tradespeople to accelerate green building practices, addressing the substantial 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions generated by buildings. Since their launch in 2019, prefabricated construction, or prefab, has emerged as a promising solution, especially in the hands of local homebuilders.

The Power of Local Homebuilders

Local homebuilders are the backbone of communities, possessing a unique understanding of regional needs and challenges. With the right tools and resources, these tradespeople can be instrumental in transforming the construction industry to become more sustainable. B.PUBLIC Prefab recognizes the potential of local expertise and is dedicated to providing them with the means to build greener homes. B.PUBLIC’s approach emphasizes the importance of individual efforts in collectively addressing environmental challenges, with local builders playing a crucial role in this transformation.

Changing the Industry One Person at a Time:

The shift toward sustainable building practices begins with individuals passionate about making a difference. B.PUBLIC Prefab works directly with architects and designers across the county to specify prefab in their plans. “Many firms are shifting to sustainability as a core principle in design, and they are looking for materials and technology to realize that mission,” said Edie Dillman, CEO. “We offer workshops, design support, and technical tools for design to get them there. To succeed, sustainability and performance goals should be considered from day one of a project. We are happy to share all we know and open our doors to all curious about learning new ways.”

Tradespeople have the power to take climate action every day by using carbon-positive materials and building super energy-efficient buildings.

Like many companies instigating change, B.PUBLIC believes effective collaboration is essential among owners, designers, builders, and manufacturers. Its Santa Fe design office is more of a classroom than a showroom, with a mini-building inside and space for public events and small workshops. At a retail space on San Mateo Road, the group hosts meet-ups, builder gatherings, charrettes, and client meetings.

“We are creating a place where homeowners and developers feel comfortable and free to explore what it’s like to be inside our ‘pod’ and see a wall of finished projects and home plans,” said Dillman.

The company works nationwide, including Colorado, California, and North Carolina. It is a small company on a big stage and had a presence at the International Builders Show in
Las Vegas, where 150,000 professionals had a chance to visit its booth. B.PUBLIC will bring that booth to the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association’s 2024 Santa Fe Home Expo and Remodel Show March 16–17 at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.