Where Does the 2030 Commitment Stand?

Over fifteen years into the AIA 2030 Commitment and just four years from its deadline, Nathan Kipnis reflects on how far the profession has come — and how much work remains.

When the AIA launched the 2030 Commitment in 2009, net-zero energy buildings felt aspirational at best — especially in cold-climate cities like Chicago. At the time, many in the profession believed that carbon-neutral buildings were something we might achieve someday, but not within a generation. Today, with just four years left until 2030, the conversation has fundamentally changed. The question is no longer whether high-performance, low-carbon buildings are possible — the question is whether we, as a profession, are moving fast enough to deliver them at scale.

This North Shore home features locally sourced materials anchored by energy-efficient windows and all-electric systems.

What is the AIA 2030 Commitment?

The AIA 2030 Commitment is a voluntary reporting and tracking program that asks architecture firms to measure the predicted energy use of their projects against a standardized baseline, with the goal of achieving carbon-neutral buildings by 2030. It is important to understand what the Commitment is — and what it is not. It is not a certification system; rather, it is a tool for transparency and accountability. Its value lies in measuring real performance, tracking progress over time, and allowing the profession to collectively assess whether our intentions are translating into results.

I have been involved with the 2030 Commitment since its earliest days. I served on the AIA National 2030 Commitment Working Group from 2014 to 2020, including as co-chair from 2018 to 2019, and I was a member of the AIA Chicago 2030 Commitment Working Group from 2009 to 2014. I’ve seen the program evolve from a simple spreadsheet into a national dataset that now represents billions of square feet of built work. I’ve also seen how dramatically both our tools and our expectations have changed.

This is the kitchen of Evanston’s first Certified Passive House, which also features a net-positive balance — meaning it generates more energy than it consumes each year.

What is the status of the AIA 2030 Commitment?

As of the most recent reporting cycle, projects participating in the 2030 Commitment are achieving an average 56 percent reduction in predicted energy use intensity compared to baseline. That number represents roughly four billion square feet of reported building area. Is 56 percent where we need to be? No — the target is 100 percent. But the trajectory matters. In 2009, achieving net-zero performance was widely considered impossible, particularly in northern climates. Today, we have projects that are performing better than 100 percent. We are now designing buildings that can function essentially off-grid, even in harsh Chicago winters — something that would have been dismissed outright when the Commitment began.

For several years, annual improvements hovered around three percentage points. In the most recent year, that number jumped six points, from 50 to 56 percent, coinciding with the largest amount of square footage ever reported. That acceleration tells me that when firms engage seriously with the Commitment, performance improves more quickly than many expect.

Participation, however, remains one of our biggest challenges. Only about 450 firms are currently reporting through the 2030 Commitment. The majority of reported square footage comes from very large firms that may deliver hundreds of millions of square feet annually. Their participation is critical, but it is not enough. We will not meet our climate goals without far greater engagement from small and mid-sized firms, which collectively shape an enormous portion of the built environment. There are encouraging signs — this year, 27 firms achieved an 80 percent reduction from baseline, and 18 firms reached Target Zero — but those numbers should be far higher.

Performance also varies significantly by building type. Single-family residential and mixed-use projects consistently outperform other categories, and they are the only two building types that regularly exceed targets. Mixed-use performance is particularly interesting, as programmatic diversity often allows energy loads to balance more efficiently. On the other end of the spectrum, healthcare and laboratory buildings remain extremely challenging due to energy-intensive equipment that architects often have little control over. That reality doesn’t absolve us of responsibility, but it does underscore the need for nuanced expectations.

One of the most frustrating data points for me is electrification. In the most recent reporting cycle, just over 1,500 all-electric buildings were reported nationwide. While that number is up from the year before, it is still astonishingly low given where the technology is today. Designing an all-electric building is no longer difficult. We now have highly efficient building envelopes, cold-climate heat pumps, induction cooktops, electric water heaters and dryers, and solar panels whose costs have dropped dramatically over the last several decades. A cold climate is no longer an excuse. Germany, for example, has an almost identical climate to Chicago — and has millions of buildings already using efficient electric heating technologies, far outpacing the U.S. (Roughly 70 percent of new construction in Germany now features heat pumps and other electric systems.) At this point, the barriers are far more cultural than technical.

With solar-oriented rooflines, this five-lot home also features a variety of salvaged materials. 

How can we improve these statistics?

In practice, Net Zero buildings almost always require Passive House–level performance. Without an extremely efficient envelope, the math simply doesn’t work. Through NextHaus Alliance, we have designed and built a certified Passive House in Evanston, and we continue to apply those lessons to new projects. These buildings are no longer experimental. They are comfortable, resilient, increasingly cost-effective, and entirely achievable with today’s tools and materials.

Looking ahead, embodied carbon is the next frontier. We already understand that materials such as brick, steel, aluminum, and petroleum-based insulation carry significant carbon impacts. Increasingly, we are turning to strategies like all-wood framing, cellulose and wood-based insulation, and more thoughtful material selection. While embodied carbon analysis once felt intimidating, it has become far more accessible. When teams begin doing this work, it quickly becomes clear that it is manageable — and essential.

When the 2030 Commitment began, 2030 felt distant. Now, it is four years away. Sadly, every time environmental issues capture the zeitgeist, something else threatens to push them aside — housing affordability, geopolitical conflict, economic uncertainty. But this is not an either-or proposition. We are capable of addressing multiple challenges at once. Renewable energy is now the cheapest form of energy at scale. The technology exists. The data is clear. And the excuses are running out.

The 2030 Commitment gives us a way to measure whether our values are being reflected in our work. It isn’t perfect, but it is powerful. And ultimately, it only works if more of us choose to participate. At this point, we know what needs to be done. The only question left is whether we are willing to do it.

Nathan Kipnis, FAIA, LEED BD+C, is the principal of Kipnis Architecture + Planning (KAP) and the founder of NextHaus Alliance. Recognized as one of Chicago’s premier award-winning sustainable architecture firms, KAP has been shaping innovative spaces since 1993. With offices in Evanston, Illinois, and Boulder, Colorado, KAP is a national leader in its signature philosophy of High Design / Low Carbon. The firm is especially known for seamlessly integrating passive solar strategies and bioclimatic design into every project.

Sustainable Holiday Decor: Putting the “Green” in Holiday Greenery

Holiday decor can add festivity and merriment to your space — but it doesn’t have to do so at the expense of the environment.

For those of us who prioritize sustainability and resiliency at home, seasonal holiday decor can feel antithetical to our larger goals. While seasonal decorations are both festive and undeniably pervasive during Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah, they can also be expensive and seem wasteful. After all, those fresh greens beautifully lining your mantle are only up for a few short weeks… (But keep reading to see why real versus faux is still the more sustainable choice.)

Thankfully, when designed with thoughtfulness and intentionality, holiday decor can align with the key values of a space and its homeowners — and given Nexthaus Alliance’s commitment to thoughtfulness and intentionality in all areas of our practice, we’re well-equipped to provide holiday cheer without sacrificing the tenets we built your home upon.

Here, we share our insights on celebrating the holidays mindfully with sustainable holiday decor.

Thanks to warm woods, cozy textures, and existing treasures, this space is primed for holiday gatherings.

Incorporating Vintage Elements

Across design principles, from interior design to fashion and beyond, it’s commonly understood that the most sustainable choice is one that already exists. When designing interiors (both during the holidays and all year long), we like to use meaningful pieces from a client’s existing collection of art, furnishings, and decor. Why buy new elements when those that you already have are not only functional, but also meaningful?

With that in mind, some of the best holiday decor comes from antique stores, vintage markets, or even from your family’s own collection.

The “fireplace” in this Certified Passive House isn’t a fireplace at all — rather, it features water vapor that is illuminated with LED lights (which, by the way, can be adjusted by color for the holidays!). Maximum comfort, minimum impact.

Functionality Is Key

Sometimes, however, it’s necessary to buy something new — but that’s not always a bad thing. When considering new items, it’s helpful to determine if they serve multiple purposes. For example, decorative trinkets can be festive for the holidays, but they spend most of their life in storage. Pillows and throws, on the other hand, can be used for much of the year — so having some in your collection in festive shades of red, green, blue, gold, and silver allows for both seasonal functionality and year-long enjoyment. 

“While I am not a fan of holiday decor that is too obvious or ‘loud,' I embrace subtle gestures suggesting holiday accents,” says Lauren Coburn, Nexthaus Alliance member and founder of the interior architecture and design firm Lauren Coburn. “I like accenting with winter whites, greenery, and metallics, such as silver, white gold, and bronze. These are best used in non-obvious ways and not in the literal holiday decor fashion.”

Functional decor pieces (such as picture frames, dishware, drinkware, and textiles) in holiday-friendly shades allow for the colors and motifs of the season to shine in these less-predictable ways.

Lauren Coburn designed this living room with party-ready finishes that blend perfectly with tabletop accents such as dishware, drinkware, and candles.

Texture and Finish Reign Supreme

In addition to selecting functional items in festive shades, Coburn suggests thinking about materiality when it comes to the holidays.

“To evoke holiday merriment, I like to use subtle metallic accents,” Coburn says. “These can include place settings at the dining table, or sculptural silver candlesticks with white taper candles.” 

Metallic candlesticks may not feel particularly holiday-centric, but when paired with seasonal florals and colored linens, the effect is subtly festive. Luxury can also be added by way of dish and drinkware, plus vases, mirrors, and flatware. These shine-heavy items can be used all year long — for celebrations and for casual get-togethers alike.

Alliance member Bob Hursthouse takes great care to ensure that seasonal planters feature festive, yet thoughtful greenery.

When In Doubt, Bring the Outside In

We work to incorporate nature in all of our projects — but this is particularly true around the holidays. For those celebrating Christmas, a real Christmas tree makes for a sustainable choice. A real tree can be composted or recycled after use, while faux greenery requires extensive carbon usage for creation and shipment and can’t be upcycled. Real greenery adds festivity, the benefits of nature, and a seasonal scent.

No matter what holidays you celebrate, fresh florals provide the perfect opportunity for themed decor without contributing to the high-carbon purchasing cycle. “In these holiday months,” Coburn says, “I recommend adding tall, sculptural plants in a beautiful white urn, sculptural floral arrangements with cherry blossoms in a chic vase, or white calla lilies.”

As with all sustainable and resilient design work, these values don’t require the sacrifice of beauty or personality. With thoughtful planning and mindful execution, holiday decor can be functional, festive, and low-impact.

Meet the Home with a One-Cent Energy Bill: The Evanston Passive House

In Evanston’s historic district, a subtly radical home proves that elegance, comfort, and net-positive performance can share the same address.

In a neighborhood defined by early 20th-century architecture and leafy streets, a modern house exists that feels both familiar and quietly revolutionary. The Evanston Passive House, designed and built by NextHaus Alliance, carries the proportions and grace of its neighbors — but behind its traditional façade lies a blueprint for the future of residential design.

Completed on Earth Day 2024, the 2,900-square-foot home is one of only a few thousand in the U.S. to achieve PHIUS Certified Passive House and PHIUS Zero status. But its real distinction may be simpler: in May 2025, the homeowner received an electrical energy bill for a single cent.

That one-cent bill isn’t a gimmick — it’s proof of concept. The project demonstrates that in the variable climate of the Midwest, high-performance, all-electric living can be not just attainable, but desirable. The home offers quiet comfort, exceptional air quality, and the kind of architectural refinement that rarely accompanies deep sustainability. For the design/build team, it’s also a statement: efficiency and beauty are not competing priorities, but partners in a new design language.

The client came to NextHaus Alliance with a simple brief: create a forever home that would age gracefully, function efficiently, and sit comfortably within Evanston’s historic fabric. “The homeowner wanted accessibility and adaptability, but also permanence,” says Nathan Kipnis, FAIA, and the founder of NextHaus. “The challenge would be to meet those goals within a context defined by preservation guidelines and traditional character.”

The solution emerged from the firm’s guiding principle, High Design/Low Carbon — a philosophy that sees architectural clarity and environmental performance as two sides of the same coin. The home’s narrow front-to-back footprint and L-shaped rear wing reduce material use and preserve the neighborhood’s scale. Porch height, roofline, and window proportions were calibrated to satisfy preservation requirements, while an asymmetrical roof maximizes the area for the solar array.

Architectural Strategies That Enable Ultra-Efficiency

From the front façade to the light-filled family room, every move was made in service of performance and longevity. Here are the topline strategies that were implemented:

• Massing and site orientation: A slender plan and rear L-wing minimize footprint and preserve context while optimizing solar exposure.

• Historic district sensitivity: Proportions and rooflines align with neighboring homes, blending into the streetscape.

• Solar roof and daylighting: The roof’s south-facing pitch supports a custom-sized photovoltaic array from Earth Wind & Solar; a “light shelf” shades high summer sun and bounces winter light deep into the interior.

• Material intention: Fly-ash-infused siding, recycled aluminum roofing, and recyclable Valcucine cabinetry (from Mobili Mobel) cut embodied carbon without aesthetic compromise.

• Accessibility and adaptability: Wider halls, zero-threshold entries, and convertible first-floor spaces prepare the home for aging in place.

Technological & Performance Strategies

The home’s mechanical systems and envelope are the quiet engines of its performance. Here are those attributes that truly stand out:

• Airtight, super-insulated envelope: At 0.37 ACH50 — far tighter than the PHIUS threshold of 0.6 — the house dramatically limits heat loss. Walls are insulated to R-55, the roof to R-65, and triple-glazed windows are tuned to orientation.

• All-electric operation: Heat pumps handle space conditioning, water heating, and laundry. Induction cooking replaces gas, and even the fireplace is a zero-carbon “vapor” model that emits only light and water vapor.

• Solar and storage: A 12.6 kW photovoltaic array generates more energy than the home consumes, achieving an Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of –4.81, compared to roughly 49.5 for a standard new home. Plus, a 20 kWh battery backup was installed this year. 

• Resilience and adaptation: Raised foundation, reinforced framing, oversized gutters, and elevated mechanicals prepare the home for future flooding and severe weather.

• Embodied carbon reduction: A shallow crawlspace cuts concrete use by a third; CarbonCure concrete and ThermalStuds framing further reduce emissions.

The results speak for themselves. Beyond its negligible energy bills, the house maintains stable indoor temperatures with little active heating or cooling. Air quality rivals that of a laboratory clean room, thanks to continuous ventilation and advanced filtration. And despite its cutting-edge performance, the house feels warm and grounded — a reflection of its neighborhood rather than a disruption of it.

Awards have followed. The project earned the 2024 BLT Built Design Award for Sustainable and Energy-Saving Architecture, the 2024 Good Design Award for Green Architecture, and Excellence in Urban Renewal in this year’s PHIUS Passive House Design Competition, affirming its balance of craft, technology, and environmental vision. But its larger value lies in what it represents: a prototype for how to live well within limits. In a time when both energy resilience and design integrity are under pressure, the Evanston Passive House offers a model that reconciles the two.

For NextHaus Alliance, the project underscores a simple truth: “The home of the future doesn’t have to look futuristic,” says Kipnis. “It just has to perform that way. By aligning architecture, ecology, and technology, the Evanston Passive House turns sustainability into something effortless — almost invisible.”

And maybe that’s the most radical part. In a city known for its architectural history, this house doesn’t shout its innovations. It simply lives them — one cent at a time.

Redefining Luxury Through Sustainability and Resilience

Through integrated expertise and future-focused thinking, NextHaus Alliance is building homes that aren’t just beautiful — they’re built for what’s next.

Luxury residential design is undergoing a quiet revolution. For today’s conscientious homeowner, aesthetics alone aren’t enough. There’s growing demand for homes that reflect personal values, respond to a changing climate, and are built to endure. Sustainability and resilience — once niche — are now essential to quality living.

At NextHaus Alliance, we see this shift not as a challenge, but as a calling. Our work is rooted in the belief that homes must support both human well-being and the planet. As a multidisciplinary collective spanning architecture, construction, interiors, landscape, and technology, we share one vision: to create high-performance homes that are as enduring as they are elegant.

Here are the principles guiding our work and shaping the future of home design.

Sustainability Isn’t a Feature. It’s the Foundation.

Too often, sustainability is treated as a checklist, an afterthought. But truly sustainable homes are intentional from day one. At NextHaus, sustainability informs everything: site orientation, material choices, systems integration, and long-term adaptability.

Take the Evanston Passive House, our PHIUS ZERO, award-winning residence. Beyond accolades like the 2025 Future House International Residential Award, it delivers performance through energy efficiency, low-toxicity materials, and a respectful urban footprint.

Our construction methodology applies advanced building science to reduce energy use, improve air quality, and ensure durability. High-performance envelopes, passive strategies, and net-zero-ready systems align architectural form with environmental function, all without compromising beauty.

We apply the same principles to landscape design. Native plantings, drought-tolerant species, and site-sensitive stormwater strategies reduce impact while deepening the connection to place. At the Lake Zurich Solar Home, regenerative landscaping complements cutting-edge systems, creating a restorative lakeside retreat.

Inside, luxury and sustainability coexist. We specify low-VOC, responsibly sourced materials and design for wellness, daylighting, and flexibility. Interiors are tactile, comfortable, and built to last.

These results aren’t incidental — they come from early, intentional collaboration across disciplines. When architects, builders, designers, and specialists work in sync from the start, cohesive, high-performance results follow.

Integration as Innovation

In traditional residential projects, professionals often work in silos — often leading to misaligned goals and missed opportunities. This is especially limiting when sustainability and resilience are priorities.

NextHaus Alliance operates differently. We bring all disciplines to the table from the outset. This integrated model supports clear communication, shared goals, and informed decisions that balance performance, cost, and design.

Every design decision — roofing, glazing, mechanicals, finishes — is interconnected. We approach these as dynamic, collaborative explorations, not linear tasks. This is the essence of our process: coordinated thinking, shared values, and a commitment to elevating every aspect of the home.

Collaboration as Craft

In addition to this multidisciplinary alignment, we also partner with companies that share our values. PAC-CLAD’s steel roofing offers durability and understated beauty. Cosentino’s sustainable surfaces combine innovation with environmental stewardship. Even in demolition, we act with purpose — working with Recyclean to reclaim materials and reduce waste.

At every stage, we ask: Does this serve our larger goals? In our homes, the answer must always be yes.

Designing for What’s Next

At NextHaus, future-readiness is a mindset. It shapes every decision with care, creativity, and long-term vision.

The homes we design today must be ready for tomorrow’s realities — extreme weather, rising energy costs, and evolving lifestyles. In this context, resilience means more than protection — it means empowerment.

Smart technologies such as solar arrays, battery storage, electric HVAC, and water reuse systems help our homes respond intelligently to both climate and user behavior. Just as important are timeless strategies: well-insulated envelopes, operable windows, and durable, long-lasting materials.

Resilience also means designing for change. Homeowners are planning for aging in place, remote work, and multigenerational living. Flexibility is key — without sacrificing spatial clarity or sophistication.

The New Legacy Home

At NextHaus, we believe design is an act of optimism. To build sustainably is to believe that thoughtful choices — material, spatial, ecological — can shape a better future. To design resiliently is to embrace change and respond with intelligence and care.

Each home is shaped by site, climate, and its occupants — but also by enduring values: integrity, durability, and beauty. Designing for what’s next isn’t about trend or tech — it’s about responsibility. When architecture, performance, and purpose align, a house becomes more than a shelter. It becomes a legacy.

How NextHaus Integrates Technology, Landscape, and Lifestyle Outdoors

With discreet tech, sustainable strategies, and design-driven partnerships, outdoor living becomes a four-season luxury.

As luxury home design continues to evolve toward deeper connections with the natural world, a quiet revolution is taking place – one where cutting-edge technology and curated landscapes enhance each other in ways that feel less like features and more like experiences.

At NextHaus Alliance, this evolution is second nature. Based in Chicago, our collective of design-build professionals is committed to sustainability, performance, and collaboration. And for us, outdoor living is never an afterthought. 

Two of our trusted alliance members — Brian Perreault, President of Barrett’s Technology Solutions, and Robert Hursthouse, President of Hursthouse Landscape Architects — are leading voices in this space. Their work across some of the Midwest’s most spectacular homes reflects a shared ethos: outdoor environments should not only extend a home’s function,  but elevate it — quietly, beautifully, and sustainably.

Here, they share their approach to designing alfresco living spaces that work in every season and in perfect harmony.

Discreet Technology: Elevating Without Intruding

In an era of invisible speakers, retractable screens, and climate-responsive lighting, “discreet technology” has become the new gold standard. For Perreault, whose firm specializes in high-performance smart home systems, the concept goes far beyond hiding wires — it’s about enhancing livability while preserving design integrity.

“Luxury homeowners today are working with sophisticated design-build teams who care deeply about aesthetics,” Perreault says. “At NextHaus, we coordinate across disciplines from day one to ensure technology enhances the design, not intrudes on it. The infrastructure should be invisible. The experience? Unforgettable.”

That early involvement is key. “Take something like motorized shades for a covered terrace. If we know during framing that they’re part of the plan, we can design concealed pockets so the shades disappear when not in use. It’s far more refined than a retrofit — it becomes architectural.”

Outdoor AV follows the same logic. Instead of running visible wiring across the yard, Barrett’s collaborates closely with partners like Hursthouse to integrate hardwired audio infrastructure discretely, using piping beneath patios or buried underground, with speakers that are cleverly camouflaged within the landscape design.

“It’s amazing how often people assume everything’s wireless because they can’t see it,” Perreault says with a smile. “But it’s the hardwiring behind the scenes that makes it all perform seamlessly.”

Living Systems: Landscape Architecture with Purpose

On the landscape side, Hursthouse begins every project by asking a simple but essential question: How do you want to live?

“Are they entertaining friends with cocktails and music? Hosting grandkids for movie nights? That’s always step one,” Hursthouse says. “Once we understand that, we can begin designing an outdoor setting that truly elevates their lifestyle — with beauty and ease.”

For a recent project in Naperville, he created an expansive hardscape wired for integrated lighting and audio, with planter beds that double as acoustic camouflage. “It’s not about placing one speaker after another,” Hursthouse explains. “It’s about creating a soundscape. The real magic happens when landscape, lighting, and audio are composed as one symphonic experience.”

Lighting, in particular, has become one of the most poetic tools in the designer’s arsenal. “In winter, without lighting, your windows become black mirrors,” he notes. “But with the right illumination — a spotlight on a snow-covered branch, a winding walkway that’s downlit — your garden becomes a work of art, even in December.” 

For one client, Hursthouse designed a sculptural water feature, subtly lit with low-voltage LEDs — a collaboration with Night Light Inc., whose nuanced approach to landscape lighting elevates both form and function. To enhance control, Barrett’s layered in Lutron’s smart lighting systems, enabling homeowners to set moods, adjust zones, and create schedules from a mobile app or wall keypad.

“When it’s done right,” says Hursthouse, “you’re not just lighting a space — you’re revealing it. It becomes an extension of architecture and emotion.”

Smart Outdoor Living: Seamless, Sustainable, Sensational

As demand for outdoor living increases, so do expectations that these spaces perform just like their indoor counterparts. Thanks to integrated systems, homeowners can now stream music, control lighting, manage climate — and even watch movies — all from the backyard.

For a recent retreat in Lake Geneva, Barrett’s designed a weatherproof outdoor cinema complete with a removable projector, retractable screen, and hidden audio, all seamlessly built into the outdoor living space. “We designed it so the family could enjoy movie nights under the stars at the tap of a button,” says Perreault. “Everything’s hardwired beneath the landscaping — and it all disappears when not in use.” 

Today, heat and shade are programmable, too. Lutron-controlled infrared heaters and motorized screens that double as bug deterrents make outdoor living a four-season experience, even in Northern Illinois. “We’ve got clients watching football on their decks in late November,” Perreault says. “If we’ve done our job, it doesn’t feel like you’ve left your living room — it feels better.”

A Sustainable Foundation

At NextHaus, sustainability isn’t a feature — it’s our foundation.

In our recent Passive House project in Evanston, Hursthouse and other Alliance members installed a cistern system that captures sump pump runoff, keeping rainwater on site. Decorative rain chains replace downspouts and double as kinetic sculpture, transforming necessity into art.

Material choices are equally deliberate. On the same project, locally sourced Pennsylvania bluestone was chosen for its durability and legacy. “There are sidewalks in Colonial Boston still paved with this stone,” Hursthouse notes. “It honors the past while preparing for the future.”

Planting design also plays a vital role. Hursthouse’s team favors native species and resilient cultivars — or “nativars” — to reduce maintenance and support local ecosystems. “I’ve counted more than 40 pollinators in my own garden,” he says. “That’s what good design can make possible.”

The Next Chapter of Outdoor Living

Looking ahead, both Perreault and Hursthouse agree: the most exciting innovations will be the ones that fade into the background. “The best tech doesn’t announce itself,” Perreault says. “It adapts to your life, your environment, your taste.”

As systems become more intelligent and energy efficient, outdoor spaces are becoming even more aligned with sustainability goals. From EV-ready power hubs to grid-aware lighting, the line between luxury and responsibility continues to blur.

Yet amid all the innovation, the mission remains the same. “Our clients aren’t just asking for more features,” Hursthouse says. “They’re asking for more time — to be outdoors, to connect with family, to reconnect with nature. That’s what we’re designing for.”

Future-Proofing Luxury Homes with High Design and Low Carbon Impact

Already this summer, devastating floods have swept across Texas Hill Country and much of the Midwest, submerging entire neighborhoods and crippling local infrastructure. It’s yet another stark reminder that the climate crisis is no longer an abstraction — it’s an architectural challenge. For luxury homeowners, the stakes are high: the home is not only a financial investment but a sanctuary, a personal statement, and, increasingly, a line of defense.

This is where the work of NextHaus Alliance becomes both visionary and urgent. Based in Chicago, the Alliance is a multidisciplinary collective of design and construction professionals who specialize in high-design, low-carbon homes built to endure the accelerating pace of environmental change. For NextHaus, luxury is not just about aesthetics; it’s about foresight, performance, and peace of mind.

“Sustainability and resilience are often treated like parallel conversations,” says Nate Kipnis, NextHaus Founder and Principal of Kipnis Architecture + Planning. “But in reality, they overlap significantly. One supports the other. You can’t really talk about a sustainable home if it isn’t resilient to climate pressures.”

Redefining Luxury Through Performance and Permanence

In design circles, sustainability is a familiar ambition: reduce emissions, minimize environmental impact, improve air and material quality. But resiliency — a home’s capacity to respond to extreme weather, energy disruptions, or long-term environmental shifts — is still widely misunderstood. Kipnis likens it to a “Venn diagram,” where the intersection of sustainability and resilience forms the sweet spot of smart, future-facing design.

This convergence isn’t hypothetical. It’s playing out on real properties, with real stakes. A recent NextHaus project — one of the few PHIUS+ and PHIUS ZERO certified Passive Houses in Illinois — exemplifies this integrated approach. Designed and constructed to a standard far beyond building code, the home quietly counters the chaos of the outside world: its envelope is airtight, its insulation profound, its mechanical systems ultra-efficient.

“We never set out to ‘get a certification’ — we just did everything right,” Kipnis says. “And the house earned it. That’s what Passive House is about: exceptional performance, every day, under any condition.”

Windows, typically the weakest link in an energy envelope, were elevated with Sierra Pacific’s triple-glazed, low-E coated units, delivering not only thermal integrity but clarity and character suited to high-end architectural detailing. “Sierra Pacific has been a phenomenal partner,” Kipnis says. “We’ve used their windows in multiple projects because they give us the design freedom we want without sacrificing performance.”

Efficiency as an Aesthetic Experience

For a long time, the assumption in luxury architecture was that energy efficiency required aesthetic compromise. The NextHaus team has made it their mission to prove otherwise. With a design philosophy that draws as much from regional vernacular as it does from cutting-edge engineering, they create homes where beauty and performance are indistinguishable.

“The word ‘architecture’ itself contains both art and technology,” Kipnis explains. “It’s about the fusion of form and function. You can’t choose just one — especially not in the upper tier of the market. That’s where we excel.”

Design moves that enhance efficiency, such as deep overhangs, optimized solar orientation, and light shelves, become sculptural elements. Carefully planned solar alignment can illuminate a cherished art piece or a hallway on a specific birthday, drawing a straight line between ancient observatories and modern-day personalization. This is not just performance; it’s architecture as poetry.

Beyond the visual drama lies a level of precision that’s almost invisible. For example, all systems in the NextHaus Passive House are integrated with Savant, a top-tier smart home automation system that empowers homeowners to control lighting, climate, shading, and energy consumption with effortless precision.

“With Savant, it’s not just about convenience,” Kipnis says. “It’s about optimizing performance. We’re giving clients the ability to fine-tune their environment in ways that are intuitive, elegant, and deeply empowering.”

Building for What’s Next

While sustainability tends to dominate the public conversation, resilience is the quieter force that ultimately protects a home and its inhabitants from disruption. For Scott Berliant, NextHaus Alliance member and Principal at Berliant Builders Inc., resilience starts with location and risk analysis. In Chicago, that might mean reinforcing for wind or elevating foundations above flood-prone grades. In Colorado, it’s wildfire mitigation. In California, seismic stability.

“Resilience starts with understanding the site,” Berliant says. “As a luxury home builder, the first step is to understand fire, flood, seismic, and infrastructure vulnerabilities. That risk profile shapes everything that follows. We begin a NextHaus project by asking, ‘What is nature going to throw at this site?’ — not just today, but 30 years from now. Then we build for that. Because if you don’t, your house is obsolete the day you move in.”

When resilience is baked in early, it becomes almost invisible — not something homeowners have to think about daily, but something they benefit from constantly. “You’re not fighting the site,” says Berliant. “You’re building with it.”

But it goes beyond structure. “Resilience in luxury construction means quietly ensuring safety, continuity, and comfort, no matter what’s happening outside,” adds Berliant. That includes high-performance materials, built-in redundancies for power and water, and smart site planning to manage fire and drainage risks. “You don’t want to rely on luck. You want to know you’ve done everything you can to protect your home, your family, your investment. That’s the value of resilience.”

Enduring Value, Invisible Intelligence

The luxury market is evolving. Where square footage and finish once defined value, today’s clients increasingly prioritize performance, wellness, and longevity. The NextHaus approach — fusing high design with low environmental impact — is not only aligned with these expectations, it’s several steps ahead of them.

“The value of this approach is lasting comfort, lower operating costs, and a lighter environmental footprint,” Berliant says. “These homes are more durable, healthier to live in, and better positioned for resale in a market increasingly shaped by sustainability.”

The PHIUS-certified home, for instance, operates at such efficiency that energy bills are practically negligible. “A penny a month,” Kipnis says (the actual total of the last energy bill their Passive House client received). And when it comes time to sell, these homes aren’t burdened by their sustainability features — they’re elevated by them. 

“You’re not just doing this for the environment,” Berliant adds. “You’re doing it for peace of mind. You’re building a house that can hold its value — and hold its ground.”

The Future, Thoughtfully Built 

Luxury homes, at their best, are expressions of vision, legacy, and care. In an era defined by volatility — climate, energy, even supply chains — designing a home that can endure is not just wise. It’s essential.

NextHaus Alliance is meeting that moment with a new model of architectural intelligence — one that merges elegance with ethics, craft with climate strategy. Their homes are not only beautiful and bespoke. They are smart, strong, and ready for what’s next.

Evanston’s First Passive House is Turning Heads

Kat Barry of Compass Chicago is one of Chicago’s leading voices on real estate, known for her focus on sustainable design and wellness. In the latest episode of her “Modern Living TV” series, she takes us on a tour to highlight how sustainability and modern design come together through a HighDesign/Low Carbon™ design/build approach.

Designed by Kipnis Architecture + Planning and built by NextHaus Alliance, it’s a perfect example of how a home can be both high-performance and stylish.

Check out her tour and learn more about the vision behind this project by watching the video!

Project Partners:

Architect: Kipnis Architecture + Planning

Contractor: Berliant Builders Inc.

Interior Designer:  Lauren Coburn Interiors

Home Automation: Barrett’s Technology Solutions

Landscape: Hursthouse Landscape Architects

Smart Home System: Savant

High Performance Windows: Sierra Pacific Windows

Metal Roofing: PAC-CLAD  |  Peterson

Kitchen Cabinets: Mobili Möbel  |  Vacuccine

Sun Tunnel Skylight: Velux Skylights

Outdoor Lighting: Nightlight Inc.

Solar PV System: Earth Wind and Solar

CAD Design System: Vectorworks

Homeowners Insurance Policies Are Being Canceled. Resilient Design is the Answer.

The escalating impacts of climate change—wildfires, hurricanes, floods—are reshaping the housing and insurance industries, leaving homeowners vulnerable to skyrocketing premiums and policy cancellations. At NextHaus Alliance, we design with the mindset of mitigating these effects, providing innovative, resilient solutions to future-proof homes and safeguard communities.

Each disaster, from the destruction wrought by the LA wildfires to record-breaking hurricanes in Florida, underscores the growing risks communities face. Thousands of homes lie in ruins, air quality has deteriorated, and families are left to confront an uncertain future.

These tragedies are amplifying a homeowners insurance crisis, as highlighted in a series of New York Times articles. The coverage highlighted how homeowners in high-risk areas are increasingly facing skyrocketing premiums, reduced coverage or outright denial of policies. Data reveals sharp increases in non-renewed policies across climate-vulnerable regions such as California, Florida and Louisiana. This is no longer just an insurance problem—it’s a wake-up call for the housing industry to embrace sustainable and resilient design solutions.

Impact on Housing and the Market

The ripple effects of insurers pulling back from high-risk regions are profound. Property values in these areas may plummet, and prospective buyers are wary of homes burdened with soaring insurance premiums or no coverage at all. Mortgage lenders are growing cautious, as comprehensive insurance is often a prerequisite for issuing loans. As a result, climate resilience is becoming as crucial to a home’s value as location or square footage.

Even real estate platforms are adapting. Zillow’s recently introduced climate change tool allows buyers to evaluate properties for flooding, wildfire, and hurricane exposure. Builders and developers, too, face mounting pressure. Continuing to construct homes that are ill-equipped for climate extremes is not only unsustainable but also unethical. The industry must pivot toward innovation, resilience, and sustainability to meet the demands of this new landscape.

Sustainable Design: The Next Frontier

This is where the design/build sector can lead. At NextHaus Alliance, we recognize that the future of housing depends on proactive, sustainable solutions that mitigate risks and adapt to evolving climate realities.

Building with fire-resistant materials, incorporating elevated designs in flood zones and integrating renewable energy systems are just the beginning. Smart water management, robust insulation and advanced HVAC systems are critical for reducing a home’s environmental footprint while increasing its durability. These features make homes not only safer but also more appealing to the shrinking pool of insurers still willing to underwrite policies in high-risk regions.

The Role of Policy and Collaboration

The insurance crisis requires more than individual action—it demands systemic change. Policymakers must prioritize resilience by providing grants, tax breaks, and incentives for sustainable construction. Local governments should implement zoning reforms and infrastructure upgrades to address long-term environmental challenges.

Collaboration is key. Insurers, builders, policymakers, and community leaders must work together to create a framework for climate-adaptive housing. Homeowners, too, must be empowered to make informed decisions that align with these goals.

For example, partnerships between insurers and builders can promote homes designed to withstand natural disasters, while government programs could fund community-scale projects like firebreaks or flood defenses. By aligning efforts, we can ensure a more secure future for high-risk areas.

A Call to Action

The homeowners insurance crisis is a stark warning: the way we design, build, and maintain our homes must evolve. At NextHaus Alliance, we are at the forefront of this transformation, prioritizing sustainability and resilience in every project. From urban stormwater management to energy-efficient retrofits, we design solutions tailored to the unique needs of communities while addressing broader environmental challenges.

These principles—innovative materials, resilient design, and sustainability-focused construction—are scalable. They can serve as a model for tackling these challenges nationwide.

The time to act is now. By embracing bold, forward-thinking practices, we can safeguard not just homes but entire communities and ecosystems. The challenges may be immense, but the opportunity to build a better, more sustainable future is even greater.

Modern Design and Sustainability Meet in Historic Evanston

By NextHaus Alliance Partner, Lauren Coburn, Owner of Lauren Coburn Interiors

When our client approached Nexthaus Alliance, their vision was clear: create a modern, sustainable home that celebrates natural light and seamlessly connects indoor and outdoor spaces. This goal, along with the Evanston Preservation Commission’s requirement to harmonize with neighboring homes, set the stage for an ambitious project.

Our team met that ambition with a collaborative approach to create Evanston’s First Passive House.

Working closely together, we wove sustainability into every aspect of the design. Each finish and feature was carefully chosen to reduce the home’s carbon footprint. The kitchen cabinets by Valcucine, crafted from recycled materials, the vapor fireplace, coal fly-ash siding, sustainably harvested wood flooring, and a metal roof composed of recycled elements are just a few examples of how aesthetics and eco-consciousness coalesce in this home.

Architectural details like the family room’s light shelf serve as passive solutions, naturally illuminating and regulating the space to reduce energy demand.

In the interiors, we embraced natural materials, opting for locally sourced art and decor that tell a story. One standout is the vintage Asian screen, custom-cut to create a striking LED-lit alcove centerpiece. Steering clear of traditional wall coverings with toxic adhesives, we selected tiles made from recycled content, durable and beautiful, to add texture without compromise.

This project stands as Evanston’s first Passive House, built to PHIUS standards—a testament that sustainable, resilient architecture can respect historic settings while pushing modern design forward. The result is a home that not only meets the highest standards of energy efficiency and environmental responsibility but does so with elegance and a strong sense of identity, comfort, luxury and home.