The Top 10 Sustainable Green Home Builders in Michigan

Michigan is the best place to raise a family, grow a business, and retire in peace thanks to its high-quality education and well-paying jobs.

Even Popular Science magazine has given this state its seal of approval, stating that Michigan will be the best place to live in the country by the year 2100.

Besides its natural charms, Michigan is among the few U.S. states with a focus on conservation. Most homebuilders in this state have extensive experience in eco-friendly construction and deploy sustainable building practices. These are the builders you should hire if you want to live sustainably.

To make your work easier, we discuss the top sustainable green home builders in Michigan based on our research. These builders are highly experienced and possess relevant green building certifications.

Keep reading! 

The Best Green Home Builders in Michigan

If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, lower your energy bills, and get a house that stands out, check out our list of the top eco-friendly home builders in Michigan.

These esteemed builders include:

• Adaptive Building Solutions LLC
• Bailey Construction 
• Socks Construction 
• Commercial Contracting Corporation 
• Walbridge
• Burkholder Construction 
• Meadowlark Builders
• Heartland Builders
• Oakwood Custom Builders
• Fireside Home Construction

So, without further ado, let’s break down what each of these acclaimed green builders has to offer.

Adaptive Building Solutions LLC

Founded by Mike Mahon in 2006, Adaptive Building Solutions LLC is an Ann Arbor-based sustainable green design and construction company.

It is a custom home builder specializing in eco-friendly and sustainable practices, both design and construction.

The company’s corporate philosophy is profoundly embedded in the fundamental principles of ecological preservation and environmental awareness.

According to Mike Mahon, sustainability is a necessity now; thus, we need to think about recycling, reducing, re-using, especially in the construction industry.

Adaptive Building Solutions is well-known for building green, high-performing, custom homes. In addition to this, it is also famous for transforming historic structures and revamping them to meet contemporary green building standards.

Today, countless Americans are re-thinking how they wish their houses to be built and lived in. And this particular green home company was started to be part of the “solution” instead of the “problem.”

Sustainable home building practices are transforming the direction of the entire construction industry, and Adaptive Building Solutions very well knows what it all means to find balance. 

Why Choose Adaptive Building Solution LLC?

• Proficient in integrating old materials as re-purposed design elements.
• Builds high-quality, high-performance, and custom homes while integrating durability, energy efficiency, and sustainability into all of their projects. 
• Constructs well-designed, beautiful homes that are considered to be in the top 1 percent of energy-efficient structures in the country.
• Transform old, historical structures and homes according to contemporary green building standards.

Bailey Construction

Founded by Tom Bailey roughly 30+ years ago, Bailey Construction is a proud member of Green Built Michigan and is a family-owned and operated business.

This construction company designs and builds structures for custom residential homes and light commercial projects, such as medical, dental, general business, local eateries, and more.

Situated in Saginaw, Bailey Construction has twice been selected for the ‘Builder of the Year’ award and has been an honored member of the Home Builders Association of Saginaw for several years.

Why Choose Bailey Construction?

• It offers customization and designing options of your choice.
• It uses sustainable materials and state-of-the-art technology for home construction.
• The company has over 30+ years of experience and is affiliated with renowned third parties like Green Built Michigan and the Home Builders Association of Saginaw.
• Bailey Construction’s team of experienced suppliers, craftsmen, and trade partners work closely with clients to build an ideal space from start to finish.

Socks Construction

Building homes, apartments, commercial buildings, and condos for over 35+ years in Traverse City and other southeast Michigan surroundings, Socks Construction utilizes cutting-edge green and sustainable construction practices in each one of its building projects.

The company is well-known for paying meticulous attention to Energy Star ratings, fulfilling or exceeding standards for insulation, glazing, and Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) mechanical systems, which ensures that your home is eco-friendly, safe, healthy, and cost-effective.

Why Choose Socks Construction?

• Promises an innovative component building process from foundation to occupancy in only six months
• It has developed more than 2 million square feet since its inception
• Over $300 million placed as capital
• It has proudly delivered 100% on all its projects

Commercial Contracting Corporation

Located in Auburn Hills, Commercial Contracting Corporation (CCC) is an all-in-one, full-service contractor company that provides an extensive array of services—from structure designing and building to managing facilities.

The Consumers Energy Service Center situated in Bad Axe is one of CCC’s most recent award-winning projects, on which it served as both designer and builder.

The entire 7,076-square-foot (657.38-square-meter) structure is LEED-certified by the United States Green Building Council, from the eco-friendly materials to its brilliant operating systems and architectural design.

The range of services offered by CCC includes general contracting, construction management, rigging and plant services, facilities management, equipment installation, and more. 

Why Choose Commercial Contracting Corporation?

• The company has a long history and reputation for getting the job done right, irrespective of the market segment or the project size.
• 75+ years of service. 
• CCC is one of the most respected and biggest privately-owned construction firms in Michigan.
• Thanks to its exceptional commitment to safety, quality, and strong customer relationships, the company still maintains numerous early clients.

Walbridge

Headquartered in Detroit, this hundred-year-old construction firm has fifteen offices throughout the United States and a global presence in South America, Mexico, and the Middle East.

As a result, this established green home builder company undeniably serves many markets.

In addition, Walbridge is a full-service company offering everything from general contracting, data, and modeling to design-build, including virtual construction and design.

Up until now, Walbridge has successfully undertaken more than 70 LEED-certified or registered construction projects and has also come up with its own unique sustainability practices, known as the GreenWISE (Walbridge Intelligent Sustainability and Environmental) program.

Under this program, every project site is graded based on eighteen onsite green practices that reduce its impact on the environment, including spill and safety control and the utilization of biodiesel fuels wherever and whenever possible.

Why Choose Walbridge?

• The company has its own unique sustainability practices, known as the GreenWISE, to reduce adverse environmental impacts. 
• Walbridge has built both large and small projects in diverse geographic locations ranging from Michigan to India.
• It uses a sustainable timber-hybrid system in its builds. 
• In 2021, Walbridge was chosen as a US Best Managed Company. 

Burkholder Construction

For over 55 years, this green construction company has been northern Michigan’s most preferred commercial (and light commercial) builder.

Situated in Traverse City, Burkholder Construction’s building projects entail office build-outs, grocery and retail outlets, and healthcare projects.

Moreover, in the mid-1990s, the company built the city’s foremost American Lung Association, popularly known as the “Health House.”

Since then, Burkholder has been committed to designing solutions that provide energy, shelter, affordability, resource savings, indoor air quality, natural daylight, aesthetics, and a positive impact on the overall environment.

Why Choose Burkholder Construction?

• Burkholder is among the most established green home builders in northern Michigan, with almost 60 years of experience.  
• It is committed to constructing low-maintenance, energy-efficient, and high-quality homes that last. 
• Each of its constructed homes is certified with an Energy Star rating.

Meadowlark Builders

Located in Ann Arbor, Meadowlark Builders is a home remodeling and building contractor recognized nationally. It specializes in green building, custom homes, architecture, and design.

The fact that this company provides a three-year warranty on its projects should motivate you to work with it if you’re after peace of mind.

It uses a proven, holistic design-build process to guide the construction for the best results. 

Its team of experienced architects and homebuilders will guide you through everything to ensure you know what you’re getting.

Since its inception, the company has remained steadfast in designing and building green homes with the planet in mind.

Meadowlark Builders combines its knowledge and experience in green building with specialized building materials to ensure that every project is completed sustainably.

The company’s experienced and skilled team is ready to handle any green project you want to undertake. From passive and net-zero homes to sustainable home additions, Meadowlark Builders is at your disposal.

Why Choose Meadowlark Builders?

• A nationally-recognized company with experienced green home builders
• Building to meet green building certifications like LEED, Passive House, and Net-Zero Homes
• Excellent working relationship with some of the best sustainable architects
• Incorporates the latest and greatest green building technologies

Heartland Builders

Heartland Builders is a custom green home builder located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It focuses on designing and building unique homes based on clients’ needs.

The company has a wide range of customizable floor plans that will make your design process easier. They can also create your unique floor plan from scratch.

For many years, Heartland Builders has been using Energy Wise Building techniques in its designs to build energy-efficient homes.

It employs the following 6-step green process in all its homes:

1. Design: Solar orientation is considered to help conserve energy. Value engineering is also incorporated to minimize material wastage.
2. Thermal envelope: Creating highly insulated foundations for warm basements. The home is also air-sealed to prevent cold drafts.
3. Mechanical systems: Finding and installing efficient furnaces based on your budget. All homes are also built tight and ventilated right.
4. Resource efficiency: Installing water-efficient faucets to conserve water and LED bulbs to conserve electricity.
5. Energy analysis: Heartland Homes are tested by a third party to ensure energy efficiency.
6. Homeowner education: The company will orient you to understand how the home works and how to use it effectively to conserve natural resources.

Why Choose Heartland Builders?

• An easy and fun company to work with
• A knowledgeable company with over 25 years of experience 
• It employs a 3-D design approach to help you visualize your green home before its completion
• Free land evaluation to help you envision how the home will sit on the site
• The company provides a Construction Agreement to help you get financing

Oakwood Custom Builders

Located in Plymouth, Oakwood Custom Builders is a full-service design builder. It specializes in quality construction and excellent aesthetic appeal.

We featured this company on our list of the top sustainable green home builders in Michigan for a good reason.

It’s committed to the following:

• Character: It possesses a high level of integrity and always does the right thing for its clients.
• Quality: It’s highly committed to innovation in the construction industry. It’s through innovation that it aims to improve its one-of-a-kind homes.
• Detail: Delivering the best possible value to all customers. It employs green building techniques to conserve the environment.

Having been at the forefront of sustainable construction in Southern Michigan for over 10 years, this builder has gained the relevant experience to deliver the best.

We also love Oakwood Custom Builders because it only takes a handful of projects to guarantee 100% customer satisfaction.

Why Choose Oakwood Custom Builders?

• It installs geothermal heat pumps that are up to 400% more energy-efficient than traditional heating and cooling techniques
• It guarantees 100% customer satisfaction
• It uses energy-efficient tankless and solar hot water heaters
• Foam insulation to enhance energy efficiency
• Energy Star appliances, windows, and doors

Fireside Home Construction

Finally, Fireside Home Construction is another of the top sustainable green home builders in Michigan.    

Since its establishment in 1996, the company has remained steadfast in providing its clients with innovative and high-quality homes. It prides itself on its over 23 years of custom green building and renovation.

Fireside Home Construction designs and builds sustainable green homes that:

• Conserve water
• Are energy-efficient
• Conserve natural resources like trees, water, natural gas, and oil
• Guarantee comfortable indoors
• Reduce pollution and landfill
• Are highly durable

The company has partnered with many green building organizations to ensure it delivers code-compliant green homes.

Some of these organizations include:

• The U.S. Green Building Council for LEED certification
• Green Building Alliance
• Energy & Environmental Builders Association
• Energy Star Program
• Builders Challenge by the U.S. Department of Energy
• National Association of Home Builders

Why Choose Fireside Home Construction?

• Partnership with green building organizations guarantees quality and code-compliant sustainable homes
• A highly experienced green home builder
• An innovative and tech-savvy company

Bottom Line

Choosing to build an eco-friendly and sustainable home is paramount to creating a safe and comfortable space for yourself and your family.

Therefore, if you are in the market for a new home or intend to invest in an eco-friendly construction project to promote overall environmental well-being, don’t think twice about picking any of the companies mentioned in this list.

These sustainable builders will construct a safe and unique space that offers you joy and respite.

Plus, by promoting green practices, you can do your part to lower the use of pollutant fossil fuels such as coal.

Each new eco-friendly structure can bring us one step closer to a greener and healthier planet that future generations will thank us for.

We hope this list of the best green home builders in Michigan makes it easier for you to choose a company to build your dream house.

Also, be sure to check out our lists of green home builders in neighboring states like Illinois, as several of the companies featured may deliver to your area of Michigan.

Best of luck!