Building Affordable Houses (with Rob Howard)

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/MpJELehhLbc

In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, hosts Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry sit down with Rob Howard, founder of Howard Building Science, to explore how he’s tackling one of the biggest challenges in housing today: building affordable, high-performance homes. Rob shares his journey from Habitat for Humanity to creating Duke Street Cottages, a pocket neighborhood in North Carolina designed for community, energy efficiency, and resilience.

Here's the link to Inspector Empire Builder: https://www.iebcoaching.com/events
You can check Rob’s website here: https://howardbuildingscience.com/

Takeaways

Building code is the baseline, not the finish line.
Pocket neighborhoods foster community and affordability.
SIP panels and modular construction reduce waste and speed up builds.
Zero-energy-ready homes require airtight envelopes and efficient systems.
Maintenance plans in HOA dues simplify homeowner responsibilities.
Financing options like on-bill programs can make upgrades attainable.
Skilled labor shortages are driving innovation in factory-built housing.
Monitoring humidity and ventilation is key to healthy homes.
Modular homes can achieve near-SIPs performance with customization.
Affordability starts with design choices and community planning.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction and Sponsors
01:14 – Shoutout to IEB Coaching
02:07 – Meet Rob Howard: Builder & Innovator
04:43 – From Habitat for Humanity to Howard Building Science
07:34 – Why Energy Audits Are a Hard Sell
14:03 – Duke Street Cottages: Pocket Neighborhood Concept
18:35 – Affordability and Price Points
21:26 – Building Zero-Energy-Ready Homes
24:34 – SIP Panels vs. Modular Construction
31:00 – Ventilation, Humidity, and ERVs
36:56 – Tackling Skilled Labor Shortages
40:35 – Modular Factory Advantages
44:20 – Performance Trade-Offs in Modular Homes
47:22 – Lessons Learned and Developer Interest
49:14 – How to Connect with Rob Howard
50:38 – Wrap-Up and Listener Call-Out