Our Approach - Build It Green

Our Approach

New Ways of Thinking to Achieve Transformational Results

At Build It Green, we are pragmatists and strive for real world results. We are also committed to the proposition that homes can be built, and neighborhoods shaped, in ways that nurture ecological well-being and social equity and neighborhood vitality. We fiercely challenge the notion that to meet potential in any one of these areas, tradeoffs must be made in the others.

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”, is a famous saying often attributed to Albert Einstein. Applied to California’s housing and neighborhood development field, this saying guides us to try different ideas, strategies, and practices to achieve tangible results that, at the same time, benefit and strengthen nature, neighborhoods, and social equity.

To achieve different results, Build It Green embeds what we call “thinking frameworks” into every element of our work – whether that is work with neighborhood leaders and city officials around the potential of a specific community or developers and builders to reshape their industry. Bringing these frameworks to programs and projects is part of what distinguishes BIG from other organizations working on housing and neighborhood development issues. Whatever the topic, by collaborating with BIG, our partners develop new ways of seeing issues, new understandings of the interconnectedness between challenges and opportunities, and new thoughts on how to forgo tradeoffs and achieve holistic impact.

The Regenerative Neighborhood Development Creed illustrates BIG’s unique approach and our commitment to thinking differently to achieve aspirational results. We invite you to check out the Creed and, if it calls to you, join us!