Join Carbonless
Affordable Housing matters. Affordable Living matters more.
The Carbonless Roundtable
26 gatherings a year. One community learning together.
Carbonless Membership is a seat at the Carbonless Roundtable. Every two weeks, members from across the construction industry sit down together to talk through real projects, ask questions and share what they've learned. New members are welcomed at the table from their very first meeting.
Our members already bring more than 1,000 hours of collective educational knowledge and experience. Carbonless is about that whole community, not only my 50-plus years.
$12,000 is the value Carbonless states for the complete educational membership package. It is not an independent appraisal or a past selling price. Additional membership service fees may apply depending on the membership agreement.
How the Roundtable works
26 gatherings a year
One hour, every two weeks. Every gathering is recorded and saved in a private library for members, so nothing is lost.
New members welcome
When you join, you're introduced at the table. You don't have to know everything. Bring your questions and take part.
Stay in touch
Members can exchange contact information with each other, so the conversation keeps going between meetings. The people you meet here are people you can call when you're stuck on a job.
Member-led discussions
Leadership rotates. Members lead discussions and present their own projects. Carbonless organizes and coordinates the schedule.
The whole industry at one table
Builders, remodelers, designers, inspectors, tradespeople and owners. Each one brings lessons you don't have to learn the hard way.
Real projects
Real building and remodeling jobs. What worked, what failed and why.
Brian takes part when he is available, but he doesn't lead every meeting. Not every member leads a discussion every year, but every member can take part. The Roundtable is a community of members learning together. It is not unlimited one-on-one consulting.
Passing it on: succession planning
Knowledge that lives in one person's head is lost when that person is gone. I've spent more than 50 years learning how buildings work, and I won't be here forever. Carbonless is built so that what we learn doesn't leave with any one of us.
- Members lead the Roundtable, so it never depends on one person.
- Every gathering is recorded and kept in the member library for the people who come after us.
- Carbonless 2126 puts the lessons in writing. It is made of 40 Sticks, and a Stick is one lesson in the program.
- Experienced members teach newer members, and newer members become the next leaders.
Carbonless is a nonprofit. Our mission is to preserve what we know about building better and pass it on to the next generation of builders, owners and teachers. Somebody is going to live in what you build. They will live inside every decision you made.
Why I started Carbonless
I started working in construction when I was 14. In my first two weeks, two of my classmates died on construction jobs. I have never forgotten them. That is when I learned that how we build is a responsibility, not a detail.
Since then I've walked about 25,000 buildings. I've seen expensive mistakes firsthand, and I've made some of my own. A single construction mistake can cost $50,000 or more to tear out and fix. That's an example, not a promise. But you can learn what to look for before the walls are closed and the money is spent.
One lesson learned before you build can be worth more than the cost of your education.
— Brian Iverson, founder of Carbonless
What the membership includes
- The Carbonless Roundtable. 26 one-hour gatherings a year, every two weeks.
- The private Roundtable library. Every discussion is recorded and saved for members.
- Carbonless 2126, the entire educational program. All 40 Sticks. Each Stick ends with a test and a record of completion you may be able to self-report for continuing education where your board allows it.
- Every field guide, digital edition. The Super Energy-Efficient & Healthy Home Field Guide and The Retrofit & Remodel Field Guide — The NightMare.
- The Super Energy Efficient Building Audio Course.
- The Wall & Roof Assemblies Library. Verified whole-wall R and U values for walls, roofs and rim joists.
- THE BOX and the retrofit guides.
- Your listing in the Carbonless Directory, under the membership terms. A listing does not guarantee inquiries, referrals, sales or a set number of views.
- Everything new Carbonless publishes, for as long as your membership stays active.
How membership works
- $6,000 one-time enrollment. It is paid once, not every year.
- Additional membership service fees may apply depending on the membership agreement. Your Membership & Participation Agreement sets out what applies to you.
- Access to the private membership materials continues while your membership is active.
- Membership dues are non-refundable and are not a tax-deductible charitable contribution.
- Membership is not ownership, equity, a franchise or shares in the organization.
Join Carbonless at today's $6,000 enrollment price. Membership pricing may increase as the educational program and the community grow.
Want the course on its own?
Carbonless 2126 — Complete Educational Program. All 40 Sticks for $3,900. A Stick is one lesson in the program. It does not include the Roundtable, the recordings or the other membership benefits. Stick 0 is free.
Questions? Write to hello@carbonless.org. Not sure where to start? Build a New Home / Building · Fix or Remodel a Home / Building · Learn & Teach