GHB Interview: Allan Merrill, President and CEO of Beazer Homes

In the February GHB Interview, Allan P. Merrill describes Beazer’s goal to make high-performance features accessible in mainstream communities

Green Home Builder: How does Beazer Homes distinguish itself from other homebuilders in terms of sustainability practices and energy-efficient construction methods?

Allan P. Merrill: At Beazer, sustainability is not a marketing label. It’s the center of how we build, and it’s directly tied to affordability. We focus on the total cost of ownership, not just the purchase price. When a home is built to be more efficient, the homeowner benefits through permanently lower monthly bills. 

We differentiate ourselves by building every home as a system, not a collection of disconnected upgrades. The envelope, insulation, HVAC, ventilation, filtration, and sealing all work together. That systems approach is how you get consistent performance at scale, and it’s how you help families manage the monthly cost of living in the home. And we certify each home to ensure that each home performs as designed.

High performance homes should not be reserved for a small subset of buyers. Our goal is to make high-performance features accessible in mainstream communities, because energy efficiency is one of the most practical affordability levers available.

GHB: As a builder who supports sustainability with third-party certifications, why do these certifications matter in green construction? 

AM: Third-party certifications matter because they create accountability and consistency in the industry, and they protect the homeowner. Anyone can claim a home is ‘efficient,’ but certifications verify performance against a consistent standard. That’s important for trust, and it’s important for value for our homeowners. 

These certifications also support affordability in a very tangible way. They validate that the home will use less energy to operate, which helps reduce a recurring monthly expense. When affordability is a national challenge, lowering utility costs is one of the clearest ways to improve a buyer’s financial resilience over time.

The certification itself is not the end goal. The goal is the result: a home that costs less to operate, is more comfortable to live in, and supports a healthier indoor environment. The certification is the proof point that we’re delivering those outcomes.

GHB: In 2020, Beazer Homes was the first builder to publicly commit to building 100% DOE Efficient New Homes, can you tell us about the impact of successfully achieving this promise in 2025?

AM:We made the commitment in 2020 because we believed energy efficiency should be a baseline, and because it is an affordability lever that lasts. Achieving 100% DOE Efficient New Homes in 2025 proved that high-performance homebuilding is scalable, and that you can deliver it consistently across a national footprint.

The impact is real for homeowners. It means every Beazer home is designed to reduce energy use, which helps reduce monthly bills and supports a reduced total cost of ownership. In today’s environment, a lower utility bill can be the difference between feeling stretched and feeling stable.

It also reinforced a business truth for us: building better is a competitive advantage. A more efficient home is often a more durable home, and when you build as a system with verification through certification, you tend to see benefits in long-term performance and the homeowner experience.

GHB:  Can you speak to the state of green homebuilding going into 2026? 

AM:Green homebuilding is at an inflection point going into 2026, and affordability is pushing it there. Homebuyers are looking at monthly payments and recurring costs more closely than ever. That’s shifting the conversation away from abstract sustainability, and toward practical performance: homes that are less expensive to operate, healthier to live in, and more resilient.

The industry has real constraints to navigate, including affordability pressure, insurance and resiliency realities, and regional differences in codes and incentives. But the direction is clear. The builders who lead will be the ones who can deliver measurable performance and communicate it in a way that connects to the buyer’s real life.

At Beazer, we view sustainability as a homeowner value proposition. When a family can live more comfortably and predictably from a cost standpoint, that is not just ‘green.’ That is responsible homebuilding.

GHB: What new projects, innovations, initiatives or communities is Beazer optimistic about? 

AM:I’m optimistic about the momentum around high-performance homes becoming more mainstream, because it aligns with what buyers need most right now: affordability and confidence in the monthly cost of homeownership.

At Beazer, we’re continuing to push our systems-based approach to building. The more we improve the envelope, air quality, and overall performance of the home, the more we help homeowners control energy use and improve comfort. Those benefits show up every month, not just on day one.

I’m also excited about growing the number of communities where we include solar. It is a real eye-opener for buyers when their utility bills are consistently under $75 per month.

 

GHB: In an interview with John Burns Research and Consulting you described Beazer Homes as the “Trader Joe’s” of homebuilding, can you elaborate on this? 

AM:When I describe Beazer as the “Trader Joe’s” of homebuilding, what I mean is that we’re a scaled company, but we’re not trying to win by being the biggest builder or offering the lowest price. We compete through differentiation, experience, and curated choices.

I think Trader Joe’s is successful because it offers a highly intentional, curated experience, thoughtful choices, strong quality, and a brand people trust. That’s exactly how we think about homebuilding. We design homes with purpose, we build differently, and we deliver an unparalleled homeowner experience.

That comparison also reflects how we approach buyer choice, not just in the home itself, but throughout the full experience. We don’t believe in overwhelming customers with endless options, and we also don’t believe in steering them into a single path. The choices we provide are curated and intentional, whether it is in the design of the home or in the way we help buyers navigate financing. For example, with our Mortgage Choice® program, we bring multiple scaled lenders to compete for each buyer’s business. This let’s customers can compare loan estimates and select the option that best fits their needs. It is more transparent, it is more customer-friendly, and it ensures our buyers get both a great home and a great mortgage. 

GHB: Anything else you would like to add? 

AM:If there’s one message I’d want readers to take away, it’s that energy efficiency and sustainability are not future concepts. They are present-day tools for affordability, comfort, and resilience.

At Beazer, we believe energy efficiency should not be positioned as a trade-off or a sacrifice. When a home performs better, it can reduce ongoing monthly expenses, improve comfort, and support healthier living, all at the same time. That is what makes homeownership feel more achievable and sustainable, without asking families to compromise. 

We remain optimistic because housing can be part of the solution. Builders have an opportunity to advance affordability and sustainability together, and we believe performance should be a standard, not a premium feature.

Photos courtesy of Beazer Homes. 

This is the full interview, read the print version in GHB February.