The Dallas cohousing scene is being built and developed by nationally acclaimed green builders and developers AndersonSargent.

Jim Sargent started building houses in the 1970s when the nation was in its first energy crisis--a crisis that sparked his interest in creating energy-efficient homes. With study, innovation, and careful monitoring of his customers' energy bills, he honed his skills in this arena to become a pioneer of green building in Texas and beyond.

He is the first builder in the nation to receive the Master Builder designation for building energy-efficient homes from the Energy & Environmental Building Association (EEBA). The National Association of Home Builders has recognized him as a Graduate Master Builder, GMB; a Certified Graduate Builder, CGB; and a Certified Aging in Place Specialist, CAPS. The National Association of Homebuilders chose Sargent at the builder of the "Best Green Concept House in America."

Sargent's knowledge of what works and why in both energy-efficient construction and healthy buildings makes him a popular guest on Dallas-Fort Worth radio and television shows. He also speaks and teaches, both locally and nationally.

Vickie Anderson started building houses 20 years ago as an employee of Sargent. After five years, she started her own construction company, adding a finance company and a real estate firm to assist her customers in buying their new home or selling their previous one. Through her, the firm offers financial services to all clients.

Vickie Anderson is to home financing as Jim Sargent is to energy-efficient home construction.

In 2003 Sargent and Anderson came together again as business partners. They created the firm of AndersonSargent Custom Builder, L.P.   

AndersonSargent was chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy as the 2006 National Builder of the Year for the construction of energy-efficient homes.

As partners, they built the first true zero energy home (a home that produces as much energy as it uses) in North Texas. It is located at 5357 Beacon Hill Drive in Frisco. In the International Builders Show in Orlando, Florida, AndersonSargent won the Gold Award for Custom Home Builders in the Hot Climate category.  

The team of Sargent and Anderson has another first coming up. They are developing and building the first true ecovillages in north Texas in several areas of Dallas and Fort Worth as well as building ecovillages for others, such as cohousing communities or church groups.

In addition to custom building and ecovillages, AndersonSargent utilizes extensive knowledge of home energy and conservation to remodel existing homes for energy savings. Reducing energy consumption saves utility dollars, a smart move for existing homeowners. The financial arm of the firm offers refinancing to pay for remodeling and home additions.

From the first Zero-Energy Home in North Texas, to the first true ecovillages here, to energy savings for existing homes, AndersonSargent continues to lead the way in green building and energy innovations.