Net-Zero homes and energy efficiency, everyone knows that language. But materials are something people are just learning about. They are really getting pushed to the front. I think everybody knows that USGBC, International Living Future Institute, and Healthy Product Declarations. There’s this push the materials, and in so doing the green homes forward.


Kate Bachner holds an MA in Contemporary Art from the Sotheby’s Institute and a B.A. in Art History from Emory University. She has studied the principles of sustainable building and healthy materials at NYU and the Parsons School of Design. She has earned her LEED GA, WELL AP, and LFA. Kate is also a licensed real estate agent in the state of California. Her new venture, Wise Matter, marries Kate’s deep knowledge of healthy building products with her refined eye for art and curation to create a home that is beautiful from the inside out.


Kate shares her journey of coming from the world of art to being in the world of green building and real estate, and why she chose this path. She reflects on her experience and knowledge from working with homeowners and developers as she offers some insight into what are the current challenges and prospects in creating more healthy homes.