Who’s Who in Green: Preston Koerner

Where do the savvy go when looking for the latest news about green architecture? Jetson Green, naturally, where you can find everything from the latest eco-friendly condo project in Chicago to inspirational green home remodels. Jetson Green is a veritable treasure trove of green architecture eye candy, featuring drool-worthy photos of sustainable homes, green roofs, solar powered communities, modern earth-friendly home furnishings and much more.

Meet Preston Koerner, the man behind Jetson Green (and one of our Hot Guys in Green). He first became enamored with green building when living in Japan in the ‘90s, where the culture was really focused on environmentalism. Years later, Preston was still inspired by their conservationist attitude. In 2005, he was seeking an MBA and wrote a plan for a mid-scale, modern, trendy, green hotel for young professionals as part of a business plan class. To him, the green elements infused within the design and plans were what really made it a winning plan – and it spurred his continuing fascination with the cross-section of sustainability and real estate.

Preston has since earned a B.A. in history with a minor in Japanese, as well as JD and MBA degrees. He founded Jetson Green in 2006 and is still the sole owner and chief editor, with a staff of three contributors. Preston lives in Salt Lake City, Utah and is currently a transactional attorney at Corbridge Baird & Christensen. He’s preparing for the LEED AP exam, and hopes to find the time soon to write a book.

Two of the energy-efficient homes recently featured on Jetson Green, from left: The Alley House in Madison Valley, Washington + the Green on 19 condos in Santa Monica, California.

One of the things that make Jetson Green so beloved by the online green community is the fact that the site focuses so much on realistic, affordable options for everyday people. Preston’s writing is infused with excitement about topics like flat-pack prefab energy-efficient homes, and nothing makes a blog more interesting to read than real enthusiasm.

Of his biggest green inspiration, Preston told Re-Nest,

My biggest green inspiration is probably not any one product or company in particular, it’s the momentum for good green products in general. Whether CFLs and LEDs, recycled content countertops and furniture, or Energy Star and WaterSense appliances and fixtures, all sorts of green products are widely available and they look good, too. Due to the increasing popularity of green certification systems, the need to put less garbage in land fills, and the favorable political and social climate for environmentalism, green materials have come out as big winners in design and construction. And this is good for everyone because good green materials won’t just be available to the rich or elite, they’ll be available to all of us. I like that and continue to monitor the future of materials going forward.

Preston, who is often asked to contribute comments on green building-related news stories and other blogs, is confident that the future of eco-friendly architecture is incredibly bright, writing on Jetson Green, “…the topic of green building has entered mainstream discourse as a major component of environmentalism — and it’s going to continue to dominate the discussion going forward.” We’re sure that Preston’s future is equally as promising.

Preston Koerner’s Green Score: 8,876

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