I’m not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.

Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.

When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.

Join the SuperCrowd!

Sustainability and energy efficiency are at the forefront of Jim Kumon’s latest project in Minneapolis. This innovative development combines passive house Technology with thoughtful design to reduce energy consumption dramatically while maintaining comfort and functionality. With two duplex units meeting passive house standards and a third unit adhering to Zero Energy Ready Home guidelines, Jim’s approach represents a significant step forward in environmentally conscious housing.

“Passive house is about thermal control, air control, and radiation control,” Jim explained. These principles translate into features like triple-pane windows, superior insulation, and advanced air circulation systems, ensuring both comfort and energy savings. The results are impressive: a 73% improvement in energy efficiency over current building codes, with even greater advantages compared to older homes.

Jim emphasized the broader impact of these improvements. “Reducing operational energy is a big thing,” he said, highlighting the project’s potential to lower carbon emissions and enhance residents’ health through cleaner building materials. This focus on sustainability extends to the choice of non-toxic materials, aiming to create a healthier indoor environment.

Beyond its technical merits, the project offers practical benefits for future residents. Lower utility costs and modern amenities make the property attractive to renters and potential owner-occupants. Its family-friendly design and desirable location further enhance its appeal.

The project also provides an opportunity for community members to participate directly through regulated investment Crowdfunding. “We’re raising capital on Small Change,” Jim shared, inviting impact-driven investors to join the effort. Interested individuals can learn more at s4g.biz/air.

This initiative exemplifies how thoughtful design and community-driven funding can address environmental challenges while delivering tangible benefits to people and neighborhoods.

tl;dr:

1. Today’s episode highlights a passive house project that reduces energy use by over 70%.

2. Jim Kumon discusses designing family-friendly, sustainable housing in Minneapolis.

3. The project integrates advanced technology and health-conscious materials for a better living environment.

4. Jim shares how collaboration is key to addressing complex development challenges.

5. Investors can support this initiative via regulated crowdfunding on Small Change.

How to Develop Integrative Problem Solving As a Superpower

Jim describes his superpower as “taking a lot of information from technical, complex areas and figuring out how to merge it together.” His background in architecture, construction, housing policy, and economic development enables him to address challenges holistically. “The question really is, how do we get to yes?” he noted, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and creative problem-solving to achieve shared goals.

Jim recounted an instance where technical and financial hurdles threatened a project. By focusing on collaboration, he brought stakeholders together to leverage their strengths and address weaknesses. “At the end of the day, it was about people thinking collaboratively,” he shared, demonstrating how collective efforts can overcome obstacles and create impactful solutions.

Tips for developing this superpower:

1. Build Multidisciplinary Knowledge: Learn about diverse fields to see connections others might miss.

2. Foster Collaboration: Engage with stakeholders to combine strengths and address challenges holistically.

3. Focus on Common Goals: Identify shared values to build consensus and drive collective action.

4. Stay Resilient and Adaptive: Persist through bureaucratic or systemic hurdles by creatively addressing barriers.

Conclusion: By following Jim’s example and advice, you can make integrative problem-solving a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

Guest Profile

Jim Kumon (he/him):

Principal at Electric Housing and Heirloom Properties, Heirloom Properties, LLC

About Heirloom Properties, LLC: Heirloom Properties, LLC is a Real Estate development and property management company founded by Faith and Jim Kumon. The company is centered on enthusiasm for creating more middle-scale housing, using straightforward design with dignified materials, and building with long-term operating costs in mind. Through these strategies, high-performance units can be provided at a reasonable cost compared to other new projects.

Heirloom is unique due to its willingness to pursue projects with a different financial lens, as it is shaped through the eyes of two development professionals who spend their day job time working to create housing for our most vulnerable populations or create wealth through small-scale, often owner-occupied, multi-family buildings.

Website: heirloomproperties.net

Instagram Handle: @heirloomrealestate

Company Facebook Page: fb.com/heirloomrealestate

Other URL: smallchange.co/projects/passive-house-duplex

Biographical Information:

Jim Kumon is a leader in sustainable design and small-scale development, overseeing design coordination, construction management, and business operations at Heirloom. With over 15 years of experience in design and construction, he focuses on achieving energy-efficient, sustainable solutions. As Principal of Electric Housing, he mentors professionals through the Developer in Residence program, supporting urban infill housing projects. Jim is also a Partner at Neighborhood Evolution, offering real Estate advisory services nationwide. A University of Michigan Architecture graduate, he serves as Treasurer for the Minnesota Passive House Alliance and Neighborhood Roots, driving innovative practices in the built environment.

Support Our Sponsors

Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include FundingHope, Abby, How to Make Money with Impact Crowdfunding and Impact Membership in the SuperCrowd. Learn more about advertising with us here.

Max-Impact Members

The following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:

Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Add Your Name Here

Upcoming SuperCrowd Event Calendar

If a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.

• SuperCrowdHour, January 15, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe will be doing investor-focused training on building an investment strategy focused on Investing in debt instruments to match or even exceed stock market returns. This is great for people serious about investing, whether you are starting with $100 or $100,000. Don’t miss it!

• Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on January 21, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.

• SuperCrowdLA: we’re going to be live in Santa Monica, California, May 1-3. Plan to join us for a major, in-person event focused on scaling impact. More details to come soon!

Community Event Calendar

• Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET – Click on Events

• Community Capital Live, Havell Rodrigues, New Majority Capital, January 15, 2:00 PM Eastern.

• Motivated Money Method for Raising Funding Workshop, January 16, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM Eastern.

• Community Capital Live, Bernel Hall, New Jersey Community Capital, January 29, 2:00 PM Eastern.

• Igniting Community Capital to Build Outdoor Recreation Communities, Crowdfund Better, Thursdays, March 20 & 27, April 3 & 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET.

• NC3 Changing the Paradigm: Mobilizing Community Investment Funds, March 7, 2025

• Asheville Neighborhood Economics, April 1-2, 2-25.

If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 8,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here.

We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode.

Subscribe now

Originally Published on https://www.superpowers4good.com/

Devin Thorpe Champion of Social Good

Devin is the CEO of The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation helping diverse founders and social entrepreneurs raise capital via impact crowdfunding. He is also a bestselling author who calls himself a champion of social good. His most recent book, How to Make Money with Impact Crowdfunding, is an investment guide for everyone. He has produced about 1,500 episodes of his show featuring luminary change agents, including Bill Gates. His books—read over 1 million times—help people do more good. He has helped nonprofits raise millions of dollars via crowdfunding. He draws on his experience as an investment banker, CFO, treasurer and U.S. Senate staffer. He earned an MBA at Cornell. Frequently finding himself on airplanes, Devin is grateful to be middle-seat-sized.