Build Faster, Waste Less: The Model/Z Approach to Transforming Housing and the Environment
Last week, Model/Z received the 2025 Disruptors Award for Sustainability from the Los Angeles Business Journal. This recognition highlights both the urgency of the problem we face and the incredible potential of the solution we are building.
The problem: Construction is one of the planet’s biggest polluters.
Most people don’t realize that the construction industry is responsible for:
Nearly 40% of global GHG emissions
An estimated 30–40% of landfill waste
At the same time, cities like Los Angeles face a dual crisis: a severe housing shortage AND the intensifying impacts of climate change.
The devastating LA wildfires, which displaced families and destroyed neighborhoods within hours, are a stark reminder that our cities must now grapple with both housing scarcity and climate resilience. Without new ways of building, efforts to expand housing will only accelerate environmental harm.
The solution: Housing that can be built sustainably and faster.
Model/Z was founded on the belief that solving the housing crisis cannot come at the cost of our planet. We set out to design a system where sustainability, speed, and affordability are not competing priorities, but outcomes that reinforce each other.
Compared to traditional construction, every Model/Z module is manufactured with:
81% less material waste
47% lower embodied carbon
100% U.S. steel frames designed to last 100 years
Highly standardized components that eliminate rework and waste
In just 18 months of operations, Model/Z has delivered over 500 units and installed 70 finished apartment units in 10 days for a five-story development.
Speed + sustainability = a powerful combination
At scale, Model/Z’s system can eliminate 6,395 metric tons of materials waste and prevent 16,800 metric tons of GHG emissions annually. That’s the equivalent of taking thousands of cars off the road. It’s a simple concept. Here’s how it works:
Faster construction = lower emissions.
Long-lasting materials = fewer rebuilds.
Standardization = dramatically reduced waste.
Software as a sustainability tool
Model/Z’s proprietary Z/Suite platform reduces waste before construction even begins. By eliminating months of back-and-forth in site selection, design coordination, and change orders, Z/Suite reduces emissions tied to delays from repeated site visits to duplicated design work and carbon-heavy revisions. Faster timelines mean cleaner projects.
The work ahead
The LABJ Sustainability Award is an important milestone, but it represents only the beginning of what we’re working towards. An independent sustainability study with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), releasing in early 2026, will offer even deeper insight into our environmental impact as we continue to scale our business.
With environmental challenges intensifying and housing needs rising, the choices we make today will define the cities we live in tomorrow. Join us in making better decisions for people and the planet.
If you’re interested in collaborating with Model/Z on your next development, please reach out to info@model-z.com.
