Celebrated around the globe, this year’s Earth Day marks 55 years of raising awareness about the environmental issues impacting our planet. At DC Structures, we feel especially connected to this mission. Considering the buildings and construction sector accounts for 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it’s more important than ever for companies like ours to reduce their environmental impact—across every stage, from material sourcing to manufacturing, transportation, and construction.

As we continue refining our processes for the benefit of people and the planet, we also want to highlight the power of individual action in combating climate change. This year’s theme—Our Power, Our Planet—puts a spotlight on renewable energy and serves as a powerful reminder that the changes we hope to see often start at home. Whether you’re designing a new residence or working to reduce your current energy use, here are seven practical solutions for embracing clean electricity and moving toward a more sustainable future.

Solar Energy Systems

Installing rooftop solar panels is one of the most accessible and effective ways to power your home with clean electricity. These systems convert sunlight into usable energy, helping you cut down on utility bills and reduce your carbon footprint. Many states also offer tax incentives or net metering programs to make solar more affordable for homeowners.

Wind Turbines

For properties in open or rural areas, small-scale wind turbines can be a powerful supplement or alternative to solar energy. These systems harness wind to generate electricity and are especially effective in areas with consistent breezes. While upfront costs can be significant, long-term energy savings and sustainability benefits are substantial.

Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal heat pumps use the earth’s stable underground temperatures to efficiently heat and cool your home. Unlike traditional HVAC systems, they require much less energy to operate and can significantly reduce emissions associated with home heating. Though installation involves some upfront planning and excavation, the energy savings over time are considerable.

Electric Vehicle Chargers

Installing an EV charger at home is a smart way to prepare for a cleaner transportation future—especially if you’re also generating renewable power onsite. Charging your electric vehicle using solar, wind, or geothermal-backed electricity dramatically reduces emissions compared to gas-powered vehicles. Plus, many modern chargers come with smart features that help manage usage and efficiency.

Battery Storage Systems

Pairing your renewable energy setup with a battery storage system allows you to store excess electricity generated during the day for use at night or during outages. This adds a layer of energy independence and resilience to your home, especially in areas with inconsistent grid reliability. With the right system, you can drastically reduce—or even eliminate—your reliance on fossil-fueled power sources.

Smart Energy Management

Smart home technology makes it easier than ever to manage your energy consumption. Tools like programmable thermostats, energy monitoring apps, and demand response systems can help you optimize how and when your home uses electricity. These small adjustments can lead to big savings while maximizing the effectiveness of your renewable systems.

Passive Design Strategies

Thoughtful design is a powerful sustainability tool. Passive design strategies—like proper window placement, high-performance insulation, and building orientation—can reduce your home’s heating and cooling needs from day one. If you’re planning a new build, incorporating these elements early on can boost comfort and efficiency without adding major cost.

At DC Structures, we believe every step toward sustainability—big or small—matters. By investing in renewable solutions at home, you can join us in working toward a greener future.

Learn more about our Commitment to Sustainability or request a quote if you’re ready to begin designing a more energy-efficient home for you and your family.

Looking for a new place to call home? You might be surprised to learn that dozens of programs across the U.S. make property ownership more affordable—sometimes even free! A few years ago, we highlighted communities offering land for next to nothing. This year, we’re bringing you the latest updates on these programs, along with new opportunities to help you build your dream home. If you love small-town living, DIY renovations, and budget-friendly mortgages, keep reading to discover where you can secure real estate that practically pays for itself.

Curtis, Nebraska

Despite its rural setting, Curtis, Nebraska, is drawing interest with generous relocation incentives. Those willing to trade city life for country living can receive free residential lots by building a single-family home within a designated timeframe. The city also offers cash incentives and even pays families to enroll their children in the Medicine Valley School District. Additionally, free commercial and industrial lots are available to encourage local economic growth, making Curtis an attractive option for both homeowners and business owners.

Lincoln, Kansas [NO LONGER ACTIVE]

Lincoln, Kansas, known as the “Post Rock Capital of Kansas,” previously offered free residential lots to encourage community growth. These fully developed home sites, located near a local baseball field, city park, and junior-senior high school, ranged from 14,000 to 35,000 sq. ft. and included utility hookups. While this program has ended, Lincoln County still offers several housing opportunities, including a Single-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program designed to make homeownership more affordable for low- to moderate-income families. For more details on homeownership programs in Lincoln County, visit their Housing Opportunities page.

Elwood, Nebraska

Located two and a half hours west of Lincoln, Elwood is a charming small town offering free residential lots to both in-state and out-of-state newcomers. To qualify, buyers must begin construction within one year and occupy the home within two years of purchase. What sets Elwood apart is its down payment assistance program, where the village covers up to 10% of construction costs for homes valued at $25,000 or more. This makes Elwood an appealing option for those looking to build affordably in a welcoming rural community.

Mankato, Kansas

Mankato, a small town of about 900 people in Jewell County, offers free residential lots in its Johnson Addition neighborhood, a peaceful cul-de-sac development. To ensure community growth, buyers must begin construction within six months of acquiring the property. This program presents an incredible opportunity for those looking to invest in a close-knit rural town with long-term potential.

Buffalo, New York

Located in Western New York, Buffalo is a vibrant city on the eastern shore of Lake Erie. While it doesn’t offer free land, the city’s Urban Homestead Program allows buyers to purchase vacant or abandoned homes for below market value—sometimes as low as $1. Though current pricing varies, this program remains an excellent opportunity for those looking to take on a DIY renovation project in a city with strong growth potential.

Claremont, Minnesota

South of Minneapolis, Claremont is a small rural town offering free lots to nine working families through its workforce housing program. However, it’s important to note that recipients must meet income limits and be willing to build modular homes by Arden Home Services, featuring two-bedroom, one-bathroom layouts. Approved applicants must also complete eight hours of homeowner education and apply for a USDA mortgage with assistance from a city-appointed counselor. While construction costs still apply, this program provides a rare opportunity for hardworking families to establish a stable and affordable home in Minnesota.

Grafton, Illinois

Situated at the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, Grafton, Illinois, is offering one-third acre lots in its Grafton Hills neighborhood to qualified applicants. To participate, buyers must put down $5,000 upfront and build a new single-family home within three years to receive a full reimbursement. This program provides an affordable path to homeownership in a scenic Midwestern community, making it an attractive option for those looking to settle in a charming riverfront town.

Finding Your Next Hometown: Opportunities That Pay Off

Relocating—whether to a rural, suburban, or urban area—offers an exciting chance to embrace a new community and lifestyle. If you’re seeking a fresh start with affordable or even free land, these cities might be the perfect place to put down roots. And they’re not alone—across the U.S., from Alaska to Maine, many communities offer incentives to spur economic growth and attract new residents.

While some of these offers may seem too good to be true, remember that these cities genuinely want to grow and are willing to invest in new homeowners to make that happen. Of course, building a home involves more than just securing land, but with free lots or discounted properties, you’ll have extra resources to create your dream home—while helping shape the future of your new town.

2024 brought its fair share of surprises—one being the top-selling kits of the last year! While a few were predictably popular, some shocked us in the best way possible. Here’s a look back at our best-selling kits of 2024 and a few reasons we think these building models made a lasting impression on our clients.

#1: The Oakridge Apartment Barn Kit

It should come as no surprise that the Oakridge kit is our best-selling kit of the year. This two-story, multi-use structure offers a flexible floor plan and design, making it instantly attractive to RV owners, hobbyists, and families. Designed with Nantucket dormers, a covered shed roof, and cedar siding, this pre-engineered model features a simple yet sophisticated exterior ready for personalization. Nothing beats the allure of an Oakridge, and we have to hand it to our designers: we completely understand why this model wins over clients year after year.

#2: The Sellwood Garage Kit

Unlike our Oakridge, we couldn’t have predicted that our Sellwood would come in second place here. Simple, practical, and efficient, our Sellwood Garage Kit makes an excellent investment for clients seeking a sizable garage, workshop, or storage solution for their properties. Somewhat of an underdog in our collection, we think a big reason why the Sellwood made waves this year is because of its cost-effective and versatile nature. From ATV barns to attached garages to ADUs, our Sellwood has become the perfect starting point for many of our clients’ accessory structures.

#3: The Meridian Barndominium Kit

Launched in late 2023, the Meridian is one of the newest additions to our building kit line-up and a breakout star at that! Created in response to a growing desire for DC barndominium plans, the Meridian is our first foray into the world of wood-framed barndominiums. Available in six standard sizes, our Meridian offers a cost-effective yet durable alternative to our heavy timber barn kits, allowing clients to build their dream barndominium on a budget. With the Meridian, our clients can turn their vision of an affordable, barn-style living space into a reality.

#4: The Columbia Gable Barn Kit

Endlessly versatile, durable, and timeless, our Columbia Gable Barn Kit is the Swiss army knife of our kit collection. Named after the iconic Columbia River Gorge, this gable barn kit boasts an adaptable design that our clients have turned into horse barns, homes, venues—you name it. Considering all the ways you can design this kit to fit your vision, it’s no wonder why so many clients chose our Columbia as their preferred kit in 2024. Plus, did we mention it makes the perfect party barn? As our fourth best-selling kit, we can’t imagine a better representation of our flexible design capabilities than the Columbia Gable Barn Kit.

#5: The Legacy Event Barn Kit

This stunning event barn design may not fit everyone’s vision for a new barn building, but it’s certainly one that all our clients can appreciate and admire. With its stately exterior and expansive main hall, our Legacy Event Barn Kit makes an exceptional building solution for event business owners seeking a unique yet classic venue design. As barn weddings grow in popularity, our Legacy provides the ideal setting for newlyweds and a lucrative venture for venue owners.

Which Kit Will You Choose in 2025?

We can’t wait to find out! If you’re ready to begin designing the structure of your dreams, call us today at (888) 975-2057 or request a digital catalog here.

As 2024 winds down, we can’t help but reflect on what an unforgettable year it’s been for us. This year brought thrilling challenges, memorable moments, and, most importantly, incredible collaborations with our amazing clients. From multi-structure ranches to modern event venues and one-of-a-kind towers, we’re excited to share a countdown of the projects that left the biggest impression on our team this year.

Whether you’re seeking inspiration for your next project or simply curious about what we’ve been up to, here’s a look at our top 5 favorite projects of 2024 and a few of the stories behind them.

#5: Carbondale Horse Barn & Loft

Nestled in the serene beauty of western Colorado, the Carbondale Horse Barn & Loft captivated us for so many reasons. From its postcard-worthy setting to its rustic yet timeless design, this project is everything we love about barn-style living—and then some!

What makes this barn even more special is its dual purpose as a home for our client’s donkeys and other animals—a detail that melted our hearts. As Paulo Coelho once said, “It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary,” and this barn is a perfect testament to that philosophy.

#4: Mississippi Horse Barn & Home

This equestrian estate in Flora, Mississippi, is the kind of dream home we love to bring to life. Starting with our Oakridge Apartment Barn Kit as the foundation, these clients turned a stunning design into a full-fledged masterpiece.

One of the standout features is the custom 2,205 sq. ft. pavilion connecting the main house to a covered riding arena. This one-of-a-kind addition, complete with matching heavy timber roofing, showcases how a vision can come to life with creativity and a willingness to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

#3: Corvallis Event Venue

While many clients have started with an event barn kit for their venue projects, some have decided to branch out and transform another kit from our collection into their dream venue. In the case of this stunning commercial project in Corvallis, Oregon, our clients began with a Pineridge Apartment Barn Kit, and the results are nothing short of spectacular.

Understated elegance on the outside, paired with an awe-inspiring interior, makes this venue truly one of a kind. With its tall, heavy timber ceilings, gorgeous glass-enclosed office, and incredible warmth and openness, this post and beam building features a breathtaking design that surely will inspire you and your upcoming project.

#2: Copperhead Creek Ranch Bar & Guesthouse

Coming in at #2 is one of the largest and most ambitious projects we’ve tackled this year: the Copperhead Creek Ranch. With seven separate structures designed and built in partnership with our parent company, DC Builders, this ranch truly raised the bar.

Among this ranch’s many highlights, the Copperhead Creek Ranch Bar & Guesthouse stands out as one of our favorites. This modern rustic marvel is as functional as it is beautiful, thanks to the creativity of our clients and the expertise of our interior design team, who worked closely with the client’s designer to fine-tune the technical details.

“This was my first project after joining DC, and it really showcased the value of 3D modeling in achieving precision and bringing client visions to life,” says Rochelle Talwar, Lead Interior Designer. “From cabinet layouts to tile installation guides, this project demonstrated how important the details are—and how rewarding they can be when done right.”

#1: Oregon Lookout Tower & Treehouse

And finally, the project that stole the show: the Oregon Lookout Tower & Treehouse in Sandy, Oregon. This three-story, 56-foot-high structure is a true feat of design and engineering.

The fourth project we’ve built for these incredible clients, this tower masterfully combines heavy timber construction with steel reinforcements to create a structure as stunning as it is sturdy. The crown jewel? A 577 sq. ft. living space perched at the top, offering sweeping views of the lush forests surrounding Mt. Hood.

“This project pushed us to think creatively and bring our best to the table,” says Cole Hansen, Vice President of Sales. “It’s a reminder of why we do what we do: creating spaces that inspire and stand the test of time.”

What Will You Build in 2025?

As we look back on these amazing projects, we’re reminded that each one started with a simple idea—and a team ready to bring it to life. If you’re ready to start your journey, let’s work together to make 2025 your year for unforgettable builds.

Explore our building kits or contact our team today to start planning your dream project!

The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, particularly in towns like Asheville, North Carolina, has been incredibly shocking and heartbreaking to see. As a nationwide team with employees, clients, and loved ones in the affected inland and coastal areas, we are truly devastated for those who have lost family members, friends, homes, and entire communities in the hurricane’s wake.

While we’re all aware of the destructive potential of climate disasters, the increasing severity of these events in recent years is a stark and unsettling reality many of us are still grappling with. After the catastrophic damage caused by Helene, and with Hurricane Milton looming, many people are left asking: How can we better prepare our homes for these extreme weather events? And how can we design future homes and communities to protect people and infrastructure during a hurricane, wildfire, tornado, or other climate disaster?

With climate change increasing the frequency and intensity of natural disasters worldwide, our team is more committed than ever to ensuring that your home provides as much impact resistance and safety as possible in any weather or geological event. Even if evacuation is necessary, we want to help you create a hurricane-resistant house you can return to and thrive in again and again—and here are some of the ways we help achieve that:

Heavy-Duty Framing Components

One of the main advantages of choosing a building kit from DC Structures is our dedication to providing high-quality, durable materials. For example, our team sources select structural grade Douglas fir timbers for all our post and beam and timber frame buildings, ensuring maximum strength, energy efficiency, and beauty for your heavy timber structure.

In places like Florida, Texas, and California, we can’t stress enough the importance of building with robust materials like these, considering heavy timber structures are proven to be naturally resilient and perform exceptionally well under extreme conditions like earthquakes, high winds, fires, and other severe climate events. The strength and density of our timbers, along with their naturally energy efficient properties, make them an ideal framing material in disaster-prone areas. This core layer of protection significantly enhances a building’s performance and longevity.

Impact-Resistant Windows & Doors

Nothing is more terrifying than having the safety of your home compromised by shattered windows or a broken door during a hurricane. While fully hurricane-proof building materials don’t exist, we can equip your home with impact-resistant windows and doors that provide added security and peace of mind. To improve the performance and reliability of your building, we source our windows and doors from trusted suppliers like Andersen, Pella, and Marvin. While options like impact-resistant glass may come with a higher upfront cost, these material options are well worth the investment, particularly if you plan to remain in your home during a storm.

Precise 3D Design & Engineering

Something else that sets us apart here at DC is our ability to digitally construct your model ahead of the building process, giving you total freedom to do as you wish with your home or structure. During the design phase, our in-house designers will work closely with you to explore, modify, and perfect your design, with our team either starting with your preferred building kit or an idea for a custom building.

One of the main benefits of planning your structure this way is that every aspect of your building—from the foundation type to the framing and hardware—is carefully planned and thoroughly reviewed before fabrication starts at our manufacturing facility. That means your structure goes through multiple rounds of design reviews, edits, and approvals to ensure total precision for framing, resulting in a building kit that aligns perfectly with your location, site characteristics, and needs.

Furthermore, our engineering partner—licensed in all 50 states—is accustomed to working with clients in hurricane-prone areas and will guarantee, through thorough inspection and research, that all components of your design meet or exceed your state’s building codes. With your building modeled in our 3D design software and reviewed by our engineering partner, our process couldn’t be more effective in delivering superiorly built structures that stand up to climate disasters.

Steel & Concrete Reinforcements

For an added layer of strength, we can design your home with steel or concrete reinforcements to bolster its structural integrity. In hurricane-prone areas, an elevated foundation is crucial to protect against flooding, and incorporating steel or concrete elements can provide essential support and durability. For example, in the Hunter’s Point neighborhood on the Florida coast, homes were built with a solid concrete first floor, upper levels connected by steel straps, and a steel roof. As a result, these homes stayed dry and intact through Hurricane Helene, illustrating how strategic building methods can protect against severe weather.

Of course, we offer several other ways to enhance the safety, comfort, and protection of your home, no matter the climate challenges of your location. From California to Maine, we’ve worked with clients in all climates and can help you create a beautiful, resilient wood structure built to last for generations.

To learn more about how we design for climate disasters, call us at (888) 975-2057 to speak to a representative today! With our help, your dream of owning a safe, sustainable, and hurricane-resistant building is entirely within reach.