Mission Statement: “The mission of Habitat X is to support the personal and professional development of individuals and organizations who work to develop sustainable housing.”
The Broad Vision: “We recognize that housing, culture, and environment will be increasingly linked in the future, as limited financial and natural resources constrain our ability to house ourselves. We envision a next generation of sustainable housing, the creation of which could free important human and material resources for future generations. To this end, we create collaborative and fast-moving conferences and industry summits, on both face-to-face and virtual platforms, where people can connect with allied professionals in meaningful ways, expand their knowledge and skills, and become substantially more effective in their work.”
Habitat X, Inc. is organized as a Public Benefit Corporation (also known as a B-Corp) under the Montana Benefit Corporation Act, Title 35, Chapter 1, Part 14. Habitat X was founded by Chris Dorsi in 2011. The offices are located in Helena, Montana.
Learn more about Public Benefit Corporations and their mission-driven goals.
Staff and Faculty
Chris Dorsi
Chris Dorsi is the founder of Habitat X. He’s spent the last 40 years developing best practices for the housing industry, writing and publishing respected books and technical curricula, running successful construction companies, and working as a real estate developer. He’s recently retired from a position as the Director of the Montana Weatheriztion Training Center, a wing of Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana.
Chris is the co-author of Residential Energy: Cost Savings and Comfort for Existing Buildings, the Homeowner’s Handbook to Energy Efficiency, and other respected titles on sustainable design and construction. Chris’ upcoming book, Human Habitat, reports from the intersection of housing, culture, and environment.
Griffin Hagle
Griffin Hagle is a long-standing supporter of Habitat X. He’s been involved in weatherization and home performance since 2006, currently as the executive director of the regional housing authority in Utqiaġvik, Alaska. He’s also worked as a utility program consultant for Richard Heath & Associates, conducted hundreds of energy audits for SolarCity, and trained auditors throughout Alaska, Oregon, and Southern California.
Griffin was the recipient of the 2015 Habitat X Fellowship and is the current editor of the Habitat X Journal.
James Childre
James Childre is a year-round staff member for Habitat X. He’s also the owner of the building diagnostics company RedPoint LLC in Bozeman, Montana. Their services include residential and commercial building inspections for real estate transactions, energy audits, thermal imaging, blower door testing, duct testing, HERS ratings, ENERGY STAR verification, and tax credit verification. James also has deep experience in international finance and analysis.
Amy Sheppard
Amy Sheppard is a Donor Relations Manager for The Nature Conservancy Montana. She’s worked with organizations as diverse as science centers, art museums, guest ranches, and eco-tourism companies, with work venues that include Denali National Park, Hudson Bay, Colombia Ice Fields, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon, Paris, Prague, Monte Carlo, and the Danube, Rhone, and Seine Rivers.
Amy lives in Bozeman, Montana with her husband Chris Dorsi. She’s the co-author of the acclaimed cookbooks New West Cuisine: Fresh Recipes from the Rocky Mountains, and Sweet Treats from the Wild West.
Rachel Hicks
Rachel Hicks is a year-round staff member for Habitat X, and manages many of the daily operations during the Summer National Conferences. She’s the proprietor the Rachel Hicks Design studio in Bozeman, Montana, and she comes to Habitat X with a long history of work in graphic arts, organizational development, and event planning. She’ll join us for the 2020 Summer National Conference.
