Discover How Cedarglen Homes is Building for a Greener Future
Over the years there has been plenty of buzz around developing sustainable building practices in the new home construction industry. Not only is this a great goal to strive toward, but in the next decade this likely will become mandatory. In 2016, the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change committed to a net-zero ready building code by 2030.
Cedarglen Homes is pleased to announce that in anticipation of this upcoming building code change, we have recently been recognized by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) as a Qualified Net Zero Builder. After successfully building our first Net Zero Home in Livingston in northeast Calgary, we are excited to continue this journey and refine our building practices to continue to provide quality, high performance homes. There are many definitions for a high performance home, however the most important features would be a home that is built air tight, insulated well, and uses minimal amounts of energy while keeping homeowners healthy and comfortable. Click the video below for a tour of our first Net Zero Home in Livingston, by our President Howard Tse and our Purchasing and Estimating Manager Pretum Narang.
Net Zero Home vs. Net Zero Ready Home
To put it simply, a Net Zero Home produces as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year. These homes are the gold-standard for energy efficiency as they utilize enhanced building envelopes, enhanced insulation, and high efficiency equipment. In addition to these green building practices, a certified Net Zero Home uses renewable energy sources such as solar panels to account for whatever energy it may use.
In comparison, a Net Zero Ready Home is essentially a Net Zero Home without the renewable energy sources installed. Therefore, it has still been modelled and built to consume as little energy as possible. When the homeowner is ready, they can easily use on-site or community renewables or energy from a clean grid to complete their transition to a Net Zero home.
Benefits of a Net Zero Home
There are countless benefits to building a Net Zero Home that make it well worth the initial investment. On average, these homes are up to 80% more energy efficient than ones built to conventional standards. In addition, the improvements that are made ultimately lead to lower energy bills and protect homeowners against future increases in energy prices. Superior heating, cooling and ventilation equipment lead to more consistent temperatures throughout the house and built-in filtered fresh air systems help reduce allergens and asthma triggers, therefore promoting healthy and comfortable living. Ultimately, by choosing to build a Net Zero Home you are doing your part to reduce your environmental footprint and work towards building a greener future.
Becoming a Qualified Net Zero Builder
The CHBA’s Net Zero Home Labelling Program recognizes builders who have successfully designed and built a Net Zero (or Net Zero Ready) home. In order to become a Qualified Net Zero Builder, Cedarglen Homes met all of the below conditions:
- Be a CHBA member in good standing.
- Complete CHBA Net Zero Builder Training with a minimum exam score of 75%.
- Be an EnerGuide (ERS) registered builder with NRCan prior to starting the home.
- Work with a CHBA Qualified Net Zero Energy Advisor (EA) and Service Organization (SO) to obtain ERS and Net Zero/Ready labels for the home(s).
- Complete registration.
Stay tuned for more information as we continue along this journey towards building Net Zero Homes in Calgary, Alberta.
