Watch the highlights of the Net Zero Energy Homes story
By Lucas on Jul 19, 2016
Owens Corning Canada in collaboration with NRCan just released a new video highlighting the Net Zero Energy Homes story from start to finish. If you haven’t been following all the Net Zero news, then this video is a must see, especially if you believe that sustainability is the way of the future.
Basically, a Net Zero Energy home is a home that produces just as much as energy as it consumes annually. The Net Zero concept isn’t exactly new, but the idea of building these types of homes affordably and on a community scale is, and that was the point of the project.
Five builders from Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Alberta participated in the Net Zero initiative.
The opening celebration of the first Net Zero home by Reid's Heritage Homes
Participating Net Zero builders:
- Reid’s Heritage Homes
- Construction Voyer
- Mattamy Homes
- Minto Group
- Provident Developments
Net Zero home by Reid's Heritage HomesWhy is this all necessary? According to Natural Resources Canada, housing is responsible for 17% of Canada’s secondary energy use and 15% of its greenhouse gas emissions. “I have a three year old daughter and I want the world to be a better place for her when she grows up,” says Jennifer Weatherston, Director of Innovation, Reid’s Heritage Homes. “I want to know that she is not paying ridiculous amounts of electricity bills, I want to know that she is breathing clean, fresh air and living a great life.” “We don’t just build to code, we like to push the envelope, so when Net Zero came up, when you look at the dynamics of what’s happening in the building industry today, this was a natural transition to take the opportunity to learn and look at building Net Zero for the future,” adds Weatherston. Ideally, every new home in Canada would be a Net Zero home. If the industry pays attention to this project and other builders and developers as well as homebuyers begin to see value in ultra energy efficient homes, then every new home built could be Net Zero in approximately 15 to 20 years.
