Victoria home first to be qualified under the new CHBA Net Zero Home Labelling Program
June 8, 2017. Nanaimo, British Columbia – Falcon Heights Contracting in Victoria has built the first net-zero energy home in Canada to be qualified under the new Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) Net Zero Home Labelling Program.
Falcon Heights Contracting owner Dave Mackenzie, a member of CHBA Vancouver Island, pitched the net-zero idea to his clients who were already looking to build an energy-efficient home equipped with a photo-voltaic solar system to generate electricity. With the help of an energy advisor, the company was able to modify the existing plans to meet the Net Zero Home technical requirements and retain the design on the narrow ocean-front lot.
“Energy conservation was really important to the homeowners. We were able to introduce cutting-edge technology, such as an air-to-water heat pump system, to provide radiant heat and mild cooling while still exceeding Net Zero Home requirements,” said Mackenzie. “The finished product is a comfortable and contemporary home, with unobstructed ocean views and an expansive interior.”
As a net-zero energy home, its EnerGuide rating – a measure of energy consumption in gigajoules per year – is 0, since the home is designed to produce as much energy as it uses.
CHBA British Columbia is qualified to deliver the CHBA Net Zero Home Labelling Program in the province. “This achievement demonstrates how industry is leading the way in energy efficiency, through voluntary programs like the CHBA Net Zero Home Labelling Program. We congratulate Falcon Heights Contracting on this achievement, and look forward to sending out more labels to our members across B.C. in the future,” says Neil Moody, CEO of CHBA British Columbia (CHBA BC).
“Energy efficiency is important to many residents on Vancouver Island,” says Kelsey Botting, Executive Officer of CHBA Vancouver Island. “It’s great to see Falcon Heights Contracting take this project to the next level with a Net Zero rating, without compromising function or design.”
“The CHBA congratulates the team at Falcon Heights Contracting, a member of CHBA Vancouver Island, for being the first in Canada to achieve this prestigious recognition under our new program,” says Sonja Winkelmann, Director, Net Zero Energy Housing. “We would also like to thank CHBA BC and Energy Advisor Niels Anthonsen, for the third-party testing and inspections that supported Falcon Heights. Together, the builder and their team of professionals have achieved an impressive milestone in Canadian housing.”
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This is the first home qualified under version 1 of the CHBA Net Zero Home Labelling Program, which was launched on May 2, 2017. A pilot version of the Net Zero Home Labelling Program ran from September 2015 to December 2016 to validate technical and administrative details.
- Builders and Renovators can learn more about the Program at www.chba.ca/nze
- Consumer information on the Program can be found at www.NetZeroHome.com
- Information on the Net Zero Council can be found at www.chba.ca/nzc
- View the CHBA National Media Release here
Media Contacts:
Kelsey Botting
Executive Officer, CHBA Vancouver Island
(250) 755-1366
Alycia Coulter
Coordinator, Government Relations and Communications
(604) 432-7112 ext. 302
About the Canadian Home Builders’ Association Vancouver Island:
The Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Vancouver Island, www.chbavi.com, is the voice of the residential construction industry on Vancouver Island representing members in communities across the island. The industry contributes over $3.4 billion to British Columbia’s economy, and provides more than 17,000 jobs on the island, making our industry one of the largest employers in the province.
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