The different Green building standards and certifications

Passive House in Quebec
Passive House

The passive-aggressive house - our history of a Passivhaus build

Recounting the trials — and joys — of building a Canadian home to meets the "Passivhaus" standard. First, the background to this Passivhaus My partner and I are geeks. Our idea of a romantic dream was to build a house so well insulated you could heat it with a hairdryer. For added fun, we wanted to do this on a…

Net Zero Homes - Canada's first certified Net Zero House in BC
Green building certifications

The first Net Zero-labelled homes in Canada

A Saanich, BC. home is the first certified with the CHBA's Net Zero Label providing homeowners with an affordable option to invest in energy conservation measures that go beyond those mandated by regular building codes. Net Zero homes in Canada: The CHBA certification process & a landmark case study In May of 2017…

LEED Platinum prefabricated home Kit
LEED Homes

LEED Platinum prefab kit home has superior air quality and performance

The owner of this beautiful prefab eco home, Roman Szumski, is a physician and pathologist & was deeply involved in the process of designing & constructing a healthy home for his family. Prefab LEED Platinum kit house in Montreal Ellen and Roman Szumski earned LEED® Platinum certification for their home in Labelle…

Building a Passive House that's LEED Certified too - an Owner's Tale
Passive House

An owner/builder's account of building a Passive House

Follow owner/builders Sarah Cobb and William Murray as they build a home targeting both Passive House and LEED Certification. Building a Passive House that's also LEED certified This is an owner blog Ecohome posted following the personal experience of Sarah Cobb and William Murray of Rocket Construction Inc. as they…

Passive House design Vancouver
Passive House

The city of Vancouver is actively promoting Passive House construction

As a part of their Greenest City Action Plan, Vancouver is helping builders get homes certified under the Passive House Standard. Vancouver has set a goal of being the greenest city in the world by the year 2020 . Some of the policies included in that plan are expanded public transportation, bike lanes, encouraging…

Passive House

The North Park Passive House on Vancouver Island, BC

The North Park Passive House is a six-unit urban-infill condominium on Vancouver Island, BC. Passive House construction on Vancouver Island Building the first certified Passive House on Vancouver Island, a duplex shared with our son Mark’s family, convinced us that the market in Victoria was ready for Passive House…

Multi-unit Passive House for Heiltsuk First Nation on Campbell Island,
Passive House

Multi-unit Passive House for Heiltsuk First Nation in British Columbia

Modular Passive House construction replaces hospital staff housing that burned down in 2004. Bella Bella is a small community located on Campbell Island between the northern tip of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii. Approximately 90% of its 1,500 residents belong to the Heiltsuk First Nation. In 2004, a fire…

LEED Canada on the rise
LEED Homes

LEED Canada shows strong growth during summer of 2015 including first LEED v4 certified project

Canada continues to demonstrate its progress in fighting climate change with 204 registered and 211 certified LEED projects in Canada between May and September 2015. This brings the current total number of LEED certified projects in Canada to 2,466. Canada continues to demonstrate its progress in fighting climate…

Off-grid LEED Gold house in Low, Quebec
LEED Homes

Canada Ranks as the top country for LEED green building for second year in a row

Canada cements its status as a world leader in the international green building and environmental sustainability movement. Washington, D.C. and Ottawa, ON — (July 22, 2015) — Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that Canada ranks first on USGBC's second annual ranking of the Top 10 Countries for…

CaGBC, LEED green building trends
LEED Homes

New report shows Canadian green building market growing steadily with owners seeing strong benefits from building green.

The report, titled Canada Green Building Trends: benefits driving the new and retrofit market, is the first of its kind in Canada. OTTAWA, June 18, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian green building market is poised to see strong growth over the next three years, with surveyed Canadian firms expecting to grow their green…

Canada one of the top 10 countries building LEED homes
LEED Homes

The top 10 countries outside the U.S. certifying buildings with the LEED rating system

The U.S. Green Building Council releases list of the top 10 countries building LEED outside of the United States, and Canada is # 1. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its list of the top 10 countries for LEED® outside of the United States, on which Canada ranked No. 1. The list demonstrates the…