A net zero home is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes, and in an era where sustainability and environmental consciousness have become paramount, the concept of net zero living has not only become popular, it’s becoming part
Environmentally conscious families, planning to build a custom home today, are concerned about their carbon footprint and sustainability. As they plan their new home, British Columbia residents soon come across the BC Energy Step Code website and the high-performance staircase.
According to Statistics Canada and CTV News, multi-generational homes are rising amid increasing costs and are the fastest-growing household type in Canada. Immigration is fuelling some of this trend, with first-generation Canadians of foreign heritage living with parents, an accepted
If you’re building a new custom home, or remodelling your existing one, you may be considering a home theatre. Since the Spring of 2020, families have been spending a lot more time in their homes, and an immersive cinematic environment
With increasing environmental concerns, and a growing understanding of the need to adopt eco-friendly practices, sustainable landscaping has emerged as a vital consideration when designing and building a high-performance, environmentally conscious and eco-friendly home. Sustainable landscaping is often referred to
Designing and building your custom dream home should be a very rewarding journey, as you create a living space that’s tailored to your unique tastes, preferences and needs. The process will involve defining what your dream home looks like, hours
Designing the perfect backyard retreat can be a very rewarding experience that allows you to envision, build and landscape a private oasis of tranquility and beauty, only steps from your back door. A well-planned backyard will not only enhance the
If you’ve wondered about the cost of building a home in Squamish, you’re not alone; particularly with the housing inventory shortage across Canada. It may have already occurred to you that it might be easier to purchase an empty lot
Energy-efficient windows and doors can boost your home’s comfort, reduce your energy bills and increase its property value while reducing your carbon footprint. Your home’s windows and doors can account for up to 25 percent of your home’s heating loss.
Are you wanting to craft a home lighting plan that not only helps with energy savings and is cost-effective, but also adds charm and functionality to your living area? Whether you’re building a custom home or embarking on a remodel,
Energy-efficient home initiatives have been building momentum in Canada, and most Canadians have heard of high-performance building standards like BuiltGreen Canada, Net Zero and Passive House. Canada’s commitment to the Paris Climate Accord is to be carbon neutral by 2050,
The health and wellness home design trend has transformed the way we approach the design of custom homes and remodelling projects.
The rise of remote work Working from home has become the new normal for many of us. Over the past two years, working from home has evolved from a short-term response to the global pandemic to permanent remote work. Based
As the global population ages, the concept of “aging in place” has gained prominence as a viable and preferred living option for many seniors.
12 top home design trends and must-have features that are shaping the way we inhabit and interact with our living spaces.
By creating an easy flow between your indoor/outdoor living spaces you can effectively expand your floor space while embracing nature.
In this article we explore the pros and cons of both building a new custom home and undertaking a part or full remodel project.
Solar panel installation and integration with your high-performance home is an essential step towards sustainable living.
A guide to sustainable and eco-friendly building materials and practices to help Canadian families reduce their impact on the environment.
Smart technology offers many benefits, including enhanced security, comfort and convenience, improved health and wellness, and cost savings.
A bathroom remodel is a major undertaking and these bathroom remodel FAQs answer most of your questions before they arise.
A full kitchen remodel is a major project and these kitchen remodel FAQs should answer most of your questions.
In a living room remodel, it is important to create a space that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and comfortable.
A comparison between the Built Green and Net Zero eco-friendly building standards, and introduction of the Net Zero Energy+ program.
Building an affordable net zero home can be a bit more challenging than a traditional home. Here are some tips to get you started.
The decision to finish your attic involves transforming that dusty, unused space between the roof and the ceiling of the floor below into usable living space.
A bedroom/ensuite remodel can create your perfect sleep environment, so you enjoy your 7 – 9 hours of rejuvenating sleep each night.
A finished basement is a valuable addition to your property. Finish your basement; don’t let this perfectly good square footage go unused.
What makes a great bathroom? The perfect bathroom remodel depends on meeting the needs of the individuals in your household.
Eating, making meals or entertaining; thoughtful design and kitchen remodelling can give you a kitchen a room your love being in.
Considering renovating before selling? The buyers’ discovery that components of the house need replacement, or there are structural problems, can be a deal breaker.
Designing meaningful living spaces that are elegant, comfortable, calming and help bring us joy is challenging and rewarding work.
We’ve compiled a list of remodelling FAQs for you, responding to the most commonly asked remodelling questions.
Whether you buy a new net zero ready home before 2032 or retrofit the one you have, the upgrade future-proofs your investment.
High-performance homes are simply a better home – better for the environment, more comfortable to live in, healthier, quieter, more durable, and more valuable when it comes time to sell.
Net zero is the first milestone in each household’s net zero journey towards net zero sustainable living in the twenty-first century.
The Passive House high-performance building standard is recognized by the United Nations as the optimal way to build healthy, climate-resilient, affordable, and energy-efficient buildings.
Architect, design-build contractor, interior designer and interior decorator?… it can be confusing, and there’s some overlap between roles.
Building a custom home can be a daunting task, and many home buyers will end up buying a spec home or working with the custom home builder to alter a home currently under construction. A spec home is one built
Whether you decide on renovations that enhance the curb appeal and visual enjoyment of your home, or you’re reworking the floor plan and adding more space, you will typically increase the value of your home more than the cost of the improvements.
Yes, British Columbia homeowners have quite a few incentive programs available to them, in the form of rebates and grants. The most popular are the Home Renovation Rebate Program by BC Hydro, CleanBC and FortisBC; the FortisBC Home renovation bonus
Monthly energy savings with a net zero home aren’t the only return on investment. CleanBC offers a range of clean energy incentive programs.
A Deep Energy Retrofit (DER) is an energy conservation upgrade involving an analysis and construction process targeting a reduction of on-site energy use by 50%+.
As you work at creating a great home design, remember that the floor plan that is ideal for your lifestyle may not be suitable for another family. A perfect design and floor plan must not only meet your current needs but support your family’s lifestyle in ways you may not yet have considered.
With a solid whole home remodelling plan, and great execution, your remodel can be an exhilarating, deeply gratifying and life-changing experience.
Roof Systems: pitch, shape and aesthetics of the roof; we cover the top roofing materials used in high-performance homes on Canada’s West Coast.
Net zero homes generate as much energy as they use, so the net amount of energy purchased from the hydro company over the year is zero. Net zero homes are designed to be up to 80 percent more efficient than
High-performance home insulation, windows and doors: sub-slab insulation, super insulation and ENERGY STAR® certified doors, windows and skylights.
In this article our goal is to provide you with a basic understanding of popular heating/cooling/ventilation solutions for high-performance homes, so you can engage in informed discussions with the consultant or designer/builder you’re considering for your custom home or remodel.
What is it like, living in a passive house in the Sea to Sky Corridor? Squamish and Whistler both offer residents a warm small-town vibe, but with big-city amenities and outdoor recreational activities right at your doorstep. The Sea to
Remodel or tear down? In mature neighbourhoods in developed cities and towns, vacant land can be hard to find, and the perfect lot for your dream home is probably already occupied. It may be possible to remodel the existing house to fit your vision, but tearing down the old house to build fresh has become a very popular strategy.
We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of net zero FAQs, and included a few questions that are more difficult to find answers to. The questions and answers are loosely grouped by topic. If you have a net zero question not listed
Renovating your property can be a rewarding and cost-effective way of improving your home. Home maintenance and the necessary upgrades tend to get away from most of us; and soon there’s a list of noises to track down, cracks to
We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of passive house FAQs for you, with the most commonly asked passive house questions and also some of the other questions that are more difficult to find answers to. The questions and answers are loosely
Most homeowners who’ve built their custom dream home will reflect fondly on the day they decided to take their dream book of ideas and upgrade them to goals. The path ahead may seem like a mountain to scale today, but
Whether it’s time to build that recreational room you’ve always imagined, or your family simply needs more space, a home addition can add more living area, enjoyment and value to your property. Building an addition to your home is often
Canada’s commitment to tackle climate change is evident in its programs to decrease overall dependence on fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions. The housing and construction industry has been particularly identified as one area that can have an immediate impact.
The BC Energy Step Code encourages homeowners to invest in more efficient home upgrades and products that can save money by reducing long term operating costs.
