Canadian Net-Zero Energy Home Builders Recognized for Contribution to Industry-Changing Demonstration Project

OTTAWA — Canada's elite net-zero energy (NZE) home builders gathered in Ottawa to celebrate and accept awards for their contribution to the largest Canadian net-zero energy (NZE) housing demonstration project by advancing building science and responding to the global climate change challenge.
A total of 26 homes were built in four provinces as part of the Net-Zero Energy Housing demonstration project with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Owens Corning Canada.
The five project home builders (and community locations) are: Construction Voyer (Laval, Quebec); Mattamy Homes (Calgary, Alberta), Minto Communities (Ottawa, Ontario); Provident Developments (Halifax, Nova Scotia); and Reid's Heritage Homes (Guelph, Ontario).

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, Kim Rudd was on hand to congratulate the five builders and all those involved in the project
"With support from Natural Resources Canada's ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative (ecoEII), five home builders and leading industry suppliers, we have proven that net-zero energy housing can be built using existing technology, at prices that are accessible to the average homebuyer," stated Salvatore Ciarlo, Technical Services Manager, Owens Corning Canada. "Building entire net-zero communities is a viable, short-term goal—one that we are much closer to as a result of this project's success."
Mr. Ciarlo was joined by Kim Rudd, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources Canada to present the awards.
"Congratulations to Owens Corning Canada, the five participating home builders and the many important players involved in this impressive project," said Parliamentary Secretary Rudd. "Our government proudly shares your vision of energy-efficient home construction. These net-zero energy homes will reduce our environmental footprint, create clean jobs of the future and help Canada become a global leader in low-carbon energy."
Measured over a year, a NZE home can potentially produce as much energy as the home consumes. This could mean an average annual energy bill of zero for its homeowner. Natural Resources Canada data suggests that housing accounts for 15% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions. These NZE energy homes can significantly reduce Canada's energy use, reliance on fossil fuels, and carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.
"A net-zero energy home loves you back," explained Kevin Lee, CEO of the Canadian Home Builders' Association (CHBA). "It shelters you from rising utility costs, it delivers exceptional comfort, it works better, and it lasts."
Working with NRCan and the CHBA, the outcomes of the home designs and the learnings from the five builders will be shared and disseminated to the industry. This was not only a demonstration project to show that NZE homes are feasible in today's market but it is also a knowledge transfer success story. Participants of this project do not believe that the NZE home recipe should be a secret. These innovative builders have become educators and mentors to their peers, sharing their learnings and designs at numerous building industry events. 
Owens Corning Canada presented home builders with an award recognizing their contribution to the successful net-zero energy project.
For a profile of each net-zero Energy community and more information about the project visit www.zeroenergy.ca.