Canada Net-Zero Home Wins International Award for Efficiency

Published on March 15, 2019

A Net-Zero Home in Arnprior, Ontario was recently recognized with an international award for its outstanding energy efficiency at the 2019 Cross Border Builder Challenge in New Orleans.

The challenge selects one winner from each country involved, and the winner for Canada was awarded to Campanale Homes for their model home in Arnprior.  

Christian Campanale, marketing director for Campanale Homes, said that the homes that Campanale builds are built at least 10 percent more energy efficient than homes that have been built recently to code, and that encouraging other builders to build towards higher levels of energy efficient is a ‘cross border challenge’.

By having more builders purchasing products to improve the energy efficiency of the homes that they construct, Campanale says it will bring the price of those products down for everyone.

The Campanale model home is equipped with a number of strategies and technologies that have helped it become so highly energy efficient. This includes: solar panels on the roof, energy efficient windows, a smart thermostat, an energy efficient HVAC system, and a filter system that conserves water by filling toilets with used shower water.

The Home Energy Rating System (HERS), a third party tester for levels of home energy efficiency, also recognized the Campanale model home, giving it the best rating of all Canadian Net-Zero Homes that were displayed at the annual showing for the Residential Energy Services Network.

A Net-Zero Home is a home that combines high levels of energy efficiency with on-site renewable energy sources, in order to be able to produce as much or more energy every year than it consumes.

The Campanale model home was also congratulated by Chris Meechan of Switch Energy, the installer of the Campanale model home’s solar panel setup, saying that the home is an example of local leadership, and that it is making a global impact regarding cost-saving energy efficiency solutions.  

Energy Efficiency Improvements Can Make your Utilities Affordable

By improving your home’s energy efficiency, you can not only reduce the cost of your monthly utilities bill, but you also work towards making your home more comfortable, have better air quality and humidity levels, and even a higher market value. Quite often, the average Ontario homeowner is completely unaware how easily their home could be made more energy efficient and effectively work to save them money.

By having one of our Registered Energy Advisors conduct an Energy Assessment of your home, you can not only be made aware of every possible way that your home could be made more affordable and energy efficient, but you will also be provided with a list that ranks your possible home improvements in terms of their cost-effectiveness - allowing you to make a decision that takes all factors into account.

The advisor who conducts your assessment can also act as your guide for home renovation rebates, ensuring that you will see the maximum return on your investments as soon as possible, and that you are aiming towards the rebate that is the best fit for your home improvement needs.

Ontario homeowners are also eligible for up to $5,000 of home renovation rebates by being customers of either Union Gas or Enbridge Gas - a Home Energy Assessment can help you qualify.