An energy-efficient home in New Glasgow, P.E.I., was the big winner at the first-ever awards for excellence in residential construction, handed out by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of P.E.I.

There were six categories—including best net-zero ready home, and that award went to T&J Construction.

“I’ve always been passionate about energy efficiency ever since I started in new construction. Started in R-2000, and net-zero just become the next new thing,” said owner and builder Tim McHatten.

“The efficiency level of them, the architecture you can do with them, it was definitely a passionate thing for us.”

R-2000 is a voluntary standard developed by Natural Resources Canada in collaboration with Canada’s residential construction industry to promote the use of affordable, energy-efficient building practices and techniques, clean air features and other measures to help protect the environment.

McHatten said a net-zero home is basically the home producing as much energy as it is using, either off the grid, or still connected.  

“If you’re living off the grid completely, and not relying on power, you have to have a home that meets the efficiency levels and can generate its own power,” McHatten said. 

“You can build a net-zero ready home and be hooked up to the grid, and you can still produce power, but you still have that backup security just in case.” 

McHatten said the winning home includes many of the key features of net-zero construction.

“Insulation’s a big part of it. Ventilation is a very big part of net-zero homes, triple pane windows,” McHatten said.

“The ICF foundations are very important. Under the slabs, insulation is very important, attic insulation. Getting your sunlight from the windows is a huge step too.”

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