To keep as many materials as possible out of landfills, the team saved about 40% of the existing house. They saved the foundation and about 25% of the existing walls. "A lot of the joists and rafters were in good shape," Colin says. After the structure was complete, the team inserted five different types of insulation. These included spray foam in the walls and the basement, fiberglass in the walls, blown-in insulation in the attic, comfort board, and mineral wool.

The workers tightly taped all of the joints. After the addition of Euroline triple-pane windows, the team invited Capital Home Energy of Vancouver to test the home's air-tightness. Air leakage can be detected by depressurizing the home to quantify the ACH (air changes per hour). Capital Home Energy taped up an exterior door and attached their blower door fan to begin the test. The home exceeded expectations with 0.58 ACH @ 50Pa. When compared to the BC Step Code targets (Step 5 = 1 ACH), the net-zero home target (1.5 ACH), and the Passive House target (0.60 ACH), this was a significant accomplishment.

Achieving a Net Zero-Carbon Footprint

To produce energy, the family went with on-grid solar panels: 32 Canadian Solar 355W split-cell poly-crystalline modules that produce 11.4KW or 12.45MWh annually. "The orientation of the house was already toward the south along the main part of the rooflines," Colin says.

Because the family moved in July 2019, and the panels were not installed until September, they haven't yet been able to fully document their energy use and savings. "But we can see, in terms of the modeling Pheasant Hills did, that we're on track to be net-zero," Nadine says. Already, they enjoy watching, via the information provided by BC Hydro, how much energy they're producing and using. When the family produces more electricity than is needed to power their house, it goes back to the BC Hydro utility grid. "And we get paid for that," Colin says.

Durable, Local and Efficient Features

The home has a long-lasting metal roof. It utilizes a Daikin central heat pump, Rheem Marathon 75-gallon hot-water heater, a heat recovery ventilation system, and a heat recovery system for the master bathroom drain water. The family also "checked all the boxes," Colin says by using LED lighting, low-flow toilets, and Energy Star appliances.

The home also has cedar soffits, stone counters, and a chestnut-wood island countertop. Wood reclaimed from an old barn serves as a unique mantle over the fireplaces, which are gas. "We don't need the fireplaces for heating, but we love using them during the cold and wintry months," Colin says, "and they serve as a backup heating system should the power go out."