British Columbia’s government introduced the BC Energy Step Code in 2017 to ensure homes become more energy-efficient--now and in the future. The step code includes specific efficiency targets and groups them into “steps,” representing increasing energy-efficient performance levels. “By gradually adopting one or more steps, a local government can increase the building performance requirements in its community,” according to the Step Code website.

“It’s a five-step process,” Krahn adds. “We are currently at the Step 3 stage, which is already 20 percent more energy efficient than the standard building code. It is much more difficult for a smaller building to reach a higher step code, but ModCube reached step code 3, which we are very excited about.”

ModCube’s design includes nine-foot ceilings on the main floor and an open-concept first level. Custom, dimmable LED strip lighting in the living room divides this space from the rest of the open-plan living. The full-size kitchen includes quartz countertops and an island with a built-in dining table. The living area opens, via two sliding glass doors, to a private patio with porcelain pavers. The master bedroom, located on the upper level, has a rooftop deck with greenery and a cedar trellis. An ensuite bathroom serves both bedrooms.