Natural Elements, NRCan's Monthly Newsletter

Net Zero Energy Housing: Design in Harmony with the Environment

Interior of the Sapporo Net Zero Energy Home

What would you say if you never had to pay your heating or air conditioning bill again? That and much more is what Canadian Net Zero Energy Housing technology is offering. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada have been working for several years with the housing industry to develop this ambitious project.

The first net zero energy home was recently unveiled in Sapporo, Japan — an event that brought the Canadian housing technology industry one step closer to its goal.

A balance between comfort and environmental protection

To produce as much energy as is consumed annually: that’s the basic principle of the net zero energy home. And it can be achieved without any sacrifice in comfort or change in lifestyle. With the integration of renewable energy technologies and advanced energy-efficient housing designs, homeowners can balance modern life with a healthy environment.

Highlighting Canadian knowledge

Technologies of the Sapporo Net Zero Energy Home

By contributing to this project, Canada is able to demonstrate its international leadership in the application of innovative energy-efficient products and clean, renewable technologies.

“We were able to introduce several Canadian technologies that Japanese companies had never seen before,” says Robin Sinha, Deputy S&T Director at NRCan’s CanmetENERGY. “So this has a promising export potential. International partnerships like this also increase Canada’s knowledge of product development taking place overseas, which has a positive impact on our own technology innovation and leads to benefits for all Canadians.”

It would be impossible to achieve net zero energy without ingenuity and top-quality products. Vancouver’s K. Ito & Associates Ltd. and Japan’s Tsuchiya Twoby Home developed innovative designs and provided several construction techniques. And many of the products were supplied by companies in five Canadian provinces.

A project close to the hearts of Canadians

For now, this type of home is expensive and available only for a limited clientele. Nevertheless, this project is of direct interest to all Canadians. “It’s important that people understand that we can build this type of home,” says Robin. “If we have a blackout or our power plants fail, it’s comforting to know that we’re still able to function.”

Ongoing development

The designers are already at work on their next goals. Among other projects, they want to replace the Japanese technologies used in the house’s construction with Canadian technologies.

In the next few years, one main objective at CanmetENERGY will be to use research and new technologies to make such housing more affordable. “Our biggest strength is that we’re paying particular attention to the cost of the home,” says Robin. “Other homes like this were designed to impress, not to be sold. We are trying to make this project practical by working with real builders who want to sell this product. We’re continually facing challenges, but we want the project to remain as realistic as possible.”

For more information, visit the CanmetENERGY Web site.