About this home:
Built as a starter spec-home in a densely built Invermere neighbourhood, this home harbours a secret – it uses a fraction of the energy of the surrounding properties, and is more comfortable too!
This Family Home was built in 2017 to Step Code 4. While we have long surpassed this standard, the little blue house was a ground breaker in many ways. Featured by BC Housing as a leading example affordable, of Zero Carbon, energy efficient design, the home has proven that this quality of housing can be built for any budget.
Modelled on the floor plan of our original family cabin, the home evolved to fit in but stand out in a neighbourhood where the other homes are near-replicas of each other.
You can read more about how we did it here.
Benefits and Features
Energy-Efficiency Benefits:
- Built to Energy Step Code 4, this home delivers energy-efficiency on a budget. While there are very few “affordable” single family homes, this one punches way above its class without a premium on construction cost. Nevertheless, the home has done well on the market, selling for more than the neighbouring proprieties because of the energy and comfort features of the home.
- This was the last home we built with out-swing windows – these are triple pane, so perform well. We do now prefer the in-swing window for superior performance, but these are doing well, keeping energy bills down and comfort up.
- This was also the last home we built with base-board back up heat for the air source heat pump. The heat pump likely delivers 95% of the heating in this home, with the baseboards picking up the slack when it’s very cold outside. The heat pump delivers cost-effective air conditioning when it’s really hot for long periods in the summer, as it seems to be more often.
Design Features:
- Locally milled wood products feature heavily in this home. Wood is renewable, low carbon, and beautiful, making it perfect for a field leading sustainable home.
- FSC certified wood doors with some cool design features were used through the interior.
- The main floor of the home is designed for age in place living. The laundry is upstairs, but the main floor bathroom has a secret behind the cabinets – there is plumbing in place that will allow the laundry machines to be relocated to the main floor in future if that is necessary. The back door can easily be made wheelchair accessible, and kitchen, bathroom and master bedroom as all on the ground floor.
- 4 bedrooms, a large living area, and direct access to the outdoors and nearby schools make this a perfect home for a growing and evolving family.
- The covered back patio with wood stove offers a haven in all seasons.
