This monthly e-publication provides you with updates on the efforts of the CHBA Net Zero Council (NZC) including announcements of opportunities to get engaged, and information on related events and news. Back issues are posted here. We invite CHBA members to submit content for upcoming issues by emailing us.
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In this issue:
- CHBA National Net Zero Home Awards Finalists Announced
- THAT’S A WRAP! The “Towards Net Zero Renovations” initiative concludes after 4 years
- Training Rebates: $400 per course!
- Upcoming Net Zero Training
- Blog Post: How Windows Can Transform Your Home’s Comfort, Efficiency, and Energy Costs
- Open 24/7: Promote Your Net Zero Solutions in our Virtual Expo Hall!
- Demonstrate your Leadership: 10 Seats Still Available!
- News from the Net
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CHBA National Net Zero Home Awards Finalists Announced
WINNERS ANNOUNCED MAY 8 IN QUEBEC CITY
On March 19, the finalists were announced for the 2026 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence, Canada’s premiere competition for new homes, home renovations, community development, and residential marketing. It was another highly competitive year, with 900 entries submitted to 49 categories that showcase the breadth of Canada’s market-rate housing. Over 200 volunteer industry experts judged the 2026 competition. “Being named a finalist on the national stage is an incredible feat and represents the best in Canadian housing. We are very proud of this year’s finalists,” said CEO Kevin Lee in CHBA’s media release, which contains the full list of finalists. Winners will be announced during the Glitter & Groove Awards Gala on May 8 in Quebec City, QC – the grand finale of CHBA’s Home Building Week in Canada. Please join me in congratulating this year’s finalists in the two Net Zero Home Categories!
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Best Production Net Zero Home - sponsored by Panasonic
- Diamond Head Development, Squamish, BC: “Finch Drive”
- Land Ark Construction Ltd., Stittsville, ON: “Watercolour Westport”
- Sterling Homes, Winnipeg, MB: “The Westminster”
- Urbandale Construction Ltd., Ottawa, ON: “Natural Calm”
- Urbandale Construction Ltd., Ottawa, ON: “The Calmstone Home”
Best Custom or Renovated Net Zero Home
- Hasler Homes Ltd., North Vancouver, BC: “Net Zero Lifestyle”
- Whistler Builders, Whistler, BC: “Net Zero Mountain Haven”
- RND Construction Ltd., Ottawa, ON: “Cunningham Park Modern”
- RND Construction Ltd., Ottawa, ON: “Quarry Park Contemporary”
- WrightHaven Homes Limited, Fergus, ON: “Cherrywood Estates”
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THAT’S A WRAP! The “Towards Net Zero Renovations” initiative concludes after 4 years
For the past four years, industry, homeowners, municipalities, and local HBAs have come together to advance CHBA’s nation-wide capacity building effort to deliver deep energy retrofits and Net Zero Renovations. In partnership with NRCan, the “Towards Cost-Effective Net Zero Energy Ready Residential Renovations” initiative supported 137 projects representing 348 housing units. Timelines were tight yet the project teams provided Canadian homeowners with optimized house-as-a-system “Towards Net Zero Reno Roadmaps” and delivered on over $20M in renovations. We look forward to building the lessons learned from this initiative into our Net Zero Renovator training and continuing our work on the “Towards Net Zero Reno Roadmaps”!
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Training Rebates: $400 per course!
Great news: Training rebates/discounts to help prepare the industry for future building codes are continuing to be offered in 2026! Instructor-led courses are delivered by CHBA Qualified Net Zero Service Organizations and new e-learning options are available 24/7/365 through CHBA. Funding provided by NRCan through CHBA’s Enabling Tiered Codes – Implementation and Market Preparedness project. Learn more and register here.
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Upcoming Net Zero Training
For current information on all Net Zero training courses, course syllabi, rebates, events calendar, and to register for the courses below, visit our website here.
NET ZERO MARKET ADVANTAGE - $400 discount
CHBA self-paced e-learning 24/7/365
ADVANCED BUILDING SCIENCE - Eligible for $400 rebate
CHBA self-paced e-learning 24/7/365
NET ZERO BUILDER - Members eligible for $400 rebate
CHBA self-paced e-learning 24/7/365
ENERQUALITY: Online April 15 & 16
CHBA BC: Online June 9 & 11
NET ZERO FOR BUILDING OFFICIALS - $400 discount
CHBA self-paced e-learning 24/7/365
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Blog Post: How Windows Can Transform Your Home’s Comfort, Efficiency, and Energy Costs
Your home’s windows are more than just a design feature: they play a critical role in how it feels and performs every day. From maintaining indoor temperatures to managing energy use and protecting against the elements, the right windows can make a noticeable difference in both your living experience and your home’s long-term durability, performance, and value. In this blog, we’ll explore how high-performance windows – including those used in Net Zero and Net Zero Ready Homes – can transform your home’s comfort, efficiency, and energy costs.
Be sure to share using @CHBANetZero and #CHBANetZero so that more homeowners and homebuyers will learn about Net Zero Homes! Visit our website here to read more of our Net Zero blog posts. You can also find and share all our Net Zero blog posts (geared towards consumers) via our four social media accounts; LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.
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Open 24/7: Promote Your Net Zero Solutions in our Virtual Expo Hall!
CHBA's Net Zero Virtual Expo Hall offers solution providers with 24/7/365 exposure to builders and renovators looking for Net Zero solutions for their projects. By consolidating essential information and best practices, and offering valuable insight, this new webpage empowers our members to showcase their mechanical, envelope, energy, or other innovations. Learn more and apply here!
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Demonstrate your Leadership: 10 Seats Still Available!
Join the Net Zero Council and be part of the leadership group working together to accelerate the voluntary adoption of Net Zero Homes in Canada. Currently there are 3 Silver, 5 Bronze Sponsor, 1 Builder/Renovator, and 1 Academia seats still available. Visit chba.ca/nzc to learn about the benefits of Membership and Sponsorship and review the Terms of Reference before submitting an application form to sonja.winkelmann@chba.ca.
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Follow us on our LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X accounts @CHBANetZero! See below for recent articles of interest.
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Avalon pilots better ways to protect homes from wind and hail. Pilot project is one of four across the country to test ways to improve homes' climate resilience from high wind, flooding and hail. NZC Management Committee Member Avalon Master Builder continues to get more coverage on their Resilient Home Task Force field trial home.
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China switches on world’s first 20MW wind turbine to feed power into the grid. The wind turbine can generate enough electricity to power 44,000 homes each year.
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We don’t have to choose between climate adaptation and mitigation – we can do both.
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Starting January 1, 2027: When you replace a residential hot water heater in Vancouver, the new equipment must be at least 100% efficient.
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Easy-to-use solar panels are coming, but utilities are trying to delay them. “Balcony Solar” is already popular in Germany, where more than 1.2 million of the small plug-in systems are registered with the German government.
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Reaching net zero by 2050 ‘cheaper for UK than one fossil fuel crisis’. Climate change committee finds move to renewable energy would also bring health, economic and security benefits.
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Canada Energy Regulator projects power generation surge, with wind a major new source. In part due to new AI data centres’ thirst for power.
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‘Asia’s Ukraine moment’: How the Iran war could accelerate a shift into renewables.
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Are we in for a super El Niño this year? Early projections say maybe, and this worries climate scientists, as this also affects climate and weather patterns around the world — it can bring floods to some regions and drought to others — as well as impacting global temperatures.
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Earth’s Climate Swings Increasingly ‘Out of Balance’ Warns World Meteorological Organization in “State of the Global Climate 2025” report. Record temperatures, accelerating ocean warming and rising GHG concentrations highlights the growing risks for economies, infrastructure and global supply systems.
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ATCO blames Alberta power policies as it devalues wind and solar projects by $408M. Warns of 'legal recourse' if Alberta doesn't alter transmission and pricing reforms
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Alberta passing the bill for orphan well cleanup to the public. A new report warns Alberta has not properly confronted the massive environmental and financial liabilities left behind by energy development.
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Canadian institutional behemoths to purchase renewable energy producer. Two Canadian institutional giants (Brookfield and La Caisse) are buying Quebec-based renewable power producer Boralex Inc. in a deal that they say will provide the scale and resources needed to accelerate growth.
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The countries leading the world in clean electricity. According to a March 2026 report on energy infrastructure resilience around the world, the electrical grid in Iceland has the lowest carbon footprint. (Canada didn’t make the top 10.)
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Ottawa, ON K1P 5J3
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