Homeowners across the country are increasingly asking Qualified Net Zero Builders/Renovators to deliver their Net Zero dream homes.

And every year, they prove to be up to the task! Builders and renovators across Canada submitted their gorgeous Net Zero or Net Zero Ready Homes (qualified under CHBA’s Net Zero Home Labelling Program) into this year’s CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence – Canada’s foremost competition for new homes, renovations, community development, and residential marketing.

In June, we highlighted 2025’s top 5 projects in the Best Production Net Zero Home award category. In this blog post, we’re highlighting the top 5 projects for Best Custom or Renovated Net Zero Home.

WINNER: “Mountainview Retreat” by Blueline Contracting

Blueline Contracting built this award-winning Net Zero Home in Squamish, BC.

A beautiful combination of clear cedar, Douglas fir, and architectural concrete, this Net Zero Home by Blueline Contracting epitomizes fine woodworking and craftsmanship, inside and out. Local materials combined with modern design create a mountain retreat for the builder’s ski-loving clients, while incorporating exceptional energy efficiency.

Inside is a custom fireplace finished in local basalt stone, contrasted against a marvel of interior wood finishing. The result is a cozy and impressive après-ski gathering place in the expansive living area, while a closely connected sauna and hot tub create a relaxing Scandinavian spa experience.

Wood interior finishes mixed with other natural materials elevate the carpentry in this home to an art form.

Sustainability is an essential element of this home. Fully Net Zero, this home offsets all its energy use through solar panels, passive solar design, and water saving fixtures. The builder locally sourced materials wherever possible, including wood products, stone, and Vancouver Island marble. Blueline Contracting also implemented a waste diversion program and an employee carpooling program to further minimize environmental impact during the construction phase.

Overall, this Net Zero custom home blends eco-conscious living with modern comfort. Given its stunning architecture and creative features, this project clearly earned its title of Best Custom or Renovated Net Zero Home in 2025.

A close race

Other Net Zero projects made this award category a tight race. Four other finalists submitted gorgeous Net Zero Homes, giving “Mountainview Retreat” a run for its money. The other finalists are:

“Les Deux Pins” by All Elements Design.Manage.Build

First up, “Les Deux Pins” by All Elements Design.Manage.Build with Enviromatics Group took modern, minimalist Net Zero Home design to the next level.

This Net Zero Home, located in Kelowna, BC, boasts “best in class” high-performance living, paired with luxurious finishes.

The home's floorplan and functionality cater to a multi-generational lifestyle with expansive open spaces and multiple living areas. A warm palette, wood accents, and textured elements create appealing interior design, while minimalist xeriscape landscaping enhances exterior aesthetics. “Les Deux Pins” is built with clean, earth-friendly materials with no off-gassing for a low carbon footprint and leverages solar panels to produce more energy than it needs.

“Eco Bay” by Blue Water Concepts Ltd.

Blue Water Concepts Ltd. put forth another great example of elevated Net Zero Home design with their Squamish, BC project “Eco Bay.”

Built for clients who love an “indoor-outdoor” feel, this Net Zero Home fulfills their dream. Black metal roofing and siding along with wood soffits and a wrap-around covered deck emulate a West Coast feel.

This home’s solar panels are uniquely incorporated into the metal roof, offering discrete design with exceptional energy efficiency. Interior design features of “Eco Bay” include expansive living spaces that leverage the stunning views, vaulted ceilings in the great room, polished concrete floors throughout, an L-shaped kitchen with high-end finishes, a king-sized Murphy bed, and more.

“Caledon Estate Net Zero Reno” by Chatsworth Fine Homes/Oak Harbour Developments

Next up is this thoughtful Net Zero Renovation by Chatsworth Fine Homes/Oak Harbour Developments with Custom CADD Inc. and Jane Lockhart Interior Design.

Located outside of Oakville, ON and built in the 1990s, the owners of this home felt it needed refurbishing, not only to modernize the design but also to make it more energy efficient.

By opening up walls, the breathtaking vistas of the ponds and trees were revealed. The great room, previously sunken, was lifted to create barrier-free travel on the main floor. The rear deck was also raised, and in the basement, all floors were made flush to prepare for retirement living.

Situated in a remote area, making the home fully Net Zero was a logical option to drastically reduce energy bills. The builder ZIP-paneled all new walls and filled the existing walls with spray foam. Solar panels were installed to offset energy consumption.

“Elmwood Estates” by Sidson Contracting

Finally, Sidson Contracting with Norelco Cabinets scored a finalist spot for their Net Zero project in Wainwright, AB, “Elmwood Estates.”

This Net Zero home's contemporary interior architecture, with its expansive open-concept form, is complemented and juxtaposed by thoughtful finishings in an organic modern style, with a definitive nod toward mid-century design. The builder paired natural fieldstone with sleek millwork and matte black hardware accents to create a clean architectural look. Large south-facing windows blur the lines between interior and exterior, perfectly balancing function and form.

The warm, neutral palette promotes relaxation, while touches of dark sage green and malt create an unexpected, but harmonious interior. From foundation to finishes, every detail of "Elmwood Estates” was carefully considered to suit the homeowners’ desires for performance, longevity, functionality, and style.

Builders and renovators across the country continue to raise the bar with their Net Zero projects, and more homeowners are seeing the benefits of living in a Net Zero Home. If you’re interested in building a Net Zero Home, or renovating your existing home to Net Zero, learn more on CHBA’s website.

Want the latest home and design trends? Follow @chbanational and @chbanetzero on Instagram for content featuring beautiful and unique homes from CHBA members across Canada.