Building a high-performance home is no small feat, but one passionate homeowner took on the challenge and achieved something remarkable—a Net Zero home in Alberta’s harsh climate! In this story, we explore her journey with Sunbreaker Cove, a custom home equipped with a Mitsubishi Zuba heat pump. From initial doubts to creative solutions (including some prayer flags for extra luck), her experience shows that heat pumps can deliver reliable warmth, even in freezing temperatures. We also look at the benefits of working with an energy advisor, who helped optimize the setup for comfort, efficiency, and cost savings. For those considering a transition to electric heating, this story offers insight, inspiration, and practical tips to make the journey smoother.

We’re in a time when we are facing the idea that systems we live within are precarious. This blog post talks about what changes you can make to future-proof your home against uncertainty and changing conditions. If you’re planning to build, this is the perfect time to think and make changes to your design in preparation.

The “Thomas House Project” was designed based on the aesthetic theme of fire, water, earth, and air. The four elements were tied into this passive solar, net zero home both inside and out.

Our journey to Net-Zero began​ when my wife and I moved in 2011 from our first home to a newer, similar-sized home. After a few months, we were shocked to find that our energy bills had more than doubled. After a few years of tolerating the higher costs, we decided to build new and to a high energy efficiency standard…

Today we explore Earth Day in Alberta and what that means for our Passive, Net Zero home, energy sources and emissions! Cautiously Optimistic Earth Day!