If you’re in the market for a new home – particularly a new lowrise home – you may have come across the term “Net Zero,” or maybe even “Net Zero Ready.”

While it all may sound like fancy marketing-speak, there actually are some very real and tangible benefits to choosing such new technology.

What is a Net Zero home? According to the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA), these are defined as homes that produce as much clean energy as they consume. As much as 80 per cent more energy efficient than typical new homes, Net Zero homes are extremely well built, with extra insulation, high-performance windows and airtightness to minimize heating and cooling needs. In addition, appliances, lighting and mechanical systems are all as energy efficient as possible. And to offset the remaining energy needed for the home’s annual consumption, Net Zero homes use renewable energy systems – commonly solar – to generate electricity.

This is not to be confused with Net Zero Ready homes, which, CHBA says, are built to the exact same efficiency standards as Net Zero homes, with the only difference being that the renewable energy system have not yet been installed. However, everything has already been designed and constructed to easily put the solar panels in place – much like a home that has a roughed-in central vacuum. Already wired for a future renewable energy system, when the homeowners are able to invest in installing solar panels, it’s ready to go.

Every part of a Net Zero home is designed to work together to create the ultimate energy efficient living space. The building envelope, mechanical systems and renewable energy systems all work together to ensure peak performance. Through advanced building science techniques, technologies and products, builders can significantly reduce a home’s energy consumption.

Three main benefits of buying a Net Zero home:

• Can contribute to an increase in your home’s value
• Greater comfort and healthier living
• Environmentally responsible

Plus, you may even qualify for a 25-per-cent rebate on your mortgage insurance premium, through Sagen (formerly Genworth Canada) or Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.

Ontario homebuilders, in fact, are among the leaders of Net Zero homes. Of the five CHBA Qualified Net Zero Builders recently noted for reaching the milestone of labelling more than 100 homes through CHBA’s Net Zero Home Labelling Program, four were based in the province: Activa, in Waterloo Region; Doug Tarry Homes, St. Thomas; Mattamy Homes, based in Toronto but active in many areas of Ontario, as well as Alberta; and Sifton Properties, in London.

Doug Tarry Homes, in fact, is a big proponent of training and even wrote a builders’ guide to Net Zero homes, which its sales staff receives in addition to in-person bootcamp training and ongoing interdepartmental training on what other departments do.

The company even recommends that builders considering offering Net Zero/Ready homes “lean out” their building processes (find the wasted money in materials and processes), and then offer it as their standard. Doug Tarry offers sub-slab insulation that doubles as a radon soil gas barrier, wind resilient roofs, triple-glazed low solar glass windows with a warm edge spacer and flange extension, AeroBarrier for every unit and Graphenstone Paints as standard in their Net Zero Ready offering, among other features.

Another Ontario builder, Guelph-based Terra View Custom Homes, has been garnering industry recognition for its dedication to Green building practices and energy efficiency. Recently named Ontario Builder of the Year – Small Volume at the 2025 OHBA Awards of Distinction, Terra View’s commitment to sustainability is recognized at the local, provincial and national levels. The builder specializes in new, custom and Net Zero homes.

To search Net Zero builders, visit netzerohome.com.