Niagara companies honoured for sustainable initiatives
Gina Monaco Special to NHBA Structures
Two local builders, Mountainview Homes and Mason
Homes, were honoured recently with an EnerQuality Award
for their commitment to sustainable and energy-efficient
homebuilding.
“These winners represent Ontario’s best and brightest in
sustainable building,” said Corey McBurney, president of
EnerQuality. “Exciting things are happening in the industry,
and these people should be very proud of their role and con-
tribution. They’re true innovators and leaders.”
Mountainview Homes won EnerQuality’s EnerGuide Rat-
ing Service Builder of the Year, a system that allows home-
owners to see the energy savings via a label on the hydro
panel. To get a favourable rating the builder had to offer a
number of green initiatives. EnerGuide’s rating system takes
into account the building materials used, the type of insula-
tion, the wall systems, the size of the windows and the ori-
entation of the house. Mountainview also made sure its doors
passed a Blower Door Test to ensure an airtight home.
Getting a home approved is a matter of registering it with
From left to right is Michelle Cote, EnerQuality; Mike Memme, Mountainview Homes (Niagara) Ltd.;
the rating agency, sending in drawings and the lot site plan.
Brian Pedersen, Icynene; and Corey McBurney, EnerQuality.
A computer modeling program generates information about
the home’s energy consumption. An inspector conducts spot
checks throughout the entire building process. When all the
requirements are met, the home will receive a rating.
“It’s good for our customers to know that their homes are
energy efficient and to have that information validated with
the rating system,” said Mike Memme, operations manager
of Mountainview Homes. “And it also gives them a market
advantage when they sell their homes.”
Mountainview Homes has won numerous local awards
for its designs. This is the builder’s first provincial award.
For Mason Homes, winning the Best Green Marketing
Program Award is a testament to its unique Green for Life
brand. “We’re not just green at the marketing level, we’re
green throughout our entire company,” said Sean Mason.
“Energy efficiency is not an upgrade as with most other
builders,” he said.
The Green for Life concept was introduced four years ago
and through better building practices, the homes are more
environmentally friendly and energy efficient. “No one can
From left to right is Michelle Cote, EnerQuality; Sean Mason, Mason Homes; Marcelo Cuenca,
come close to us for innovation,” Mason said. These unique
Jeld-wen Windows & Doors; and Corey McBurney, EnerQuality.
homes are not only Energy Star qualified, but also help fur-
ther reduce energy and water consumption while providing
improved indoor air quality. “We are green from the ground
up”
Some of its green practices include preserving the exist-
ing landscape as much as possible. Energy consumption is
reduced through superior insulation, high-performance win-
dows, and high-efficiency heating and cooling systems. In-
door air quality is improved through high-quality air filters
and heat recovery ventilation systems. Efficient water sys-
tems include low-flow faucets and showerheads.
As a winner of numerous green awards, Mason Homes
leads the field with its Green for Life brand. The builder
works closely with municipalities to create green neigh-
bourhoods both outside and inside. “We go above and be-
yond what conventional builders offer by building homes
that are Green for Life.”
Build With Us
NIAGARA HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION
34 Scott Street West, St. Catharines, ON L2R 1C9
PH: 905-646-6281 FX: 905-646-6274
E:
info@niagarahomebuilders.ca
W:
www.niagarahomebuilders.ca
February 2009 NHBA Structures - A3
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