EQuilibrium is a national housing initiative which is led by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Both the private and public sectors are building homes designed to address occupant health, comfort, energy efficiency, renewable energy production, resource conservation, reduced environmental impact and lastly affordability.
There are fifteen teams that have been selected to build EQuilibrium demonstration projects across Canada, and as of today there are two demonstration homes that have been completed that open for public tours.
The fifteen teams which have been selected are as followed:
- Abondance le Soleil
- ÉcoTerra
- Alstonvale Net Zero House
- Avalon Discovery 3
- Echo Haven
- Inspiration – the Minto ecohome
- Now House
- Riverdale NetZero Project
- The Laebon CHESS Project
- Top of the Annex TownHomes
- Urban Ecology
- YIPI! Net Zero Footprint Housing
- The Green Dream Home
- Harmony House
- The Moncton VISION Home
The EQuilibrium Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative was launched in 2005. By May 2006, CMCH had invited Canada’s builders and developers to submit their ideas for EQuilibrium demonstration homes. There were 12 teams selected to build EQuilibrium demonstration homes in Prairie Region, Ontario and Quebec.
A second call was made in 2008 for proposals selected for projects in British Columbia and Atlantic Canada.
The winners each received $60,000 from CMHC to help offset certain costs, which related to documentation of their projects, carrying out quality assurance and demonstrating their homes to the public.
To this date, there are two teams who have finished their EQuilibrium demonstration homes and have tours available. This includes Inspiration – the Minto ecohome and The Laebon CHESS Project.
More detail on the EQuilibrium Sustainable Housing Demonstrative Initiative will be provided in the weeks to come, which includes project details, EQuilibrium goals and much more.
Heleen Jacobsen
Broker of Record with InfoMarket Group GMAC Real Estate
www.infomarketgroup.com
