builder profile
Reid’s Heritage Homes:
Making Net Zero “Production Builder-Friendly”
gy as they consume. Inspired, NRCan partnered with Owens Corning to come up with a program or platform to test that objective. It was important, however, that this initiative differ from past Net Zero houses, which have been custom-built one-of-a-kind designs. This project is geared to the mainstream public, and the low-rise production builder, using products that are readily available to the average builder.
An interview with Blake Seeberger, Senior Vice President, Residential
NRCan began by assessing builder interest, and by looking into their resumes. Owens Corning and third-party independent con-
By Judy Penz Sheluk
sultants made recommendations. We were then approached to represent Southwestern Ontario in the Fall of 2013.
This project is geared to the mainstream public, and the low-rise production builder, using products that are readily available to the average builder. HBM: We know that Reid’s Heritage Homes made the decision to accept the challenge. What came next? Blake: Our mandate is to build five homes by the end of 2016, at which point the homes will be monitored for occupant behaviour for two years. The scope of the work, the community planning involved and the architecture is a huge part of it. These homes can’t look like
As one of the premier production builders in Southwestern Ontario since 1978,
a spaceship; they need to fit into an existing
Reid’s Heritage Homes has had a long commitment to building quality, energy-
neighbourhood. The idea is that the average person could drive by the house and it would
LEED Platinum home in Guelph, Ont., and in 2012 they were honoured as the first
look, to them, like the home next door to it.
home builder to receive the Energy Star Builder of the Year Award from the Ministry of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). The company was also the recipient of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association Builder of the Year Award in 2013.
Reid’s Heritage Homes
efficient homes. In 2007, Reid’s Heritage Homes built first the first North American
Even the solar panels won’t necessarily be a clue. There are homes in the existing community of Westminster Woods in Guelph where the Net Zero homes are being built, that are five or six years old, with solar panels. We
On September 29, 2014, Reid’s Heritage
Home BUILDER Magazine: Reid’s Heri-
even selected existing floor plans of Energy
hosted the first groundbreaking ceremony for
tage Homes was one of five production build-
Star homes in that community. Of course, to
a national Net Zero Energy (NZE) low-rise
ers selected for the Net Zero project. Tell us a
achieve Net Zero, some modifications are nec-
homes demonstration project. We sat down
little about the selection process.
essary, although our first Discovery home has
with Blake Seeberger, Senior Vice President,
Blake Seeberger: The American Associa-
all readily available products. In 2015, we’re
Residential, to find out more about the com-
tion of Architects set a goal that, by 2030, all
planning for new products to come on board
pany’s journey to Net Zero.
homes could be built to produce as much ener-
to capture energy. For example, we’re asking 418
16 Home BUILDER January/February 2015