LOCAL BUMP IN GREEN HOMES
Hike in Built Green Canada enrolments among local homebuilders reflects return of economic stability
A national third-party certification program that rates the level of energy-efficiency in homes saw a stronger uptake from Calgary and area builders six months into 2017 than the same time a year ago.
Between Jan. 1 and the end of June, enrolments through Built Green Canada soared by 60 per cent from companies building homes in Calgary, and surrounding areas such as Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere and Okotoks, compared to the same period in 2016.
Area builders signed up 642 homes, rising from 402 on the books a year ago.
The most active builders during this time were Jayman Built, Excel Homes, Partners Development Group, Empire Custom Homes, Sterling Homes, and Trico Homes.
Built Green Canada certifies homes based on a checklist that measures the methods and materials that went into its construction. The home’s ventilation, waste management, indoor air quality, and water conservation are weighted, as well. Homes can earn ratings of bronze, silver, gold, and platinum, which is the highest.
“These numbers make sense giv- en the very early days of economic stability across the province,” says Built Green’s executive direc- tor Jenifer Christenson. “As the market is showing a slow, gradual improvement, housing starts are increasing.
“While housing starts and Built Green enrolments aren’t directly tied, as some builders enrol later on in their build cycle, there is a sufficient correlation between the two to say increased housing starts will also mean increased enrolments.”
There were construction starts on 5,525 homes of all kinds in the Calgary area over the first six months of 2017, up from 3,860 year over year, says Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.
While enrolments picked up, completed homes through the program recorded a setback. There were 354 completions in the Calgary area over the first half of 2017, dipping 28 per cent from 495 a year ago.
“In terms of completions being down, this also makes sense and reflects the economic downturn the province has been in over the last few years,” says Christenson. “Fewer starts cumulatively mean fewer completions.”
In this case, the most active builders were largely the same as the enrolment leaders, with Jayman, Excel, Partners, Trico, and Sterling carrying the pace for the Calgary area.
In terms of completions being down, this also makes sense and reflects the economic downturn the province has been in over the last few years.