EEBA's High Performance Home Blog

Like most cities in North America, COVID-19 has brought uncertainty to British Columbia’s housing market. Smart builders are using this disruption to their advantage, finding new ways to differentiate their homes by finding the ideal mix of value, quality, and comfort.  Edward West Luxury Homes is a perfect example of this trend. This family-owned, custom home builder is based in Kelowna, BC. Just 90 miles from the United States border, the city sits on Okanagan Lake and offers homeowners world-class vineyards, great weather, beaches and even ski hills.

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Concrete! It has been used since before 6,500 BC, most extensively in the Roman Empire, and then forgotten until it’s resurrection in Europe around the 15th century. Today it’s the most prevalent man-made material on the planet — used for homes, high rises, roads, bridges, and parking lots — and for good reason. It provides strength, flexibility, and durability in construction that is matched by few if any other building materials.

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Announcing the launch of a new competition for the green building industry! Designed as a catalyst to accelerate change, the Smart Decathlon for innovative Professionals, or SDiPro, challenges professional teams to design, build, and sell energy-efficient, sustainable homes that address the critical need for affordable housing in the United States. As a collaborative partner with EEBA, SDiPro aims to jump-start the supply of healthy, zero-impact housing for today’s consumers. SDiPro builds on the resounding success of the U. S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon, which challenges university teams to design and build energy-efficient homes powered by the sun. SDiPro goes one step further. Professional teams will take the lead to design, build, and sell high-performance homes. With SDiPro, the spotlight is on innovation in homes equipped with the latest and greatest smart technology to ensure consumer comfort and adaptability in beautiful, safe sanctuaries. With SDiPro, those... read more

Anyone considering solar for their home has probably heard of solar shingles, solar tiles, and solar roofs. These solar electric systems have photovoltaic cells integrated into the actual shingles or roofing tiles — a sleeker, more aesthetic, alternative to large panels elevated on racks. They may also have heard that solar shingles have had technical problems and are very expensive. In fact, some solar roof startups have failed, while others survive. So how cost effective are solar roofs and should you consider one? Are Solar Roofs Cost Effective? One way to answer that question is to evaluate the leading product in this category —Tesla’s third generation Solar Roof, the most cost effective solar roof currently available with the most advanced technology. At $2.11* per installed watt, the Tesla system beats out DeSol Power Tiles (at about $7.00 per installed watt*) and Luma Solar Tiles (at about $4.50 per installed watt*) on cost. It has been shown in one case study, using... read more

Stucco and manufactured stone have been used in the building industry for ages. These claddings are well known, and well used for their leading properties in fire resistance, durability, and aesthetics. In fact, according to the Census Bureau’s recent Survey of Construction, 25% of homes built in the US in 2017 used stucco cladding; second only to vinyl, which was used in 27% of homes. This number is predicted only to increase, with stucco usage expected to continue to grow across the globe, especially in North America. Although it is evident stucco is a strong choice for several reasons, many builders are still scratching their heads when it comes to tackling their biggest challenge with this type of finish – moisture. Moisture is a critical concern for stucco and manufactured stone homes. Without the right protection, uncontrolled moisture can lead to mold, wall rot, and decay, and eventually have an impact on both the aesthetics and structural integrity of the home. Though... read more