THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA money.” “We still do get those ‘green’ clients, who are specifically looking to build sustainability,” he adds. “There are more of those clients than ever, since it’s common knowledge that climate change exists and we need to do something about it – but we can also attack the affordable construction market now.” “Passive homes – because they are super-insulated, with thick walls – cost a little bit more to build,” he concedes. “But they only cost, at maximum, about 10 per cent more to build. That 10 per cent is instantly offset through the energy savings.” “The energy cost of heating and cooling any conventional home is massive, whereas our passive homes are solely electricallyoperated, and there’s not that much of a difference between the winter and the summer time. There’s not much electricity required for heating. The electricity is just required for daily living, like any other home. So residents no longer have a gas bill – and that instantly offsets the increased cost of building.” “That’s what most of our communication is basedaround right now,” Paul explains. “Education and awareness is a big part of what we do. We’re letting people know that it’s not just about being green – though that’s important, too. It’s about saving money.” Sometimes, it’s even about making money, he adds. Through the use of solar panels, EkoBuilt can help their clients generate more energy than they use. Through the Ontario Net-Metering Program, those clients can earn excess generation credits which they can use to offset future electricity costs. Again, Paul concedes that investing in solar means an additional up-front cost. However, he says that if a client can work that cost into their mortgage, the cost of borrowing that money on a monthly basis usually ends up being about “half of what someone would pay on their electric bill if they weren’t connected to the grid.” “So we’re talking about affordability,” Paul reiterates. “That’s the message we want to get out there.”
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