Look, we've been designing buildings for Canada's brutal winters for over a decade now. Here's what actually works - no fluff, just data from projects we've built and monitored.
Honestly? Because heating costs in Vancouver can still hit $2000+ during a cold snap, and that's nothing compared to what folks in the interior deal with. We got into this because watching energy literally escape through poorly designed envelopes drove us nuts.
Every project we take on, we're thinking about how it'll perform when it's -15°C outside and the wind's howling. That's not marketing talk - it's just what you gotta do up here.
These aren't theoretical numbers - they're from buildings we've designed and monitored over multiple winters.
Roof Insulation Range
Yeah, it's overkill by most standards. But when you're calculating 20-year costs, it pays for itself by year 12.
Energy Reduction
Compared to standard code builds. Our Whistler project hit 78% and the clients are basically paying pocket change for heating.
Air Changes Per Hour
That's Passive House territory. We're talking airtight but with proper ventilation - you won't even feel a draft near windows.
Passive Solar Gain
Strategic south-facing glazing with proper overhangs. Free heat in winter, stays cool in summer. It's just smart orientation.
Here's how our typical residential project stacks up over a Vancouver winter (Dec-Feb). These are actual monitored numbers from a 2,400 sq ft home we completed in 2022.
Extra upfront cost
+$42,000
Annual savings
$3,576
Payback period
11.7 years
30-year net savings
$65,280
And that's not counting rising energy costs or increased resale value. Plus BC's current rebates can knock $8-12k off that initial cost.
We've tested a lot of approaches. Some work great, some are expensive gimmicks. Here's what we actually spec on every project:
Non-negotiable for us. Yeah, they're pricey, but windows are where you lose most of your heat. We use European-style tilt-turn units with U-values around 0.18. The difference is night and day.
HRV systems capture 85-95% of heat from outgoing air. Fresh air without the energy penalty. We've been installing these since 2015 and clients love 'em - no stale air, no condensation issues.
Wrapping the whole building envelope eliminates thermal bridges. We typically use 4-6 inches of mineral wool or rigid foam. It looks weird during construction but the thermal imaging afterward is beautiful - no cold spots anywhere.
This is where most builders cut corners. We're obsessive about it - tape every seam, seal every penetration, test with blower door. Takes longer but you can't cheat physics. Leaky buildings waste energy, period.
Concrete floors, masonry walls in the right spots - they soak up solar heat during the day and release it at night. Old-school technique but it works. Evens out temperature swings like nothing else.
More glass isn't always better. We calculate optimal window-to-wall ratios for each orientation. South gets more glass for solar gain, north stays minimal. It's about balance, not just views.
Client wanted a 3,200 sq ft family home that could handle Squamish's temperature swings (we're talking -12°C to 30°C throughout the year). Budget was tight but they were committed to long-term efficiency.
Hit Passive House certification (which honestly isn't easy in BC). R-60 roof, R-40 walls, triple-pane windows, the works. Oriented the house to capture views AND solar gain - you can do both if you're clever about it.
Annual heating cost: $940. That's for the whole year. Their neighbors are spending that every two months. Blower door test came in at 0.52 ACH50. Building inspector said it was the tightest house he'd tested in 15 years.
After years of testing and monitoring, here's what ends up in our specs: