Abbotsford, B.C. project, Phoenix House by Best Builders, honoured in national awards
Built Green Canada announces winners in its second annual Maverick Awards—a program to reward and profile leadership in sustainable building through its three exclusive categories. Out of entries from British Columbia to Ontario, the Built Green team was keen to see what transformative green solutions would be unveiled through the transformational award submissions. The purpose of this award is to recognize the impact sustainability practices can have in driving real change: enabling fundamental progress. This year, the judges were deadlocked, and this distinction would go to two builders: one in B.C. and one in Alberta.
One of these awards went to Best Builders’ Phoenix House rebuild in Abbotsford, B.C. Following a devastating fire, this home became a remarkable rebuild setting a new benchmark for low-carbon renovations, while addressing resilience and holistic sustainability in a multi-generational home—it’s also Canada’s first Zero Carbon certified (Living Building Institute), BUILT GREEN® Net Zero Energy+ home, and it won the 2024 BC Embodied Carbon Award! Meanwhile, it’s involved in multiple local and international studies, so others can learn from it.
Phoenix House showcases how thoughtful design, innovative materials and strategic collaboration can redefine sustainable residential construction, providing a model for low-carbon living while inspiring industry. From the outset, the homeowners were committed to creating a fossil-free home, prioritizing sustainability and energy resilience. To support this vision, renewable energy through solar panels was integrated, ensuring long-term energy stability while reducing utility costs. Additionally, tailored mechanical systems, including heat pumps and two drain water heat recovery systems were installed to maximize energy efficiency, the latter capturing and reusing heat from wastewater. To further enhance resilience, the team is exploring the installation of a load management system (providing electrical code updates) with battery storage, providing backup power and optimizing energy use for greater reliability in the years to come.
The project also achieved significant embodied carbon reductions through innovative strategies: using a lean design on the existing foundation slab and footings (eliminating 16,000 kg CO₂e), using cellulose and hemp insulation materials and incorporating reclaimed framing lumber and siding. A creative 10% reduction in glazing area lowered embodied carbon by 660 kg CO₂e, while organic insulation materials, including cellulose and hemp, sequestered over 12,000 kg CO₂e.
Gas-free operation and high-performance ventilation systems play a critical role in improving indoor air quality, directly supporting occupant health. By eliminating combustion-based pollutants and ensuring a constant supply of fresh, filtered air, these systems create a healthier living environment with reduced allergens and indoor contaminants.
Meanwhile, the home is thoughtfully designed for long-term adaptability, allowing it to evolve with the changing needs of the multi-generational family. With flexible spaces that can accommodate different life stages and allow for aging in place, this design approach ensures that the homeowners can comfortably live in the house for years, if not generations, to come.
“Being a carpenter first and watching all this material go to waste has always been tough,” says Best Builders’ Owner, Todd Best. “I have always believed in a circular economy, and now I have a project where I can teach others that this works, and it’s good for the environment. It’s been a great experience to learn and share my findings with my apprentices / carpenters and my two sons. Those who dare win.”
To enable a unified vision, there was early collaboration among stakeholders, including the builder, the Energy and Carbon Advisor (Carbon Wise), the Architect (NBA), the interior designers (Form Collective), and the homeowners, supported by rigorous Cradle-to-Grave Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) to guide design and material choices.
Looking ahead, Best Builders hopes to see industry embrace more collaborative approaches, recognizing that sustainable building practices are not only possible but necessary. Low-carbon materials are not something to be feared. They are a critical tool in reducing our environmental impact, and with the right mindset, they can become the new standard rather than the exception. By sharing the lessons from Phoenix House, their team aims to inspire more industry professionals to take action, proving that sustainable, high-performance homes are within reach for everyone.
It was Best Builders’ goal to create a legacy home for the family as well as a blueprint for other homeowners, builders and government agencies. They hope the impact of demonstrating how building an extreme efficiency / carbon-neutral home can have a long-lasting impact on the reduction of limited energy resources. The home will be involved in multiple local and international studies, ranging from multi-year Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) case study for overheating and wildfire smoke evaluation as well as IEA EBC Annex 89: Ways to Implement Net-Zero- Whole-Life Carbon Building, which runs under the auspices of the International Energy Agency, Energy in Building and Community program (IEA EBC).
Recognizing the importance of sharing this journey, the homeowners have taken the initiative to document the entire process, creating a documentary that will offer valuable insights into the challenges and successes of building better. In addition, Carbon Wise is preparing a detailed case study to be shared with various organizations, further amplifying the project’s impact. The team has already presented Phoenix House at industry-leading events such as the Home Show, BUILDEX and the Passive House Accelerator, fostering important discussions around the future of sustainable construction.
“Best Builders has went beyond restoring a structure to creating a pioneering example of low-carbon, high-performance residential construction through strategic and comprehensive solutions—we’re thrilled to know our programs helped guide this transformation,” says Jenifer Christenson, chief executive officer at Built Green Canada. “This trailblazer has embodied our mission: to progress industry toward more holistic sustainable building practices.”
A many-time award-winning company, Best Builders has a Red Seal-certified team that takes on custom home, condo and home renovation projects. They have been building thoughtful solutions since 1995 and serve Metro Vancouver, South Delta, South Surrey and White Rock. Owner, Todd Best, grew up surrounded by building models, as his father was a master architect and founder of Best Builders. Todd entered the homebuilding industry with a simple mission: to build homes of exceptionally high quality, and to provide the kind of service his clients would remember as an experience.
The Maverick Awards are another step forward in Built Green Canada's mission to progress sustainability practices and recognize leadership; this year, four winners have been announced in conjunction with title co-sponsors, Jayman BUILT and SkyFire Energy. The Transformational Award, sponsored by Alberta Real Estate Foundation, had a tie this year; the other winner is Spring Creek Mountain Village in Canmore, which has transformed from a mobile home park into an impressive multi-phase community largely fueled by geo-exchange, which embraces social, environmental and economic sustainability. The Mavericks awarded Jim Zsiros of J. Zsiros Contracting with the Ambassador Award for exemplifying the power of hands-on ambassadorship—he’s created a ripple effect that’s elevated green building standards, particularly Built Green, across the region. Meanwhile, s2e Technologies won the Innovation Award for their London-based project, EVE Park, which is aiming for a net zero residential development rethinking suburban living: addressing high performance buildings and smart parking.