Single Family Program

Built Green Canada's flagship, the Single Family program's origins are in 2003 when the organization was formed. Since then, the program has undergone iterations to ensure it meets the needs of industry. The program takes a holistic approach that includes energy efficiency as a key focus and goes on to other critical aspects of sustainable building—like materials and methods, water conservation, and waste management—and includes advanced building technologies.

Program participation is affordable; have a look at five cost-effective ways to build a BUILT GREEN® home. In select markets, incentives and rebates are available.

The Single Family program is also applicable to low-rise multi-family.

Home Certification

We label homes that have met the compliance requirements for energy performance as well as the other seven key areas of sustainability outlined in Built Green's holistic programs. Our checklist guides the builder through the program, offering options on green features to integrate into their projects.

The Single Family program is a two-in-one certification: the EnerGuide label through Natural Resources Canada and the BUILT GREEN® label through Built Green Canada. Certification recognizes the authenticity of a project, offering third-party verification to the build's energy efficiency and green features. There are levels of achievement—Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum—each requiring incremental increases in both energy performance scores and overall checklist points from the other six sections of the program. And, with the launch of Built Green’s Net Zero Energy+ program, there is the option for another level of achievement: Net Zero.

Beyond the BUILT GREEN® label and EnerGuide label, usually affixed to the furnace or electrical panel, the BUILT GREEN® metal plaque is available for purchase and can appear on the outside of the home or in the sidewalk.

EnerGuide is an official mark of Natural Resources Canada. Graphic used with permission.

Program Tools

Built Green Canada offers program-specific tools, including a checklist, guide, and process flow, available to members for the purposes of BUILT GREEN® certification. To learn more, please email us.

Product Sourcing

Our online Product Catalogue features materials for builders and developers interested in sustainable building. These products have been reviewed by our Technical Standards Committee and are intended to help builders save time sourcing; their use may help earn projects points towards certification.

Builder Support

We are committed to supporting our builders and ensuring the successful certification of their projects. Built Green provides affordable, online training—and we can provide builders with further assistance, including technical advice and on-the-ground support from other experience builders and industry professionals. 

You can also review our Request for Interpretation log, which includes questions and answers previously submitted; recommend an update to the Checklist; or email us if you require clarification on a checklist item(s).