Riding the green wave
By Kristyl Clark Times Reporter Jul 02 2006
Langley Township will soon be home to Canada's first ever 'Built Green' subdivision
While many folks recycle, there are those who go one step farther to preserve the environment by driving hybrid vehicles, purchasing organic groceries and filling their gas tanks with environmentally friendly gasoline.
Now under construction in Langley, there is another option available to significantly reduce one's ecological footprint on the earth.
It's Yorkson Village, Canada's first ever 'Built Green" community, an energy efficiency and sustainability program for residential housing, launched by the Canadian Home Builders' Association of B.C.
Construction of the green built Yorkson Village Community is being done in accordance with the EnerGuide for New Houses efficiency target for new homes, identified in the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources' strategy, Energy Efficient Buildings: A Plan for B.C. The strategy was developed with input from the Canadian Home Builders' Association of British Columbia, industry and utilities.
The primary purpose of this strategy is to encourage homebuilders to use technologies, products and practices that will help to:
r increase energy efficiency and reduce pollution;
r improve indoor air quality, health and comfort;
r conserve water and preserve natural resources, and;
r improve durability and reduce ongoing maintenance costs.
Spearheading the Langley project is Dale Barron, president of Morningstar Homes. Based in Coquitlam, the residential home building company has built more than 3,000 houses to date.
"These homes are very energy efficient and will save home owners a great deal of money," said Barron of the 55 new houses currently under construction in Yorkson, a new Willoughby neighbourhood in Langley Township.
"Not to mention they will significantly improve the health of families compared to older homes."
Yorkson Village homes, because they are "built-green"certified, go beyond the basic requirements of the building code.
Each home is built using more sustainable materials and construction techniques, and each features the latest energy efficient technologies, Barron said.
The project has sparked the interest of homebuyers from far afield, and eight of the new houses were sold in the first week.
When asked why Morningstar chose Langley as its first location in Canada to build an entire 'green-built' community, Barron said it was a simple choice.
"Morningstar has always had a strong, positive relationship with Langley."
"We feel comfortable here because the Township has always worked with us.
"No other community has been as receptive," he said.
Township Mayor Kurt Alberts was impressed when he attended the opening ceremonies of Yorkson Village last week. "This new standard of energy efficiency is a great achievement, of which the home building industry should be proud," said Alberts.
Alberts says the homes make sense for Langley residents who wish to save money as energy costs continue to rise, and the project will provide lasting environmental benefits for the municipality.
Barron predicts many homes and neighborhoods built with the new efficiency standards will be popping up in the not so distant future.
"I would suggest that this is the way we'll see all home's being built within the next five years," he said.
There are currently three fully furnished show homes open for the public to view.
Prices range from $460,000 to $510,000.
Morningstar president Dale Barron is proud of a new standard in energy efficiency, at Yorkson Villiage, the first 'Built Green' community in Canada.
The Schacter Team - Your Langley Real Estate Experts.