Green Buildings Open House Tour 2025

Alongside our sponsors, hosts, and volunteers, the Biosphere Institute held the Green Buildings Open House on Saturday, May 31st, 2025.

Together, we showcased 7 properties in the Bow Valley. Over 150 visitors toured the properties and learned about sustainable building practices from Passive House design techniques to off-grid building electrification.

About out 2025 tour Sponsors

Gold

At HSS Design Build, our mission is to accelerate the adoption of sustainable design and energy-efficient construction practices. Since our founding in 2016, we’ve been deeply rooted in the Bow Valley, crafting designs that honor the local landscape and create a meaningful connection to the natural environment. Guided by Passive House principles and European construction methods, we deliver cutting-edge solutions that reduce maintenance and lifecycle costs while ensuring lasting comfort and functionality. Specializing in Passive House and Mass Timber construction, we are committed to integrating innovative techniques and natural materials into every project.  

The Solar Club is a unique loyalty program designed specifically for small solar micro-generators! Earn a premium on your solar electricity and help further green Alberta's electricity grid. To qualify for all of the benefits included in this Solar Club package, you must be a micro-generator in Alberta and make a donation to your local food bank

Lance Trewartha founded Brightside Mechanical Inc. based in the Bow Valley, Alberta. With over 20 years of experience in the oil & gas industry, Lance is a qualified service technician and has installed industrial and residential-sized geothermal & geo-exchange systems, as well as common heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) systems.  Starting in Ontario and moving to Alberta in 2010.  The Brightside team and Lance aim to bring peace of mind to a client’s heating and cooling needs providing the maximum lifecycle of the product (from installation, maintenance and repair), so that they can get on with the important things in life like enjoying the rich offerings of Bow Valley Region.

The Eco-Solar Home Tour Society of Alberta organizes free open house style tours of homes and businesses that display practical and timely examples of sustainability including renewable energy (solar, wind, and geothermal), energy security, energy efficiency, water efficiency, low emission technologies, and natural landscaping. Through our tours the public can experience how homes and businesses are reducing their utility bills while reducing their carbon footprint. The Eco-Solar Tour is organized by a group of volunteers who have a passion for the environment and sustainability. Through the tour they are able to share this passion and educate and encourage others to consider the sustainable choices in new technologies and building practices.

MAC Fans and Furnaces is a Bow Valley HVAC Contractor specializing in upgrading and installing comfortable, healthy and energy efficient HVAC systems. We always look forward to joining like-minded project leaders and builders to be part of a fully integrated building project or to be part of your home improvement renovation.

Rocky Mountain Community Energy is the Bow Valley's local supplier of Electricity, Natural Gas, and Internet services. Moreover, through RMCE, you can join the Solar Club to earn a premium on your solar electricity! What differentiates Rocky Mountain Community Energy from our competition is our connection through the Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative to our community and our commitment to return profits to finance local renewable energy projects, which directly reduce the carbon intensity of the grid and advance Alberta’s energy transition. When you choose to purchase your electricity and natural gas from Rocky Mountain Community Energy, you actively invest in the design, construction, and operation of renewable energy projects in the Bow Valley. Sign up with Rocky Mountain Community Energy today and help us transform Alberta’s Energy!

Jotson’s focus is to empower consumers to manage their energy consumption, costs and emissions, with an objective of helping them reduce their energy consumption by 5-15%.  On average in Canada, households spend 7% of after tax household income on direct energy purchases and few know much about it.  It can even tell you if you are over paying your utility for your energy!  You can download their app through the Apple or Google app stores and if your utilities are with Enbridge, Direct Energy or Epcor – you can link your account and all your data will be downloaded and kept up to date by Jotson.  Start saving and emitting less today!

The Solar Club: The Solar Club is a unique loyalty program designed specifically for small solar micro-generators! Earn a premium on your solar electricity and help further green Alberta's electricity grid. To qualify for all of the benefits included in this Solar Club package, you must be a micro-generator in Alberta and make a donation to your local food bank.

The mission of HSS Design Build is to accelerate the transition to sustainable design and energy-efficient construction practices. We have been working in the heart of the Bow Valley since our foundation in 2016 and strive to create designs that resonate with the locale and develop a strong cultural context associated with our natural environment. Following Passive House Principles and European construction methods, we are able to deliver state-of-the-art solutions for our projects so that maintenance and lifecycle costs are minimized, and enjoyment and functionality are guaranteed for generations. We specialize in Passive House and Mass Timber construction and always prioritize the use of innovative methods and natural materials in our work.

Bow Valley Green Energy Coop is a grassroots, volunteer-run organization facilitating the creation of community-owned renewable energy generation projects in the Bow Valley and beyond. We leverage Member investment dollars to design, construct and operate renewable energy systems on local buildings. You can purchase your home’s electricity and natural gas from our trading partner Rocky Mountain Community Energy, who channel all their profits into supporting our work. Sign up with Rocky Mountain Community Energy today and help us transform Alberta’s Energy!

Lance Trewartha founded Brightside Mechanical Inc. based in the Bow Valley, Alberta. With over 20 years of experience in the oil & gas industry, Lance is a qualified service technician and has installed industrial and residential-sized geothermal & geo-exchange systems, as well as common heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) systems.  Starting in Ontario and moving to Alberta in 2010.  The Brightside team and Lance aim to bring peace of mind to a client’s heating and cooling needs providing the maximum lifecycle of the product (from installation, maintenance and repair), so that they can get on with the important things in life like enjoying the rich offerings of Bow Valley Region.

MAC Fans and Furnaces is a Bow Valley HVAC Contractor specializing in upgrading and installing comfortable, healthy and energy efficient HVAC systems. We always look forward to joining like-minded project leaders and builders to be part of a fully integrated building project or to be part of your home improvement renovation.

The mission of HSS Design Build is to accelerate the transition to sustainable design and energy-efficient construction practices. We have been working in the heart of the Bow Valley since our foundation in 2016 and strive to create designs that resonate with the locale and develop a strong cultural context associated with our natural environment. Following Passive House Principles and European construction methods, we are able to deliver state-of-the-art solutions for our projects so that maintenance and lifecycle costs are minimized, and enjoyment and functionality are guaranteed for generations. We specialize in Passive House and Mass Timber construction and always prioritize the use of innovative methods and natural materials in our work.