Sustainable, energy efficient community striving in Calgary
Posted Jul 10, 2016 5:30 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Calgary is known for a lot of things, but being environmentally-friendly is not necessarily one of them.
However, a northwest community is challenging that perception, with its solar-powered, energy efficient homes.
It’s called Echo Haven, and it’s the first of its kind in the city.
Back in 2014, it was pretty empty, with only a handful of families living in the few homes that had been built.
Martin Pelletier, who was one of the first to move into the area, says a lot has changed since then.
“We have a lot more community members, so there have been a number of new houses that have been built, and families moving into the community,” he said. “There’s been tremendous support and buy-in to the sustainable living.”
Video: Darren Harmon, Forefront Video Tours
He’s not surprised by the success of the neighbourhood. He says people realize that there are a lot of benefits to living there, including lower utility fees, and a large, open green space.
But, he says it’s the sense of community that really draws people in.
“We all know each other very well. There have been a number of families; you have a mix of people living here. You have retirees; you have people with young kids, people with older kids. It’s quite a diverse community,” Pelletier said. “We’ve been able to rally around a common belief of sustainability, and that’s really fostered a really wonderful neighbourhood.”
He adds, more and more people are trying to live a sustainable lifestyle, and he expects to see more communities like Echo Haven being built in the future.
