Looking at the stately Georgian-style home, the observer wouldn’t know that it was built to the highest standards of energy efficiency while borrowing from energy-wise ideas of the Georgian era.

The first GreenHouse certified home in Halton Region was built by Greenbilt near Bronte Harbour in Oakville. It’s a testament to the fact that Ontario home builders are among the driving forces behind constructing greener homes, suggests Dan Cooper of Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage.

“There are a number of industry-wide initiatives such as the very stringent GreenHouse certification program that encourage home builders to embrace and adopt energy-efficient products, technologies and practices. But individual companies like Greenbilt Homes and builders like Mike Manning and Catherine Ann Marshall are leading the way by building beautiful homes that are luxurious and sustainable,” says Cooper, who admits he’s proud to be the Broker for this “exciting new project.”

He describes some of the old-fashioned, common sense solutions found in the two-story home like relying on natural daylight for lighting by installing glass doors and generous windows. Overhangs and porches provide cooling shade and the driveway’s paving stones allow natural water drainage just as gravel driveways used to be back when Georgian architecture was born.

Before modern refrigeration was available, food was preserved in cold cellars dug into a hill that utilized the earth’s cool temperature. This home features an updated version in the form of an 80-foot walk-in food and wine cellar in the basement that is maintained at a constant 55 degrees with a geothermal system.

The builder also used re-cut and re-polished granite, quartz with recycled glass as well as cork flooring in the kitchen with 100 per cent recycled content. The luxurious spa tub in the master en-suite was purchased for a fraction of its value at the Habitat for Humanity Reuse Centre.

“The list goes on. In fact, there are 85 green features, combining to exceed the GreenHouse Certification requirements,” Cooper explains.

Greenbilt company president Mike Manning, with 30 years experience in construction, spent two years researching green technologies and building approaches before beginning this first Oakville project by Greenbilt. His company also benefitted from the knowledge of suppliers who suggesting creative approaches and could recommend products and materials that fit with the company’s green approach.

For a virtual tour of the home go DanCooperTV.com and click on the video titled Oakville’s First Green Home. For more on Dan Cooper’s real estate services go to the website at DanCooper.com and to view his informative and entertaining real estate video series go to DailyWebTV.com.