In the fall of 2008, John Godden spearheaded an initiative designed to bring industry stakeholders together to engage and support sustainable builders.
The goal was to construct 50 homes that all had 50% greater energy efficiency when compared to a home built to the 2006 Ontario Building Code. The program was named the “Green is 50 Challenge”. Designed as an industry-based pilot project, the Challenge partnered supporting manufacturers and suppliers with new home builders, local utilities and municipalities.
Based on the success of the Green is 50 Challenge in bringing industry stakeholders together to achieve a common goal, Godden teamed up with Lenard Hart to create the Sustainable Housing Foundation (SHF). Their early objective was to build capacity within the industry in order to advance sustainable building.
Since then, in its 10-year history, SHF has hosted numerous events to bring its key stakeholders — including design professionals (architects, designers and engineers), energy raters, builders and renovators, municipal officials, manufacturers and financial institutions/appraisers — together. Whether it’s discussing a performance or prescriptive part in the Building Code, or learning about new products that can assist builders in reaching their energy performance targets, SHF has been educating the marketplace about the advances in high performance homes for over a decade.