Beyond the Code: A Saskatchewan Legacy of Innovation, Resilience, and Better Homes (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781997860136)

Long before "net zero" became part of our vocabulary, Saskatchewan homebuilders were proving that - even in our extreme prairie climate with its long and cold winters - they could design and build homes that were comfortable, energy-efficient, and affordable to operate. They developed demonstration projects that caught national and international attention and tested ideas that would later be written into building codes.

This book will take you on a journey through the new tools, materials, and ideas that defined these decades of innovation; from government programs to early building codes to the bold experiments of the Saskatchewan Conservation House and beyond. This book also examines the challenges faced by the building industry along the way - the moments when promising ideas stalled, when policy didn't keep pace, or when market pressures pushed the industry toward "good enough" instead of "best possible."

This is not just a history book; it is a roadmap. It is also a celebration of the people who have brought Saskatchewan homebuilding this far. Over the past several decades, Saskatchewan builders have figured out how to build durable, efficient, comfortable homes. The technology exists; the methods are proven. What happens next will define the next chapter in Canadian homebuilding.

This book is a call to action for the future. Thanks to the contributions of Saskatchewan, the ability exists to make high-performance building the standard across Canada. Pursuing this ability will create a legacy that Saskatchewan can be proud of for generations to come.

Keith Hanson is an innovator in sustainable housing development, energy conservation, and adult education for the construction industry. He founded Sun Ridge Residential in 1981 to provide technical and energy-rating services to builders, developers, and government bodies.