Net-zero technology promises to revolutionize homebuilding

As provincial and federal building regulations become more focused on sustainable development, BONE Structure founder and CEO Marc Bovet has seized the momentum and is helping to reshape the way we think about homebuilding.

After a personal homebuilding project went sour 10 years ago, Bovet, fuelled by frustration, took it upon himself to innovate a better way to build.

He talked to people, researched and looked at the ideology behind Lego, eventually coming to the "aha moment" that formed the premise behind BONE Structure.

Shipping containers gaining popularity as construction option

Once perceived as a childhood plaything, building blocks have gone big time.

Modular homes built out of shipping containers have blossomed into full-fledged housing options, with several Western Canadian-based companies making inroads into local markets and beyond.

"There's definitely a lot of interest in it now. I think people are starting to look at alternate techniques," said Charles Lemieux, co-founder of Alberta-based Blocks Modular Corp., which markets containers for residential, commercial and industrial purposes.

"I think the legwork is actually starting to do something. The city is understanding that we can meet architectural guidelines. It's just getting a product that is competitive – not cheap like what you see on TV where they cut a whole [in the container] and call it a home."