B.C. builder says wildfire resilience a benefit to passive and net-zero homes

Conversations about passive homes are all about sustainability. Eco-friendly materials, lower GHG emissions, reduced waste products and smart energy consumption are the usual suspects. But worsening (and regular) wildfires—in B.C. and around the world—have passive and net-zero home builders thinking about sustainability through another lens: can passive and net-zero home construction contribute to a home’s wildfire resilience?

A viral photo of a passive house still standing when neighbouring homes were destroyed by the L.A. wildfires inspired this idea in Kevin Hatch, president of North Vancouver-based certified net-zero home builder and renovator Twin Lions. “It’s not to say that building a passive house is going to protect you from wildfire,” says Hatch, “because a large component of that is what is used on the outside.” Instead, he points out that many passive-home features can also contribute to wildfire resiliency.

For example, passive homes are built with good “building envelopes”—they’re sealed from the elements to ensure that there is minimal energy used in heating or cooling the home. Part of the solid building envelope strategy is triple-glazed windows. “And triple-glazed windows are less susceptible to blowing out when there’s massive heat outside from a wildfire,” Hatch explains. Further afield from a direct blaze, there’s the air circulation to think about: Hatch says a passive home’s filtration systems and use of recycled air can help reduce the impact of smoke pollution. He recalls a Net Zero custom home that Twin Lions built in the Edgemont Area: “A few years back, when there were forest fires and the air quality in Vancouver was pretty crappy, the homeowners at that place told us they didn’t even notice it,” he says. “The house was so airtight, and they had the HEPA filters and an HRV system that was constantly making sure fresh air was coming in… they were super comfortable in the house.” He notes that part of building a net zero home is building it to last, and that often involves the use of fire-resistant materials like noncombustible siding and metal roofing.

Twin Lions’ recent North Vancouver net-zero renovation was built in a wildfire development area. The home has triple-glazed windows, fire-retardant roofing, is clad in fire-resistant Hardie board, has fire-resistant coating on soffits, has solar panels (which can “provide emergency backup power in case of grid failure,” says Hatch) and there’s a certain radius around the house that’s a no-plant zone for flammable trees, shrubs and the like. Hatch points out that limiting the risk of nearby vegetation igniting your house isn’t specific to net-zero homes. “There are things that anybody can do,” he says, “anybody can can change their siding, anybody can change their windows—you don’t have to do a full reno or build a new house.”

The company recently issued a list of wildfire precautions that anyone can take:

• Regularly clear dead leaves, pine needles and other flammable debris from roofs, gutters and storm drains
• Store firewood and gas tanks away from the house
• Choose fire-resistant garden furniture and maintain safe placements to reduce fire spread
• Talk to a company about small renovations that can also help—like changing your siding, roof, or landscaping

As wildfires unfortunately become an annual disaster for British Columbians, Hatch supports these small changes. “It’s just like the energy efficiency conversation—there are things you can do to make your home more energy efficient, but you don’t have to do all the things.” For BCers building or renovating homes in 2025, he stresses the importance of thinking about the worst-case scenarios (even if it’s a bummer topic when you’re excited about your new space). “Invest in a home that’s going to keep yourself and your family comfortable, healthy and safe. Then, you can splurge on other things.”