Vancouver’s First Net Zero Home with BIPV Solar Panels
A Net Zero home where considered design and high performance are built in from the ground up.
Averra Developments set out to prove that a home can be beautiful and responsible in equal measure. Located on a quiet street in Mount Pleasant, this three-storey single-family home was completed in 2025 and achieves Net Zero energy performance, certified by Capture Energy, without compromise to the quality of living inside it.
That commitment extends to the roofline. Rather than mounted panels, this home uses Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) technology, with solar cells embedded directly into the roofing material. No racks, no hardware, no visual disruption. The home generates its own energy while looking like it simply doesn’t.
Inside, a cohesive palette of white oak, warm stone, and brass runs throughout, grounded by wide-plank hardwood floors and punctuated by spaces that genuinely surprise.
About
The home opens with a statement: a bold black pivot door onto a foyer finished in black and white marble checkerboard tile. Built-in oak storage lines the entry, and a custom mudroom with black cabinetry, brass hooks, and an integrated bench sits just beyond.
The main level is an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area. The kitchen features floor-to-ceiling flat-panel oak cabinetry, dark stone countertops with a matching full-height backsplash, and a large waterfall island with open shelving below. Double wall ovens and a panel-integrated refrigerator disappear into the millwork, and an arched passage leads to a full scullery: a dedicated prep room with white cabinetry, open oak shelving, and a prep sink that keeps the main kitchen clear for living.
The dining area has a custom built-in bench with upholstered seating and flanking storage. The living room is anchored by a full-wall built-in combining closed storage, open shelving, a media niche, and a window seat.
The powder room earns its own mention: floor-to-ceiling deep green Venetian plaster, a sculptural floating marble vanity, wall-mounted brass fixtures, and patterned encaustic tile underfoot. It stops people mid-tour.
The primary suite has vaulted ceilings, wide-plank oak floors, and a sliding glass door to a private deck. The ensuite features a freestanding soaker tub, glass-enclosed shower, floating double-sink oak vanity, and terrazzo tile throughout, with a dedicated oak dressing table with lit mirror and floral wallpaper accent just off the bathroom.
NET ZERO
Certified Net Zero by Capture Energy, this home is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes. The result is a home that is quieter, more comfortable year-round, and significantly cheaper to operate than conventionally built new construction.