“A new building standard that promotes energy saving, healthy indoor conditions with lots of fresh air and you guessed it, lots of natural light and ventilation from lots of windows and skylights. There is also a long list of green gizmos, from dual heat recovery ventilators to rainwater collection cisterns and solar thermal hot water. A [Somphy Smart House system](http://www.somfysystems.com/) controls the automated blinds. The Active House specification says that “All energy needed is supplied by renewable energy sources integrated in the building or from the nearby collective energy system and electricity grid”, which is, I think, deliberately vague; Here, they purchase landfill gas and renewable electricity from Bullfrog Power.” Via [Lloyd Alter](http://www.treehugger.com/author/lloyd-alter/) and [Treehugger](http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/active-house-comes-to-canada-superkul.html). Pics _© [Great Gulf](http://superkul.ca/)_