Sustainable practices are being built into every aspect of properties, with the latest innovations shaping secondary markets. While long-term savings play a role, the shift is ultimately driven by something deeper: a considered way of living. 

“We notice that buyers are increasingly informed and intentional, especially in the high-end property market [in the Eastern Townships],” says Marie-Piers Barsolou, Executive Vice President of Sales, who works alongside Johanne Meunier, Executive Vice President of Sales at Sotheby’s International Realty Québec. “They are very concerned about respecting the environment and reducing their environmental impact.” 

“In the Okanagan’s recreational and secondary home market, energy efficiency has evolved from a design preference into a financial strategy,” says Scott Marshall, Senior Vice President of Sales, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada. “Luxury buyers today are navigating a landscape that includes… increased carrying costs overall. Energy-efficient homes — particularly in the vacation and secondary segment — offer a meaningful way to offset those costs.” 

“In Canmore, we’re in a unique position in that we are adjacent to the Banff National Park, and we’re surrounded by provincial parks, so people have an environmental mindset here. Solar is a big trend because Canmore’s such a sunny place, and geothermal heat exchange works well because our water table is so cold,” says Christopher Vincent, Senior Vice President of Sales, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada. Finally, there is a strong intent to, as much as possible, achieve zero or close to net zero homes.

This article originally appeared in Insight The Art of Living: The Harmony Issue, written by Dick Snyder.