Their Riverstone show home on the outskirts of Okotoks, which will open on September 15, is touted to be one of the “greenest” projects around and is designed to perform this most basic of construction needs by keeping the cold out through the use of the Solarcrete wall system. It will be the first home in the Calgary area to use this new technology and only the second in Canada.

This most ingenious building product — consisting of a six-inch foam mold sandwiched by two two-and-a-half-inch concrete layers on each side — is said to be the most efficient product in maintaining the home’s interior temperatures by totally insulating the home from the elements.

“Solarcrete is based on an old idea whose time has come with the advancements in building technology that allows us to use it in a more cost-effective manner”, says Terry Ryan, who along with his brother, Blair, runs this Okotoks-based custom home builder.

And its cost-effectiveness is its biggest advantage. “It costs us the same to build a house with conventional framing systems as it is to building one using Solarcrete,” he points out. The Riverstone show home is priced at $925,000 (including landscaping), but homes in the subdivision will start at $750,000.

The 1,950-square-foot Riverstone show home uses Solarcete walls all the way from the foundation up to the roof trusses and can reduce heating bills by up to 70 per cent, Ryan says. “We do use a high-efficiency furnace in the house, but it will be rarely needed, because the in-floor heating system we have, combined with Solarcrete walls, will keep everyone inside warm and toasty even in the middle of winter, it also keeps its cool during the summer so no need for an air-conditioning unit,” he says.

“With Solarcrete, you immediately enjoy the savings on heating costs, unlike other energy efficient homes where the initial investment is really high and you only recoup costs over a long period of time.”

The Riverstone show home is not just a “green” house but a gorgeous one as well. Ryan Brothers has been building custom homes for nearly half a century and they certainly know how to create a dream home.

The show home is a lavish, estate bungalow sitting on three-and-a-half acres of land on Range Road 338 along the eastern edge of Okotoks. It will have three bedrooms, including two in its fully developed, walk-out basement and lots of room for large gatherings and parties. The home features a den off the wide, welcoming foyer that can be used as a home office or library.

It also has an oversized three-car garage with more than enough room to equip it with a tool workshop, and also a large concrete deck at the back to enjoy the serene grassland surroundings.

It will have a lavish finish to fit its estate stature, including acacia hardwood, and ceramic tile for the flooring. “It uses an engineered floor so you won’t hear the usual creaks and groans of a normal house,” Ryan says. Granite countertops are found in the kitchen and bathrooms and elegant cabinetry complete its stately looks.

When asked if Riverstone will have BuiltGreen or LEED for Home certification, Ryan replies that has never been the goal. “We’re a small builder, we do five to 10 houses a year, and our goal has never been to win awards. What we do aim for is giving our customers the best product out there, and we do believe that our Solarcrete homes will have a lasting impact on sustainability and affordability as well,” he says. NL

FAST FACTS:
BUILDER: Ryan Brothers Custom Homes
AREA: Okotoks
STYLE: Bungalow with developed basement and landscaping
SIZE: 1,950 sq. ft.
PRICE: $925,000  for the show home, Riverstone Subdivision custom homes start at $750,000
DIRECTIONS: South on Highway 2, left at 338 Ave., and right at the fork, the show home is about 500 meters ahead on the right side of the road.
HOURS: By appointment

For more information, visit http://www.ryanbros.ca