Real Projects. Real Results.

Case Study #1 — CMHC MLI Select + Saving by Design

Estate Builder — 10-Unit MURB, Mount Forest, ON

Near Completion Discovery | 6 Model Types | CMHC Financing + Enbridge Gas Incentive

The Challenge

Estate Builder discovered CMHC MLI Select near completion — when most would assume it was too late to qualify. They reached out to AJEC with 10 units across 6 different model types, looking for any path forward. The spec changes needed to be low-cost or no-cost to make the numbers work at that stage.

What AJEC Did

We modelled all 6 unit types and identified the minimum upgrades needed to hit CMHC MLI Select targets — without over-specifying. Then we spotted something the builder hadn’t considered: the Enbridge Gas Saving by Design (SBD) program. By enrolling in SBD, the post-construction inspection cost was fully covered under the program.

• Energy modelling across 6 model types
• Low-cost spec changes to hit MLI Select thresholds
• Identified and enrolled in Enbridge Saving by Design program
• Post-construction inspection covered under SBD
• Free blower door test included

The Results

Item	Value
CMHC MLI Select qualification	✅ Achieved
Enbridge Gas cash incentive (Saving by Design)	+$16,500
AJEC total fees (modelling + SBD enrolment)	~$9,900
Post-construction inspection (covered under SBD)	$0 out of pocket
Blower door test	Free
Net result after paying AJEC in full	+$6,600 cash

“They came to us near completion thinking it was too late. It wasn’t. They walked away with $6,600 in hand after paying us — and preferred CMHC financing on the mortgage.”

Case Study #2 — SB-12 Performance Compliance

Custom Addition — Downtown Toronto, ON

Infill Addition | SB-12 Performance Path | Project-Enabling Solution

The Challenge

The addition required continuous insulation on the above-grade walls under the SB-12 prescriptive path — but the thicker walls would have encroached onto the neighbouring property. In a dense urban infill context, that meant the project simply couldn’t be built as designed. The prescriptive path had no flexibility to accommodate the site constraints.

What AJEC Did

We used performance compliance modelling to demonstrate SB-12 compliance without the continuous insulation requirement. By modelling the whole building’s energy performance, we were able to trade off wall assembly requirements against other efficiency measures — keeping the walls at their original thickness.

• Eliminated the need for continuous insulation on above-grade walls
• Removed the DWHR requirement — performance modelling showed minimal energy savings from the unit, while the equipment cost is high and copper production carries significant embodied carbon
• Justified use of a compact, space-constrained HRV that doesn’t meet prescriptive efficiency requirements — approved through the performance model
• Maintained the original wall thickness, keeping the addition within property lines

The Results

Outcome	Result
SB-12 compliance achieved	✅ Via performance path
Continuous insulation requirement	✅ Eliminated
Wall thickness — neighbour encroachment	✅ Resolved
Space-constrained HRV approved	✅ Approved via model
DWHR unit removed from specs	✅ Not required
Net cost of AJEC’s work	~$0 — offset by DWHR savings
Project outcome	Built — as designed

“Under the prescriptive path, this addition couldn’t have been built. Performance modelling changed that — same design, same footprint, fully code-compliant. And the savings from removing the DWHR covered our fees.”

Case Study #3 — ENERGY STAR for New Homes + Saving by Design

Duncan Hill Homes — 47-Unit Subdivision, Richmond Hill, ON

City-Mandated ENERGY STAR | Performance Path VE | Enbridge SBD Rebates | Repeat Client

The Challenge

ENERGY STAR certification was a city requirement for this subdivision — non-negotiable, but adding cost in an already difficult market. Duncan Hill Homes needed to meet compliance without squeezing margins further or passing costs onto buyers competing in a down market. The goal: make ENERGY STAR work for the business, not just the building permit.

What AJEC Did

We started with a full comparison of the prescriptive vs performance path — priced out and laid out upfront so the builder could see exactly where their money was going before committing to a spec. The performance path cost more on the energy advisor side, but the value engineering savings made it the clear winner. No guesswork, no surprises at construction.

• Compared prescriptive vs performance path costs upfront across 12 model types
• Value-engineered specs to remove unnecessary upgrades — performance path won
• Enrolled the project in Enbridge Saving by Design (SBD) alongside ENERGY STAR — lower SBD cost when coupled with ENERGY STAR inspection
• Provided site training and ongoing support as part of AJEC’s continuous service to a repeat client
• Ran the AJEC 1.5 and 1.0 ACH Challenge on site — crews that hit aggressive airtightness targets were rewarded with Uber Eats gift cards

The result on site: many homes hit 1.5 ACH and below. Several crews hit 1.0 ACH. The site team earned $350 in total rewards — because high-performance work deserves to be recognized.

The Numbers

Item	Amount
Plan analysis — 12 models @ $300/model	$3,600
Performance compliance — 47 units @ $750/unit	$35,250
SBD enrolment — 47 units @ $200/unit	$9,400
Total AJEC fees	$48,250
Enbridge SBD rebate — 47 units @ $1,650/unit	+$77,550
Net to builder after paying AJEC in full	+$29,300

The Results

• Zero failed inspections across all 47 units
• ENERGY STAR labelling cost fully covered — and then some
• Higher salability and profit in a down market
• Site crew hit 1.5 and 1.0 ACH targets — industry-leading airtightness
• Duncan Hill Homes has two more sites lined up with AJEC

“ENERGY STAR was a city mandate — a cost the builder couldn’t avoid. We turned it into a $29,300 net gain. The compliance paid for itself, and then some. That’s the win-win-win: the builder makes money, the homeowner gets a better-built home, and our team keeps raising the bar.”

Case Study #4 — CHBA Net Zero Ready

Lakeview Homes — First Net Zero Ready Home, Erin, ON

10+ Year AJEC Client | ENERGY STAR to Net Zero Ready | $15K Enbridge Incentive | Embodied Carbon Reduction

The Challenge

Lakeview Homes had been building ENERGY STAR homes with AJEC for over a decade. The next step — CHBA Net Zero Ready — felt like a significant leap, especially in a price-sensitive market that was already under pressure. Increasing construction costs on an already cautious buyer pool wasn’t a comfortable decision. The question wasn’t whether Net Zero Ready was the right direction. It was whether the numbers would work.

What AJEC Did

After a decade of working together, AJEC knew Lakeview Homes’ build quality inside and out. We knew they were ready — even if the spec sheet didn’t say so yet. We ran our Best Bang for Your Buck analysis: a detailed VE study that maps exactly where each upgrade dollar earns the most performance gain, and where spending more adds nothing.

• Full value engineering study across the home’s systems
• Identified the minimum HVAC spec changes needed to hit Net Zero Ready targets
• Zero changes required to the building envelope — Lakeview Homes already built that well
• Builder was so energized by the outcome, they went a step further — reducing the embodied carbon of their construction materials

The result wasn’t just a label. It was a builder who fully understood every dollar of the upgrade — and chose to go even further than required.

The Results

Outcome	Result
CHBA Net Zero Ready certification	✅ Achieved
Building envelope changes required	None
Construction timeline impact	No change
Energy use reduction vs code minimum	70%+
Embodied carbon (GHG) reduction	~10 tonnes
Enbridge Gas incentive (Net Zero Ready)	+$15,000
Net cost increase vs ENERGY STAR	Minimal — offset by $15K incentive

Net Zero Ready doesn’t take longer to build. And with a $15,000 Enbridge Gas incentive covering a significant portion of the upgrade cost, the number worked better than the builder expected. What’s left is the ultimate in comfort, sustainability, and social responsibility — and a business that’s future-proofed before the building code forces the issue.

“Lakeview Homes didn’t wait for the code to force their hand. They got there first — with a $15,000 incentive in their pocket and found out it wasn’t nearly as hard as it looked. That’s what ten years of building well gets you.”

Case Study #5 — SB-12 Performance Compliance at Scale

Geranium Homes — 300+ Unit Production Build, Ontario

Large Production Builder | SB-12 VE | DWHR Elimination | Site Training & QA

The Challenge

Geranium builds code-compliant homes at scale. SB-12 was non-negotiable — but the prescriptive path was adding cost without adding value. DWHR units were being specified across model types, sometimes two per home due to layout constraints, at roughly $1,000 each. Multiply that across hundreds of homes and the numbers get uncomfortable fast. They came to AJEC to find a smarter path — and to reinvest the savings into building better, not just building to minimum spec.

What AJEC Did

We started with a full VE study across all 30 model types. By running performance compliance modelling for SB-12, we identified which homes could meet code without a DWHR — eliminating $1,000 to $2,000 in equipment cost per unit. The savings were then reinvested where they actually matter: site training for the production crew, and blower door testing on every home to catch air sealing failures before occupancy.

• SB-12 performance modelling across 30 model types — $300/model
• DWHR units eliminated on qualifying homes — saving $1,000–$2,000 per unit
• Final inspection, blower door test, and site training included at $450/home
• On-site crew training embedded into the production workflow
• Quality assurance on every home — catching issues before they become callbacks

The Numbers — At Scale

Item	Cost
Plan analysis — 30 models @ $300/model	$9,000
Final inspection + blower door + site training — 300+ homes @ $450/home	$135,000+
Total AJEC investment	~$144,000
DWHR eliminated @ $1,000/unit (1 per home, conservative)	$300,000+
Homes requiring dual DWHR — additional $1,000 saved per unit	Additional savings
Net construction savings (conservative)	$150,000+

Beyond the Numbers

The savings paid for everything AJEC did — and then some. But the more durable outcome is what those savings were reinvested into: a production crew trained to build tight, and a blower door test on every home that catches air sealing failures before the homeowner moves in. The reduction in quality-related complaints and callbacks that followed? Impossible to put a number on — but very easy to feel on the bottom line.

“At this scale, every dollar saved per unit compounds fast. AJEC didn’t just pay for themselves — they funded a quality program that made every home better. That’s the kind of math production builders should be doing.”

🏗 Estate Builder — Mount Forest 🌇 Custom Addition — Toronto 🏘 Duncan Hill — Richmond Hill 🌊 Lakeview Homes — Erin 🍢 Geranium Homes — Ontario ↑ Back to Top