Jayman Built has won the inaugural Green Building category at the 2026 Emerald Awards, Alberta's premier environmental awards program. The category, introduced for the first time this year, received one of the highest numbers of nominations across the entire program, reflecting the growing emphasis on sustainable construction in the province.
Strong Debut for Green Building Category
The Emerald Awards, now in their 35th year, celebrated eco-excellence in Alberta's residential building sector, highlighting sustainable building practices and projects across the province. The Green Building category made a strong debut, according to Marisa Orfei, executive director of the Alberta Emerald Foundation.
“The Green Building category made a strong debut this year, receiving one of the highest numbers of nominations across the Emerald Awards program,” Orfei said. “The response reflects the growing importance of designing and building spaces that reduce environmental impact while supporting healthier, more resilient communities.”
Jayman Built's Winning Approach
Jayman Built walked away with the initial award, beating out two other finalists: Edmonton's SunRise, which transformed a former office tower into an energy-efficient residential building, and the Okâch-Îyethkabi Oûgitûbi pavilion in Banff. The company's commitment to making energy-efficient features standard in every home was key to its win.
“At Jayman Built, we’ve made a conscious decision to commoditize high-performance building features by including them as standard in every home,” said Jay Westman, Jayman Built’s chairman and CEO. “Eight 500-watt solar panels, our improved exterior insulation and Built Green Platinum certification aren’t upgrades, they’re part of the home. By making these features standard, we’re able to bring down costs for homeowners while delivering greater energy efficiency, lower carbon emissions. That’s the science of homebuilding at work and how we’re building a greener future.”
Two Decades of Sustainable Homebuilding
This Emerald Award recognizes more than two decades of Jayman's commitment to sustainable home building. Since becoming a founding member of Built Green Canada in 2004, Jayman has certified more than 14,840 homes, more than any other builder that has participated in the program. For 2026, all Jayman homes are certified Built Green Platinum, which saves homeowners up to 25 per cent on their mortgage insurance fees, putting $6,000, on average, back in their pocket.
Orfei congratulated Jayman Built, saying, “Their commitment to making energy-efficient features a standard part of every home demonstrates how innovation in the housing sector can benefit both homeowners and the environment. Their leadership is helping to shape a more sustainable future for Alberta.”
Other Notable Finalists
Edmonton's Blatchford, a sustainable neighbourhood being developed by the city on the former municipal airport site, was a runner-up in the Climate Adaptation and Resilience category. The award went to Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd. and the Town of Drumheller for the Drumheller Flood Mitigation Program, which recognizes initiatives that help communities, ecosystems, or industries adapt to climate impacts or build resilience.
