Sterling Homes' Green Building Leadership Reaches Platinum Heights in Alberta
Two prominent Alberta home builders are establishing themselves as provincial pioneers in the creation of superior, environmentally conscious residences. Sterling Homes Calgary and Sterling Homes Edmonton are undergoing a significant green transformation, constructing homes that exceed standard building codes through enhanced energy performance and sustainable methodologies.
Exponential Growth in Green Certifications
The journey toward sustainability has seen remarkable progress for both branches. In Calgary, Sterling Homes obtained its inaugural Built Green certification in January 2006, which stood as the sole certification that year. Fast forward to 2025, and that number has skyrocketed to over 500 certifications. Historically, silver and gold levels dominated their certification portfolio, but last year witnessed a substantial shift, with platinum certifications surging to represent thirty-five percent of their total.
Similarly, Sterling Edmonton experienced explosive growth, leaping from an initial fifteen certifications in 2022—with their first achieved at the end of May that year—to more than 335 certifications in the previous year. While gold certifications led in 2023 and 2024, platinum certifications have consistently increased annually since 2022, also reaching a significant thirty-five percent threshold last year.
Platinum Certification: A Benchmark of Excellence
According to data from Built Green Canada, the platinum certification numbers for both Sterling Calgary and Sterling Edmonton in 2025 far surpass those of comparable certified home builders across the province. Built Green Canada, a national organization headquartered in Edmonton, provides third-party certification for environmentally friendly homes and buildings, offering various levels from bronze ascending to gold, platinum, and higher net zero tiers.
"This is a demonstration of Sterling Homes' forward-thinking approach," stated Jenifer Christenson, CEO of Built Green. "Reaching a Built Green platinum certification is fantastic and is definitely not easy, requiring a thirty percent energy efficiency improvement over today's building code."
The Comprehensive Nature of Platinum Standards
The platinum certification encompasses a wide array of sustainable features, extending beyond mere energy savings. It includes rigorous standards for materials and construction methods, indoor air quality, ventilation systems, waste management protocols, water conservation measures, occupant wellness considerations, and the builder's overall business practices.
"Our certification levels require energy performance improvements per certification level in addition to increased requirements in the other key areas of sustainability," Christenson added. "While Sterling is not at the highest level of certifications with platinum—there are two other certification levels: net zero energy ready+ and net zero energy+—platinum is an outstanding certification level."
What Platinum Certification Means for Homeowners
Achieving Built Green platinum certification translates to tangible benefits for residents. Homes feature higher insulation values, superior quality windows, and slab insulation—details that significantly enhance comfort while reducing energy consumption. Additionally, Sterling Homes includes energy-efficient appliances as part of the platinum certification process, further contributing to lower utility bills and a reduced environmental footprint.
The Denali 6 model by Sterling Homes, which can be constructed to meet Built Green Canada's platinum certification, exemplifies this commitment. This model represents how sustainable building practices can be integrated into modern home design without compromising on quality or livability.
As Alberta continues to embrace greener construction standards, Sterling Homes' platinum achievements set a new benchmark for the industry, demonstrating that environmental responsibility and residential excellence can go hand in hand.
