From Bleeding Edge to Leading Edge
A Builders Guide to Net Zero Homes
by Doug Tarry Jr.

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“I’ve done complicated. It’s complicated.” Residential and commercial buildings account for 17% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. In the United States, that figure is roughly 29%. Net Zero homes, which produce at least as much energy as they consume, will play a key role in the current global climate crisis by drastically reducing energy consumption in the housing sector. Doug Tarry is a leading international authority on Net Zero homes. His company, Doug Tarry Homes Limited, has certified more Net Zero / Net Zero Ready homes (over 500 and counting) than any other builder in Canada. The title of Doug’s book, “From Bleeding Edge to Leading Edge: A Builders Guide to Net Zero Homes”, refers to his complicated and sometimes painful journey to Net Zero. Throughout the book, Doug offers his first-hand experience on what has worked and what hasn’t in building Net Zero homes, along with expert advice from some of the industry’s leading builders, building scientists and energy consultants. Much has been written about the technical details of building high-performance homes – the “what”. This book goes further and deals with the “why” and the “how”, discussing topics such as holistic design, embodied carbon, the Four Principals of Modern Design, the 100-year home, and climate resiliency. Written in plain language and infused with humor and storytelling, this book is a must-read for builders, renovators, architects, municipal officials, industry stakeholders and home buyers - anyone interested in the future of home building. It will help builders and their teams get to Net Zero in less time, with far less cost and pain.

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Doug Tarry is the President of Doug Tarry Homes Limited (DTL) in St Thomas, Ontario, a multi-award-winning home building company established by his late father, Doug Tarry Sr, in 1954. In the decades prior to working in the family business, Doug aspired to playing in a punk rock band, became certified as a professional chef, and for six years ran the London Knights, a junior Ontario Hockey League team owned by the Tarry family. Doug has led humanitarian missions in Puerto Rico, named Hope Agua Vita, assisting with rebuilding in the village of San Lorenzo after it was devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017. That same year, he spearheaded a community effort of over 600 volunteers in his hometown of St Thomas to build a Net Zero Ready home in 3 days in support of a young family struck by unexpected tragedy. Given the name HOPE, the project was filmed and won the Oniros Film Award (NYC) for Best Documentary Short in 2021. In the summer of 2023, in partnership with the YWCA St Thomas-Elgin and Sanctuary Homes, DTL began site servicing for the construction of 40 tiny home units in a campus-like setting that will provide safe, clean, sustainable, and affordable housing in an effort to reduce homelessness and improve housing stability for marginalized individuals and small families in the community. Through his webinars, speaking engagements, publications, and partnerships with numerous organizations, Doug eagerly shares his philosophies, processes, concepts, and experience with other builders and industry leaders as he believes we should all work towards the greater good of our people and our planet: “Always leave your campsite better than you found it” (Doug Tarry Sr). Doug and his wife Carolyne reside in St Thomas, a small city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, best known for Jumbo the Elephant, Thomas the Train, the Elevated Park, more than 30 exterior building murals, and over 40 km of walking trails in and around the community. The couple’s greatest joy is their young grandson to whom they dedicate all their efforts in making this world a better place.

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Contributors

Author

Doug Tarry Jr.

Editor

Marc Huminilowycz

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