High Performance Homes
A high performance home is one that is designed and built as a system: tightly built envelope with better insulation and wall systems, windows, ventilation and mechanical systems. Designed using modeling software, they are constructed without compromise to include the latest and greatest in building science, achieving optimal, high performance. This includes numerous benefits to you: energy efficiency, comfortable year-round, healthier, safer, quieter, durable, sustainable, controllable, save on utilities and maintenance, and benefit the environment while increasing the value of your home. It’s just how we normally build!
A CHBA Net Zero Home – new or renovated – is the ultimate high performance home, producing as much clean energy as it consumes. They are up to 80% more energy efficient than typical new homes and use renewable energy systems – usually solar panels – to produce the remaining energy they need. The result: every part of the house works together to create exceptional energy performance and the ultimate in comfort –a home at the forefront of sustainability. It all adds up to a better living experience.
The CHBA Net Zero Home Labelling Program – created by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association – has a clearly defined and rigorous two-tiered technical requirement that recognizes both the home and the builder or renovator. CHBA Qualified Net Zero Energy Advisors work directly with the builder to design and independently model, test and inspect each home to ensure it has met the program’s technical requirements. The certified home will have permanent labels placed on the electrical panel – a Net Zero Home label from the CHBA and an EnerGuide label from Natural Resources Canada.
Homeowners should be wary of claims by others like “near net zero” which doesn’t have a definition or a program like the CHBA Net Zero Program – that includes independent verification. Another key component of the CHBA program are training courses delivered by CHBA Qualified Net Zero Trainers. Over 1800 homes have been labelled by the program since it began in 2015.
A Net Zero Ready Home is a Net Zero Home that has a renewable energy system designed for it that will allow it to achieve Net Zero Home performance, but the renewable energy system is not yet installed. All the other parts of the building are complete, and it is wired to easily install the renewable energy system in the future.
An ENERGY STAR® Certified New Home is a type of high performance home that uses about 20% less energy as compared to a home built at base building code standards. They are independently planned, measured, tested, and verified by Government of Canada approved advisors and evaluators. They share all the benefits of high performance homes as described above plus increase the value of your home as ENERGY STAR® New Homes are generally regarded by consumers as being better-built homes. Once the home passes the independent inspection, a certificate is provided to you and an ENERGY STAR® label is affixed to your home.
Any builder can claim to build energy efficient homes. However, energy efficiency is not subjective – it can be measured. There are two methods we use to independently measure and verify the energy efficiency and quality of our homes: The Blower Door Test and The EnerGuide Rating.
The Blower Door Test is required for the permanent registration and labeling of ENERGY STAR® or CHBA Net Zero or Net Zero Ready certifications. The EnerGuide Rating is required for CHBA Net Zero or Net Zero Ready Homes and we add this test for our ENERGY STAR® homes. Both site tests are performed by independent, licensed professionals and Qualified Energy Advisors. You will be provided with records of test results and permanent labels and certifications.
Natural Resources Canada also conducts random quality assurance on ENERGY STAR® certified new homes and EnerGuide labelled homes. This is another check to ensure that these programs have credibility and integrity.
Houses built at code-minimum standards in the 2020’s use half the energy as those built in the 1990’s, which used half the energy as those built in the 1970’s.
Average home: 150-250 gigajoules per year (GJ)/year which varies based on size, type, location, construction quality, insulation, appliances, heating and cooling systems, as well as the maintenance and upgrades performed over the years.
Typical new home: 100-200 GJ/year which varies based on size, type and location.
ENERGY STAR® New Homes: use 20% less energy as compared to homes built at minimum building code standards.
ENERGY STAR® New Avvio custom home (recent): a 63 GJ/year verified EnerGuide rating! (46% less than typical new home)
Net Zero Ready Home: 40 GJ/year
Net Zero Home: 0 GJ/year after it creates energy
For Net Zero homes, 0 GJ/year is a rating of net annual energy usage and actual energy consumption will vary depending on factors like occupant behaviour, number of occupants, climate conditions etc. The model is based on an average over the year since you can use energy from the utility grid at times – such as in the winter when there is less sunlight versus in the summer when your home is creating more energy than you use. In that case, your utility company will determine if they pay you for the excess or provide you with a credit.
While it is difficult to separate the investment into building costs for these certifications since the cost of materials – like windows, insulation, air and vapour barriers – are part of how we normally build high quality and high performance homes, we can provide some basic financial information.
Energy Star® (our minimum certification): estimated by experts to have a payback of 10 years
Net Zero: estimated by experts to have a payback of 25 years
In addition to the above investment payback estimates, both certifications will improve your return on investment as a) future energy costs – electricity and natural gas – increase as expected and by b) increasing the value of your home. Building to meet both certifications will also provide you with benefits that extend beyond financial: comfort, health, quietness, durability, sustainability, safety, controllability and protecting against climate change and preserving natural resources for future generations. If you are budget-conscious, Net Zero Ready is an option where you would install solar panels in the future so these costs can be delayed.
Avvio Fine Homes uses the latest and greatest technologies, gadgets, materials and techniques when building your new home to achieve high performance and energy efficiency while minimizing our environmental impact. These include:
- high performance building materials such as insulation and air and vapour barriers
- heat pumps
- heat pump water heaters
- drain water heat recovery
- high performance windows and doors
- energy and heat recovery ventilators (ERV / HRV) with optional HEPA filtration
- solar panels
- battery energy storage
- energy efficient appliances
- energy efficient light fixtures and bulbs
- water efficient fixtures like toilets and showers
- security, sound and lighting systems
Materials are installed with supreme attention to detail to ensure a tightly sealed building envelope and windows with no air gaps or thermal bridges to allow heat transfer or water penetration. We are constantly looking to use materials that allow us to decarbonize. Energy-saving mechanical systems are controlled by smart thermostats that integrate with mobile apps to control the functions of your home – cutting your bills and environmental footprint. Net Zero homes give you more control over your energy consumption and come with bi-directional energy metering. As well, a natural gas backup generator may be replaced with a battery to store energy generated from on-site solar panels.
Design Build Process
We can design all styles of bespoke homes including the general categories of modern, transitional and traditional. Our Design Guarantee is our promise to design the exact home you’ve been dreaming about.
Yes – we have a keen eye for design details to ensure your home is functional and beautiful. One of the most exciting things about building a custom home is being able to make your own selections! Our interior designer will help you with your many choices that would otherwise be time consuming and stressful – so you’ll find this intuitive and fun. To create a home that is truly unique to you think about all of the things you really want in your dream home as early in the process as possible. This will help to make your selection choices during the design stage.
Yes – architectural design, interior design, construction. Owners Vincent and Paul Gambino have developed a turn-key design-build process using their education and experience in designing and building custom homes and financial management so that your home will be designed exactly the way you want, will meet your budget and deadline with the details required to be built safely with exceptional quality and energy performance.
We control the design, budget, timeline and construction details so that you get your dream design, fixed price contract that meets your budget, completed when you need it and with high quality backed by a Tarion Warranty and high performance certified to be Energy Star® or Net Zero. We can provide maximum value to you because we are engaged from the very beginning, giving you the best chance to meet your goals and preventing costly and time-consuming redesigns. We take the time to understand your vision, delivering a home that you will feel proud to own.
As a design builder, we are ultimately the single source of responsibility and communication that provides you with the best experience, quality and accuracy with faster timelines. This model promotes teamwork and collaboration allowing us to meet your budget while saving you time and money. Your home is designed as a system from the start – planned and modelled to achieve energy-related certifications and high performance construction that is more durable, healthier, quieter, sustainable, controllable & comfortable.
We follow our process obsessively to ensure that you get the exact home you want – on time and on budget – without headaches and hassles.
The entire design process can take between 6-12 months to complete depending on the complexities of the design and the approvals required. Major variables include size of home, level of details (architectural, engineering, interior), variances to bylaws, trees and conservation authority.
While designing and building a home is a greater time commitment than purchasing one, it is easily manageable. We guide you through the process, providing information accurately and efficiently, so you can feel confident in your decisions and enjoy the process. Our Design Build Process includes meetings that are held mostly during business hours with services that are tailored to give you the help you need – including Interior Design Services discussed above – to save you time and get you into your finished home earlier. Your time commitment will be rewarded with every detail created especially for you – the exact floorplan, features, and finishes you want.
During the architectural and interior design processes, we ensure that any of your wants or selections align with the goal of achieving a high performing, sustainable and energy efficient home. We provide pros and cons to your requests. Read more about our Design and Build Process.
That is fine – we will work alongside the architectural design team as the builder or manager. We can also provide consulting support to ensure your project meets your design expectations and even optimize it to meet energy efficient standards and your budget. However as a manager your home will not qualify for some guarantees such as design, fixed price, completion date, energy efficiency certifications and Tarion Warranty. If you have not hired an architect or architectural designer, we highly recommend that you review the below and other FAQ’s to learn how we provide the most value to you in a Design Build model.
Our Guarantees
New custom homes and major renovations – where we control the project as the general contractor – are Fixed Price contracts. A fixed price contract is where we agree on a price before building begins and we are required to stick to that price so the home will not cost more than you think – see our Fixed Price Contract Guarantee. This contract offers honest, transparent pricing so you can be sure you’re getting value for money and can plan with certainty knowing there will be no surprises. For management and consulting services, fees are quoted based on the scope of work and services.
Construction timelines depend on many factors such as site conditions, size, construction and finish details, systems and automation and landscaping. A “typical” 3,000 square foot house will take around 12 months. Remember, it is a marathon, not a sprint! It is all about planning – our proven scheduling process (with limited project volume) keeps construction running smoothly and enables us to provide a Completion Date Guarantee – so we deliver on time, every time.
When we build as a general contractor, we are required by law to provide a new home warranty that is backed by the Tarion Warranty Corporation. We call this warranty a Tarion Warranty. Only builders that are licensed by the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) can provide this warranty. Personal or other guarantees offered by non-licensed builders are not substitutes for the statutory warranty. If you move, the warranty stays with the home and is passed onto the new owner since it is the home that is enrolled with Tarion. We will make your home structurally solid and flawlessly finished.
If you already have an architectural design, we will need to review and approve of the design and structure to determine if we are comfortable building as a general contractor and providing a Tarion warranty. When we act as a manager, you may receive a warranty from the trades and suppliers directly, depending on your agreement with them. When we renovate as a general contractor, we provide a RenoMark warranty.
We will keep you fully informed every step of the way with regular updates, so you always know what’s happening. And with full access to our Building Management Platform you can follow every step of your build. See our Communication Guarantee.
About Us And The Custom Home Building Process
We build homes across the Greater Toronto Area when the project is a good fit for you and us. Most of our work has been in Toronto (North York and Etobicoke) and York Region. See Our Completed Projects
Yes – Avvio Homes Ltd. #43453 is licensed by the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA). Licensing is required by law and home builders become licensed by acting with honesty and integrity; by proving their technical skills to build homes and financial strength and skills to run a home building operation; and competency to provide you with warranty protection. We are also fully insured and have WSIB coverage and certificates of safety training – and require all from our trades as well in addition to their trade license.
Home builders are licensed by the HCRA and provide a Tarion Warranty (see above FAQ) – so we have a different set of skills to build and manage a building business. We are knowledgeable and experienced in the additional processes for new construction as well as new build materials, quality control and site safety – not to mention building the highest performing custom homes. Only the best builders have performed the necessary training to build at such a level and are qualified to provide energy-related certifications. Our business is ready for the additional management and commitment required for longer new home projects versus renovations. Our trades are also geared to custom home building.
It depends! This is a very common question that is loaded with variables including location, site conditions, size, configuration, design style and details, construction and finish quality, systems, net zero details, specialty items, landscaping – and the list goes on from there. It is also important to understand which costs are included, such as design and other professional fees, municipal fees and other pre-construction fees, soft costs, appliances, and taxes. Very generally speaking, pre-pandemic costs to design and build a custom home could have been $400 per square foot all-in + appliances. Post pandemic has been generally over $500 per square foot all-in + appliances. But again, it is impossible to provide an estimate with any degree of accuracy without spending many hours reviewing project information. Learn More about the important difference between an estimate and a quote and Our Guarantees in a fixed price contract by Downloading Our Free Guides: Pre-Start Checklist for Consumers & The Consumers Guide to Builders Jargon.
Allow for a general contingency of 10%. Design Build project delivery with Fixed Price contracts provide significant value in controlling your budget. Learn More by Downloading Our Free Guide: 7 Things You Must Know Before Designing A New Home and Read About Our Design Build Process and our guarantees.
Cost versus value is an important consideration because it is a big risk to select the cheapest option, discussed further in our Blog post: Your Custom Home Project Needs a Team of Professionals.
Due to the high level of supervision required we are a low-volume, boutique builder so we can maintain a high level of service and quality. We have a limited amount of start dates available and only service 1-5 houses per year depending on their size and complexity.
Projects are managed directly by Co-Owner Vincent Gambino with the support of Co-Owner Paul Gambino. Sites are supervised by either Vincent or another qualified supervisor and they will be on-site daily or at minimum to meet with inspectors or trades to ensure they understand their tasks and manage the site. Quality control is an on-going task for us so we will be on-site as often and for as long as it is required to provide the high quality house that you have come to expect from Avvio Fine Homes. We don’t run our projects from the office! See FAQ above regarding how many homes we build per year.
We would only consider this in a management services contract (see more in FAQ below). In a design-build model and when we are the general contractor, we must use our trades and our suppliers including for finishes that you’ve selected. This is necessary for us to control the timeline and quality so that you can be provided with our guarantees for energy certification, price, completion date, client service and Tarion warranty. Learn More about Our Guarantees.
Construction contracts (and not management contracts) include billings at milestones as well as deposits due at the early stages of the contract. Milestone billings provide protection for you since they only occur once actual progress on the construction site has achieved set-out milestones. Learn More about construction financing by Downloading Our Free Guide: Pre-Start Checklist for Consumers.
We can but prefer to be involved with the design to guide both cost and energy efficiency – and provide all the benefits described in the Design Build FAQ’s above. We provide a fixed price construction contract and a detailed quotation will take many hours to price therefore we will charge a fee for the quotation. If a design is such that its better suited to a management type contract, we will provide a fee for our services once we understand what services you would require.
Additional Service And Delivery Models
Yes. We can provide a variety of services to complete your project on time and on budget with meticulous attention to detail. However a management project will not qualify for some guarantees such as design, fixed price, completion date, energy efficiency certifications and Tarion Warranty.
Yes. Avvio performs major renovations and additions – and even provide a Net Zero certification. Our team will assess your current property and outline your options (with pros, cons, and considerations) so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
Yes. We work with some excellent real estate professionals that can provide property options for your purchase. Our team can review and comment on whether it is an ideal site for the house that you want to build.
Yes. We work with a great team of professionals to help you explore the possibilities for your property.

What Are You Looking For In A Home? (And The Builders Who Bring It To Life)
If you’re looking for a home that is artfully designed, flawlessly finished, and measurably energy efficient. And a builder with the specialized knowledge, proven processes, and unwavering integrity to deliver – on time and on budget.
Vincent and Paul would love to hear about the vision you have for your home, and share tips from their vast experience in high-performance design and construction.
And if we’re a good fit, we’d be honoured to help bring your vision to life in the exact home you’ve been dreaming about.