Alive and Well and Building Green

With great humor, a certain naivety and lots of curiosity, this blog is our narrative on the building of our ecological and energy-efficient house in the beautiful Charlevoix region in the province of Québec. We are two retired professionals who, having purchased a few acres on the Saint-Laurent River in Saint-Irénée, Charlevoix, are living the dream of a green lifestyle with all its challenges and outcomes. Indeed, this is our last house, the one where we want an autonomous lifestyle, to grow old happily, to share with our children, grandchildren, family and friends around a rustic table with good wine and good local cuisine.

There seems to be a mistaken perception that only the younger generations want to live green sustainably. As Baby Boomers, we have found that not only are we a major economic force in the green industry but also we benefit from a special niche. Living green is not new to us. Our parents were born during the Great Depression and they have taught us not to take anything for granted. We are the original flower power children and we protested with the best of them. Over the last five decades, we have witnessed climate change and its impact on our planet. It only makes sense that the growing Baby Boomer population is now on the threshold of planning an active retirement lifestyle mainly because we seek to maintain our autonomy.

We have nurtured our project and have found our voice. The learning curve was sometimes difficult yet the discourse was the same for all stakeholders. Nevertheless, we are able to relate the steps that mark our sustainable building process while sharing a few thoughts drawing on our experience and professional advice. We especially learned to ask the right questions keeping in mind our values ​​for a healthy home and an eco-friendly construction process on the environment, our budget and our personal needs. Beyond the essential, here, with some trepidation is our story.