Household Challenge

Canadians from all walks of life entered the 2025 Live Net Zero Challenge! Meet the first and second prize winners in each theme below, along with our post of the month winners. Click their name to read their story.

We invite you to explore their journeys and discover what might be possible in your own household. Climate action is not one-size-fits-all. It’s shaped by where we live, our stage of life and the resources available to us. Thanks to everyone who shared their story this year!

Our Homes

Cut energy use, seal drafts, switch appliances, explore heat pumps and solar.

James Rowley – Maple Ridge, British Columbia – 1st Prize

James transformed a heritage home that once ran on fuel oil into a fully fossil-free household, doing much of the work himself alongside his family. From lifting the house and insulating the foundation to air sealing, electrifying and installing solar panels, they invested significant sweat equity to make it happen. Today, their home and electric vehicles run on renewable energy, proving that even older houses can dramatically cut emissions while preserving character and comfort.

Hope Ryckman – Qualicum Beach, British Columbia – 2nd Prize

Hope, a senior homeowner on a fixed income, chose to install a heat pump to reduce both emissions and long-term costs. Her decision reflects careful research, financial planning and a deep commitment to protecting the planet for future generations. Hope’s story highlights the important role Canadians play in leading climate solutions throughout their lives.

Roger Williams – Quispamsis, New Brunswick – September Post of the Month

Roger focused on practical retrofits in his mini home: air sealing, triple-pane windows, heat pumps and solar panels. Step by step, he cut energy use dramatically and now produces more electricity annually than his home consumes. His story shows that even modest homes can achieve big efficiency gains with persistence.

How We Get Around

Replace short car trips, try transit, bike or walk more often, carpool and advocate for better infrastructure.

Becca Denley – Yellowknife, Northwest Territories – 1st Prize 

Becca and her family ride bikes year-round, even in sub-zero temperatures. From school drop-offs to groceries, cycling is their default mode of transport. Beyond their own household, Becca along with her husband Adam helped launch SHIFT NWT, a free community bike share program that lends bikes, e-bikes, e-trikes, and cargo bikes to residents to try for two week sessions. Her story challenges assumptions about climate barriers and shows how active mobility can strengthen health, community and environmental impacts all at once.

Venkatesh Gopal – Vancouver, British Columbia – 2nd Prize

After moving to Canada in 2019, Venkatesh built a car-free life in Vancouver using cycling, transit and carsharing. Living near the downtown core makes it possible for his family to rely on multimodal transport for school, work and appointments. His story highlights how thoughtful infrastructure, social norms and community support enable lasting behaviour change.

How We Celebrate and Play

Rethink holidays, gifts and recreation with reuse, swaps and experience-based traditions.

Natalie Foreman – Hanwell, New Brunswick – 1st Prize

Natalie and her family have built a circular celebration culture. From homemade Halloween costumes and edible “gifts in a jar” to ski swaps and experience-based birthdays, they reduce waste while strengthening community ties. Across all themes, they also retrofit their home, grow food and advocate locally, showcasing what whole-of-life climate action can look like in a semi-rural setting.

Cathy Erdle – Victoria, British Columbia – 2nd Prize

Cathy reinvented her holidays with “Thrift Shop Christmas,” sourcing thoughtful secondhand gifts throughout the year. Living in a walkable downtown community, she pairs thrifting with cycling and food waste reduction. Her story shows how rethinking traditions can reduce stress, save money and support local charities.

Our Daily Lives: Food & Stuff

Reduce food waste, repair and reuse items, eat more plant-based meals and share within your community.

Vicki Tran – Mississauga, Ontario – 1st Prize

Vicki approaches sustainability holistically – focusing on plant-based meals, composting, repair and upcycling while actively participating in her community. As a bike commuter and tinkerer at heart, she connects food, transport and advocacy into their way of living. Her story demonstrates how everyday consumption choices can ripple outward into community change.

Cassy Midkiff – Maple Ridge, British Columbia – 2nd Prize

Cassy blends household action with civic engagement. A parent and climate advocate, she reduces waste through cloth diapers, composting, mending and plant-forward meals, while also engaging in petitions and local politics. Her story highlights how personal action and policy advocacy can reinforce one another.

Lily Tabb – Ottawa, Ontario – October Post of the Month

Lily’s winning post focused on vermicomposting in her daughter’s classroom. By making composting visible and hands-on, she connects climate literacy with daily practice. Her family also gardens, line-dries laundry and shares books through a neighbourhood library stand, illustrating how sustainability can be woven into family routines.