These modular, net-zero homes with Scandinavian flair cost from $186,100 and can be put almost anywhere take a look
Dan Latu
- Canadian startup Cabn was founded in 2021 by sustainability entrepreneur Jackson Wyatt.
- The company creates eco-friendly homes starting at $186,100 for a one-bedroom unit.
Cabn is a Canadian startup with dreams of making eco-friendly, sustainable homes accessible to everyone.
It was founded in 2021 by Jackson Wyatt after he sold Greenlid, a company that makes household products out of compostable materials.
Stuck indoors during the pandemic, Wyatt started thinking about how to make homes themselves more sustainable.
Cabn was born. The company builds homes that are shipped in panels on normal trucking loads — no wide load or special permit required — and assembled quickly on-site.
Cabn homes use helical piles — basically stakes in the ground — that allow them to be built almost anywhere.
"If you're building directly on a rock, those piles won't go in," Wyatt joked.
Cabn doesn't use concrete foundations, in part because concrete is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in construction.
The piles aren't the only advanced feature: The angles of the windows, the depth of shade provided by the roof, and high-tech insulation all combine to create a net-zero home.
Net zero means the home produces as much energy as occupants consume in a year. Net positive, which the homes often achieve, mean it produces more energy than occupants consume in a year.
Cabn homes are built with FSC-certified sustainable cross-laminated timber.
The FSC certification ensures that when trees are felled, new trees are planted.
In 2024, pricing for the company's four models with bedrooms will begin around $186,100 and top out around $470,400.
The Mor.ii is 540 square feet with one bedroom, and will cost around $186,100.
The Son.der, which is the same model as Cabn's show home, is 750 square feet with one or two bedrooms, and will cost around $253,600.
The Hyg.ge is 1,120 square feet with three bedrooms, and will cost around $343,300.
And the Ges.talt is 1,850 square feet with four bedrooms, and will cost around $470,400.
The listed costs include site assessments and support, like helping folks determine if they need permits and what kind of preparation they might have to undertake — though it doesn't cover those added expenses.
Prices don't include kitchen and bathroom appliances, which homeowners pick out themselves.
Wyatt said the Scandinavian influences of the homes came from his desire to create minimalist, efficient spaces.
Cabn also has an accessory building, called Hutt, that can be used as a backyard bonus space, like an office or gym.
It's available to order on the company's site, and requires a $1,870 deposit. The company is reassessing the Hutt's price. Previous models have cost around $40,000 to $50,000.
Cabn has completed one home in Ontario and another is under construction in Maine. Wyatt said Cabn has 600 interested buyers on its wait list.
There are currently plans for an off-grid, 67-unit Cabn community in Ontario, in partnership with the local government.
The company wants to prove that it's possible to create a community that is kinder to the environment and doesn't rely too heavily on municipal infrastructure.
The Cabn "compound" would utilize a microgrid to efficiently power waste and water.
It's being planned for an area of Eastern Ontario in need of housing.
The homes have inspired buyers looking to downsize or first-time buyers in search of a deal, but all have been motivated to find eco-friendly dwellings.
“I want to do the right thing for my kids," the Maine Cabn homeowner told Wyatt.
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