Go below the Sterling: geothermal sustainability in the 2025 Minto Dream Home for CHEO
This 2025 Minto Dream Home for CHEO, the Sterling, is stunning on the surface. And innovated underground. At the core of the home’s sustainability story is a sophisticated geothermal system, transforming how the Sterling is heated and cooled. Then there’s the wellness features outside. With the home sitting on an oversized corner lot, backed by a pond and multi-use pathway, nature is only a few steps away, literally. Not to mention, it’s located in Mahogany, Manotick, complete with parks and easy access to the waterfront in Manotick Village.
Geothermal: Climate control from season to season
Geothermal technology uses the earth’s stable underground temperature as a renewable thermal battery, delivering energy-efficient climate control year-round. In winter, it draws heat from below the surface. In summer, it transfers excess heat from the home back into the ground.
In the Sterling, the system operates at a remarkable scale for a residential home. Five vertical boreholes, each 300 feet deep, are drilled beneath the foundation to create a sustainable loop of heating and cooling.
Unlike traditional HVAC systems that burn fossil fuels, or depend heavily on the grid, geothermal relies on the earth itself. It’s clean, quiet and consistent, with minimal environmental impact.
The Sterling’s geothermal system is the product of a national-leading partnership. Designed with input from Jacob Komar of Revolve Engineering—a Canadian expert in building science and geothermal technology—with ASL Contracting and CorCan Heating & Cooling managing installation. The result is a system that focuses not only on carbon reduction but also on comfort and durability, perfect for a modern and design-forward home like the Minto Dream Home that can also inspire future green home construction.
Comfort without compromise
The geothermal system, along with the Sterling’s high-efficiency windows and insulation, is estimated to reduce carbon emissions by as much as 88%, compared to a code-built home of the same size (5,360 sq. ft.). That’s a significant cut to its carbon footprint, without sacrificing performance or style.Because geothermal systems use no combustion, they eliminate indoor emissions, improving air quality for those inside the home.
One notable feature of a geothermal system is how quietly it works. There are no outdoor compressors or noisy fan units., no exhaust and no smells. Plus, switching between heating and cooling modes is a breeze, with the system quickly responding to the home’s temperature needs by drawing or dispersing heat through the ground.
Here’s a look at three more benefits of geothermal heating and cooling:
- Space savings: The system takes up less room than a conventional HVAC unit, giving you more functional space inside the home.
- Protection from unpredictable energy costs: Geothermal heating and cooling exploits the earth's natural heat, making the home less susceptible to the ever-rising prices of fossil fuel.
- Hot water generation: The geothermal system is used to pre-heat water, using less fossil fuel to reach temperature, which further increases the home’s efficiency and energy-saving benefits.
Our approach to the Minto Dream Home for CHEO goes beyond design and innovation. It’s a commitment to building better. The CHEO Dream of a Lifetime Lottery gives one lucky winner the keys to a geothermal-equipped home, without the upfront costs typically associated with this technology.
It’s a rare opportunity to live at the cutting edge of home comfort and environmental responsibility. As more homeowners look for ways to be sustainable at home, the features inside the Sterling are a preview of what the next generation of homebuilding could—and should—look like.
Where hope and heart live
The Sterling is the 25th Minto Dream Home for CHEO; the silver edition home that represents hope, legacy and design excellence. It’s resilient, built to reduce its environmental impact and future-proof your quality of life. Most of all, it’s a way of giving back to CHEO for the selfless care they provide for our community.
Located in Mahogany, Manotick, a modern, established community steps away from Manotick Village.
Be the first to receive updates about the Minto Dream Home, new communities and new homes across Ottawa, including virtual tours and videos, photos and more.
You may also be interested in...
The 25th home, the Sterling, lives up to that name. And it’s the “silver edition” anniversary home. It marks the 25-year partnership between Minto and...
The 2025 Minto Dream Home for CHEO is named the Sterling because it marks the 25-year partnership between Minto and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern...