Stephen Carpenter, founder of Enermodal Engineering, has been named a Member of the Order of Canada for his leadership in the green building industry.

The Order of Canada is considered Canada’s highest honour. The annual award recognizes individuals for a lifetime of distinguished service in their fields.

Considered a green pioneer, Carpenter founded Enermodal Engineering when he realized there was a need for firms specializing in energy efficient building design. Founded in 1981, the firm’s early work includes developing Canada’s first energy modelling software.

Carpenter and his Enermodal team designed the Waterloo Region Green Home in 1992, which became Canada’s contribution to the International Energy Agency Task XIII. The project used 75 per cent less energy and water than the average Canadian home.

In the early 2000s, Carpenter was involved in the creation of the Canadian version of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. He was also the first chair of the Canadian Green Building Council’s Technical Advisory Group.