Only days after we presented the “Harold Orr Award” for outstanding contributions to Passive House in Canada, we discovered Harold was receiving an award of his own!
Harold Orr (3rd person in top row), along with the other 2026 Saskatchewan Order of Merit Recipients
On June 2, 2026, Harold Orr, along with 8 other recipients were recognized with the province of Saskatchewan’s highest honour – the Saskatchewan Order of Merit.
The Saskatchewan Order of Merit was established in 1985 to celebrate excellence and achievements by Saskatchewan citizens. The award was granted recognition by the Government of Canada and provided a place in the national sequence of orders in 1991.
Profile:
Harold Walter Orr is an engineer whose work established Saskatchewan as a global leader in energy-efficient housing and building science. Born in Minton, Saskatchewan, in 1931, Orr trained as a carpenter before earning a B.Sc. (1959) and a M.Sc. (1962) from the University of Saskatchewan. His research on air infiltration measurement laid the groundwork for technologies that would later transform residential construction worldwide.
Over more than two decades with the NRC-DBR, Orr led innovations in airtightness measurement (blower-door), heat-recovery ventilation, super-insulation, and whole-house energy modelling (HotCan/Hot2000). He was a principal engineer on the Saskatchewan Conservation House (1977), which demonstrated reductions in heating energy of up to 90 percent and became the foundation for Canada’s R-2000 program, the EnerGuide Rating System, and modern performance-based building codes, including provincial Step Codes.
Beyond new construction, Orr proved that existing homes could achieve near-new performance through deep-energy retrofits, including the “chainsaw-retrofit.” Following retirement, he taught engineering and continues to mentor well into his 90s.
Orr’s contributions have reduced energy costs, improved housing durability and indoor air quality, shaped national and international standards, and earned international awards and recognition in Europe and North America.
A Member of the Order of Canada, his legacy reflects innovation, public benefit, and lifelong service to Saskatchewan.
