Digital ecohouse10

the high-performance housing magazine

sPRING 2015

Strathcona

Net Zero House

Living laboratory in historic neighbourhood

Pape Village HOUSE Active and passive solar

THE LEED CANADA FOR HOMES 2014 certifications and selected profiles

THE ECOHOME DEMO HOUSE Stage two: building the walls

ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

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ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

The national source of information on Canadian sustainable high-performance homebuilding in partnership with www.ecohome.net.

spring 2015 6

THE ECOHOME DEMO HOUSE STAGE TWO

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LEED CANADA FOR HOMES

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PAPE VILLAGE HOUSE

Building the walls using the REMOTE system 2014 certifications and selected profiles Active and passive solar in the city

24 Strathcona Net Zero House

Modern home a living laboratory in historic neighbourhood

29 Thermal bridges

What they are and how to break them

SEE MORE at:

• www.sabmagazine.com u click on ecoHouse Canada • www.ECOHOME.NET

Cover: Strathcona Net Zero House. Photo: Paul Horsman

ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

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Have you tried a Sun Tunnel yet?

It’s the easiest skylight for professionals to install

Meets OBC & SB-12 requirements

velux.ca 1 800 888-3589

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ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

AA sister sister publication publication of: of:

Message Message from from the the publisher publisher

Publishing Partners: Publishing Partners:

FIRST First BUILDING building VIDEO video SHOWS shows WHAT’S TO COME what’s to come

Canada Canada Green Building Council Council Green Building

VISIT VISIT www.sabmagazine.com www.sabmagazine.com for for our our Product Product Directory Directory

PUBLISHER Publisher Don Don Griffith Griffith 800-520-6281, 800-520-6281, ext. ext. 304, 304, dgriffith@sabmagazine.com dgriffith@sabmagazine.com GRAPHIC Carine De De Pauw Graphic DESIGN Design Carine Pauw 819-778-5040, 819-778-5040, ext. ext. 308, 308, cdepauw@sabmagazine.com cdepauw@sabmagazine.com SENIOR Senior ACCOUNT Account MANAGER Manager Patricia Patricia Abbas Abbas 416-438-7609, 416-438-7609, pabbas8@gmail.com pabbas8@gmail.com EDITORIAL ADVISORS editorial advisors • Tom Knezic, Knezic, M.ARCH., • Tom M.ARCH., LEED LEED AP, AP, OAA OAA Solares Solares Architecture Architecture Inc., Inc., www.solares.ca www.solares.ca •• Roy Roy Nandram, Nandram, LEED LEED AP, AP, RND RND Construction, Construction, www.rndconstruction.ca www.rndconstruction.ca • Mike Reynolds, Reynolds, LEED LEED AP-Homes, AP-Homes, ecohome.net ecohome.net • Mike

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ISSN ISSN 1920-6259 1920-6259

Copyright Inc. All All rights rights reserved. reserved. Contents Contents Copyright by

by Janam Janam Publications Publications Inc. may without written written permission. permission. may not not be be reprinted reprinted or or reproduced reproduced without Views the authors authors exclusively. exclusively.

Views expressed expressed are are those those of of the

In In Fall, Fall, 2014 2014 II wrote wrote about about the the Video Video Building Guide which will appear Building Guide which will appear on on our our affiliate web site, www.ecohome.net, affiliate web site, www.ecohome.net, this this summer. The The Video Video Building Building Guide Guide will will summer. be be a a fantastic fantastic visual visual resource resource because because it it Photo: will document the steps in building Photo: Roy Roy Grogan Grogan will document the steps in building our our high-performance high-performance Demonstration Demonstration House House which achieve LEED LEED Platinum.

Platinum. which is is designed designed to to achieve The The 20-part 20-part video video series series will will cover cover the the building building techniques, techniques, products and technologies such as a slab-on-grade products and technologies such as a slab-on-grade construction construction with in-floor in-floor radiant radiant heating, heating, a a vegetated with vegetated roof, roof, heat heat pumps pumps and and HRVs, HRVs, window window selection selection and and installation, installation, and, and, most most important important of of all, all, building building an an envelope envelope that that is is highly highly insulated insulated and and air air tight. tight.

In In that that regard, regard, the the walls walls of of the the Demo Demo House House are are built built according according to to the the ‘Residential ‘Residential Exterior Exterior Membrane Membrane Outside-insulation Outside-insulation Technique’ Technique’ or or REMOTE, REMOTE, a a high-performance high-performance building building envelope envelope developed by the Cold Climate Housing Research developed by the Cold Climate Housing Research Centre Centre in in Alaska. In Alaska.

In this this method method most most of of the the insulation insulation is is on on the the outside outside of sheathing so so that that the the vapour vapour control control layer layer is is sandwiched sandwiched of the the sheathing between layers of insulation where it can perform best between layers of insulation where it can perform best in in climates climates with with distinct distinct summer summer and and winter winter seasons. seasons. See See the the article article on the the next next page page for for more more details, details, and and visit: visit: http://www.cchrc. http://www.cchrc. on org/remote-walls. org/remote-walls.

You You can can get get a a taste taste of of the the content content and and presentation presentation of of the the videos videos by having having a by a look look at at the the first first one one here: here: http://www.ecohome.net/ http://www.ecohome.net/ guide. guide. The The full full Building Building Guide Guide Series Series will will be be launched launched over over the the summer and fall making it one of the best information sources summer and fall making it one of the best information sources on on high-performance high-performance housing housing in in the the Canadian Canadian climate. climate.

We We have have invited invited companies companies that that we we felt felt would would make make a a good good fit fit with the Demo House to become sponsors by supplying with the Demo House to become sponsors by supplying their their products. products. We We thank thank our our current current sponsors: sponsors: Roxul, Roxul, W.R. W.R. Meadows, Meadows, Kott Lumber, Lumber, Uponor, Uponor, Ecogenia/Lunos, Ecogenia/Lunos, CGC, CGC, Fantech, Kott Fantech, Delta Delta [Cosella [Cosella Dorken], Dorken], Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Electric Electric Canada, Canada, American American Standard, Standard, Benjamin Benjamin Moore, Moore, A.O. A.O. Smith, Smith, Riopel, Riopel, Columbia Columbia Forest Forest Products, Products, and and Les Les Fenêtres Fenêtres Élite Élite Inc. Inc. Companies Companies interested interested in in being being sponsors sponsors should should please please contact: contact: dgriffith@sabmagazine.com. dgriffith@sabmagazine.com.

Don Publisher Don Griffith, Griffith, Publisher

Publication #40024961 Publication Mail Mail Agreement Agreement #40024961 Return address mail mail to: to: Return undelivered undelivered Canadian Canadian address Janam St., Gatineau, Gatineau, Qc Qc J8X J8X 3A7 3A7 Janam Publications Publications Inc., Inc., 81 81 Leduc Leduc St., The Canada uses uses Rolland Rolland Environ100 Environ100 Satin, Satin, The print print version version of of ecoHouse ecoHouse Canada a is certified certified FSC FSC and and EcoLogo.

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Please Please forward forward comments, comments, article article ideas ideas and project project contributions and contributions to: to: Don Don Griffith, Griffith, Publisher Publisher dgriffith@sabmagazine.com dgriffith@sabmagazine.com -- 11 800 800 520 520 6281 6281 ext.304 ext.304

Environmental savings for for this this issue: issue: Environmental savings

FSC FSC LOGO logo

14 14 Trees Trees

52,769 litres 52,769 litres water water

799 799 kg kg waste waste

2,078 2,078 kg kg CO CO2 2

ECOHOUSE CANADA | SPRING | 2015 ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

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Td he em eo ch oo h ou ms ee

The wall we designed for the Demo House is best categorized as a ‘REMOTE’ wall, a high-performance building envelope developed by the Cold Climate Housing Research Centre in Alaska. REMOTE stands for ‘Residential Exterior Membrane Outside-insulation TEchnique’.

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Remote walls are framed in the familiar way with 2x6s and sheathing; stud cavities are still insulated with batts, but the majority of insulation is on the outside of the sheathing. This way the vapour control layer is sandwiched between layers of insulation where it can perform best in a wildly varying climate like we have in Canada.

We have also used a vapour retarder primer on the interior to further slow the migration of moisture through the wall. Vapour retarder primers more than satisfy the building code requirements, yet allow some moisture to dry inwards in hot humid months.

When an air barrier is on the exterior, it is protected from the usual assault a 6 mil poly vapour barrier would normally receive from wiring and other penetrations, so our first blower door test resulted in .7ACH, or about 1/5th the accepted average for air leakage in new home construction.

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STAGE TWO Building the walls using the REMOTE system

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Wall assembly: • 60% of glazing is facing south and walls were framed using 100% FSC certified wood from Kott Lumber [photos 1, 2 and 3]; • Delta Vent SA moisture-permeable exterior membrane from Cosella-Dorken as air barrier [photos 6, 5 and 8]; • Four courses of 2” Comfortboard IS from Roxul for an 8” seamless exterior blanket of R32 [photo 4]; • Delta Vent S exterior weather barrier, taped for additional air sealing; • FSC Certified Shiplap wood siding from Riopel; • Interior - CGC Sheetrock® Brand UltraLight Panels , coated with vapour-retarder primer from Benjamin Moore and zero VOC Natura paint, also from Benjamin Moore [photo 7].

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Window openings were built out to allow for the additional exterior insulation. The Delta air barrier was wrapped around the entire window box and into the interior; the following weather barrier taped down to that. A Delta window flashing was then added to ensure that any water that finds its way in can also find its way out.

The weak points in any air barrier are the penetrations that come with attaching it, or attaching other components to it.

While this is not a great concern with an exterior membrane on sheathing, for kicks we stuck on small pieces of Delta Flexx-Band which will self-seal the holes where screws from strapping would puncture the Vent SA.

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To get a better look at what we’ve got going on so far and some of the fancy features still to come, check out the Ecohome Building Guide at ecohome.net; we have just launched the first episodes of our video guide which will document the entire process of this house.

We thank our product sponsors: Roxul, W.R. Meadopws, Kott Lumber, Uponor, Ecogenia/Lunos, CGC, Fantech, Delta [Cosella Dorken], Mitsubishi Electric Canada, American Standard, Benjamin Moore, A.O. Smith, Riopel , Columbia Forest Products, and Les Fenêtres Élite Inc. Companies wishing to become a sponsor should contact dgriffith@sabmagazine.com. v

ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

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Courtesy of the Vancouver Convention Centre

BUILDING LASTING CHANGE 2015

Join us at Canada’s premier green building conference » Industry education

» Green building tours

» B2B meetings

» Networking events

» 100 exhibitors

Vancouver Convention Centre, June 2-4 Register now at: www.cagbc.org/blc2015 8

ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

FOR HOMES

2014 certifications and selected profiles

PLATINUM Aditus Altitudo Residence 1A-27, Harrington, QC

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Collister Residence, Ottawa, ON Architect Inc.

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Condos de la Baie Phase 3, Quebec, QC Construction Dinamo inc.

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Discovery 5 House, Calgary, AB Avalon Master Builder

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Écohabitations boréales - Val-Morin, QC Écohabitations boréales inc.

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Gare Bois-Franc phase 3, Montreal, QC Samcon Bourrassa Inc.

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Grandview Residence, Toronto, ON MyHaven Homes

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Union Street ECOheritage , Vancouver, BC

Maison Papin Ouellet, Repentigny, QC Claude Ouellet Construction Midori Uchi, North Vancouver, BC Naikoon Inc.

Willibrord, Montreal, QC Projets Knightsbridge

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REEP House for Sustainable Living, Kitchener, ON Reep Green Solutions Ltd.

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Lefebvre Family Residence, Ottawa, ON Linda Chapman Architect

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GOLD >

12 Euclid Street, Unionville, ON

129 Riverside Drive, London, ON CBRE Limited

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173, rue Gendron, Chateauguay, QC Habitations G.F.B. inc.

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24 Norton Street, Town of Niagara on the Lake, ON

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2nd & Commercial, Vancouver, BC Eighth Avenue Development Group

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Arlequins, Saguenay, QC

2014

>

>

2014

Boucherville - OMHL, Boucherville, QC Francisco Rebelo Arch.

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Chalet au 225, chemin Flynn, Low, QC Bala Structures

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Des Rigolets, Vaudreuil sur le Lac, QC

Dubuisson Duplex, Montreal, QC Ville de Montreal

L’Héronnière, Wentworth-Nord, QC Écohabitations boréales inc.

Résidence Caza/McInnes, Blainville, QC - Marquis Inc.

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Les Maisons Roco Homes, Lantier, QC

Springfield Towns, Ottawa, ON The Lake Partnership Inc.

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Maison Modèle - le Quartier Chambery, Blainville, QC - Marquis Inc.

Terrasse des équinoxes Bloc G, Saint-Laurent, QC - Groupe Montclair

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Maison Orbis, Val-Saint-Come, QC Éco Habitation Le Draveur

Villas du Mistral, Saint Laurent, QC Sotramont

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Écohabitations Boréales - La maison Françoise, Ste-Anne-des-Lacs, QC Écohabitations boréales inc.

>Manitoba Housing, Brandon, The Pas, Thompson, MB ft3 Architecture Landscape and Interior Design

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Écohabitations boréales - Lac St-Victor, >Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute, Kempt, NS Wentworth-Nord, QC - Écohabitations boréales inc. Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute [MTRI

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Willowdale Passive Solar House, Toronto, ON Sustainable TO

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Yorkview, North York, ON Castleform Developments Inc.

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B-83 Botsford, Moncton, NB Bay Construction

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SILVER 2014

III 2454, Halifax, NS MRB Contracting

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Faubourg Cousineau, St-Hubert, QC Habitations Lussier

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Écohabitations boréales - La maison Verte, Lac des Plages, QC

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15 Brynhurst Court, Toronto, ON

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Hyclyff, West Vancouver, BC Invenia Inc.

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CERTIFIED 2014

2 Spruce House, Toronto, ON Global Warming Prevention Technologies

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Watson Residence, Lethbridge, AB

ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

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LEED FOR HOMES PLATINUM SCORE CARD

consideration for LEED qualifications, the final result is

Innovation & Design Process Location & Linkages Sustainable Sites Water Efficiency Energy & Atmosphere Materials & Resources Indoor Environmental Quality Awareness & Education

4.5/11 9/10 16.5/22 9/15 17/38 14.5/16 12/21 0/3

a Platinum scoring residence, ready for immediate delivery.

TOTAL

82.5/136

For 25 years, Samcon has been a leader in the construction

of new residential condominiums in Montréal and the qualityto-price ratio of a Samcon condo is instrumental to Samcon’s leadership and success. Proud to offer an array of urban condo-projects in several areas of Montréal, Samcon is pleased to present project Place de la Gare Bois Franc III, a 3-storey structure comprised of 3 units. Constructed with utmost

[1] Even as the snow falls, the project’s exterior is sleek and robust.

[2] Wonderful natural lighting makes for excellent dining.

[3] Ample space gives way to both bedrooms and home-offices.

[4] Open-concept kitchens provide an ideal segway into the dining area.

[5] Hard-wood floors cast a warm glow throughout the condo.

[6] Simple and sleek designs allow for countless interior decorating options.

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This certified LEED Platinum 3-storey building is situated in

a peaceful area on a quiet street in the heart of Ville St. Laurent.

Outdone with wonderful landscaping, residents will enjoy interior parking with private storage space, spacious private balconies for each unit, a private terrace for the upper level, and immaculate interiors providing maximum lighting.

Superbly located and near countless amenities, Place de la

Gare Bois Franc III is complete with its easy access to highways and public transportation.

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Built with FSC certified wood, ENERGY STAR appliances,

energy-efficient glass windows, locally made, high-efficiency products, and a holistic approach to environmental friendliness, it comes as no surprise that Place de la Gare Bois Franc III achieved the highest ranking LEED certification: Platinum.

Whether residents seek the highest quality LEED certifications,

high-rises, or low-rises, Samcon is proud to have delivered over 4,000 units city-wide.

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Please find us on Facebook and visit www.samcon.ca

for more information.

ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

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Groupe Montclair presents its urban condominium project located in the prestigious Quartier Bois-Franc community, in St. Laurent Borough.

A neighborhood designed with the best practices of “New Urbanism” and T.O.D. [Transport Oriented Development] principles, Les Terrasses des Équinoxes is a short walk to the Bois-Franc train station and to major bus and metro connections that will conveniently and quickly take you to downtown Montreal.

A prestigious location adjacent “Le Square Nordet” park and a network of walking paths and bike paths that will connect future owners to numerous parks and amenities located within Bois-Franc.

A short walk from “Faubourg Bois-Franc”, a unique mixed use commercial center that will be home to a new IGA Prestige Food store, a Première Moisson French Bakery, a Jean Coutu pharmacy and numerous other boutiques, shops and restaurants.

Les Terrasses des Équinoxes offers an unparalleled way of life. Contemporary design two-bedrooms “Thru Unit” type condominium units from 1120 square feet include a beautiful private terrace of approx. 140 square feet and a heated interior parking garage space.

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ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

Building the most efficient homes in the world Sotramont is a leader recognized for the quality of its buildings. Active in Quebec’s residential construction industry for more than 45 years, it has continuously invested in research and development. Sotramont is renowned for creating the most energy efficient building envelope in the world that guarantee superior thermal and acoustic insulation. Sotramont builds certified homes that use less energy, water and natural resources.

They also produce less waste and are healthier and more comfortable for their occupants.

In our climate, “Villas du Mistral” townhouses must be properly insulated to ensure that they are soundproof and comfortable for their occupants. The walls must also be protected from rain and humidity. Hence the importance of providing tight-fitting interior walls that keep cooking or cigarette odours from migrating to other attached residential units. Hence, too, the importance of providing a high-performance building envelope that protects the building and its occupants from the outdoor climate.

Regardless of the material used in building frames, proper insulation is a must. Not only do all Sotramont buildings have a reputation for superior quality construction, in 2014 the U.S. Green Building Council recognized Sotramont as the builder of the world’s best building envelope in terms of performance.

LEED FOR HOMES GOLD SCORE CARD [USGBC]: Innovation & Design Process Location & Linkages Sustainable Sites Water Efficiency Energy & Atmosphere Materials & Resources Indoor Environmental Quality Awareness & Education

7/11 9/10 20/22 5/15 12/38 13/16 15/21 2/3

TOTAL

83/136

Renowned architects Yelle Maillé have designed the distinctive “Villas du Mistral” townhouses with clean-looking clay brick front facades adorned with aluminum details, forming an elegant, tasteful combination.

Sotramont develops stand alone neighbourhoods centered on an environmentally conscious sustainable lifestyle.

www.sotramont.com

ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

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Castleform Developments Inc., believes that “Your Home Is Your Castle”. Building healthy, comfortable, durable, future proof homes with energy efficiency and sustainability in mind. Be it LEED standard, participating in Energy Star program, HERS rating, Better Than Code, Castleform Developments delivers quality built homes that any home owner can be very proud of.

A great example is their recent luxurious custom home that has caught the attention of a few associations in the building industry. Winning at the OHBA for Most Outstanding New Home Kitchen 2001 sq. ft. and over, and at the NKBA, Toronto chapter, for best kitchen mid-size. Proudly being a finalist at the CHBA for Green House award. This home boasts 6,550 sq. ft. of livable space with high end finishes and appliances throughout.

Castleform Developments’ goal was to incorporate the luxury feel in an environmentally sustainable and energy efficient home that still retains a traditional style and character.

The “Yorkview” house attained a LEED Gold certification, is an Energy Star Labelled home with a HERS rating score of 40.

Crediting John Godden, and his team at Clearshpere, who set goals at the early stages, the prescription was created with the performance monitored every step of the way.

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ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

LEED FOR HOMES GOLD SCORE CARD: Innovation & Design Process Location & Linkages Sustainable Sites Water Efficiency

5.5/11 10/10 10.5/22 8/15

TOTAL

90/136

Energy & Atmosphere Materials & Resources Indoor Environmental Quality Awareness & Education

25/38 12/16 17/21 2/3

This house features triple pane windows throughout.

A boiler was chosen for space heating, domestic uses, and radiant floor heating in the basement.

The house is solar ready with the roof overhang on the south exposure measuring an extra 16 inches to mitigate the solar heat gain in the summer months.

It is grey water ready. A car charger was roughed-in in the garage for an electric car in the future. A drain water heat recovery system [DWHR] was installed.

Roxul insulation was used throughout the house and in the basement. A capillary break was installed on the footing. LED bulbs and rope lighting throughout the house. All plumbing fixtures are water efficient.

The irrigation system has 100% coverage with a rain sensor. Low to zero VOC paints were used.

The brick, faux stone and exterior sheathing were made from recycled materials. The lumber was FSC certified. Construction pollution mitigation measures were in place, with silt screens and filters to prevent soil erosion into the storm drain. 89% of construction waste was diverted from the landfill. Drought tolerant grass, with native or adaptive plants in the softscaped areas, while permeable pavers were used everywhere else. Topped off with a premium home automated system to control the lighting, thermostat, sound system and cameras with capabilities of expanding more control of the house remotely from your smart phone or iPad.

WATSON RESIDENCE In May 2011 we embarked on a journey that saw us take a leap into a new frontier‌ Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design [LEED].

Our home is constructed with ICF exterior walls, asphalt shingles and triple glazed argon filled windows. The overall Energuard rating of this home is 92. The house is supported with Geothermal heat extracted from 7 wells drilled 200 feet down and 34 [7.8 KWh] solar panels laid on roof panels custom designed to maximize yearly sun exposure.

These panels were laid early in the construction so as to maximize renewable energy utilization during construction.

All paint used inside the home are low in VOCs and re-cycled glass countertops were installed throughout the main level. All faucets and toilets are the latest in high efficiency technology to minimize water wastage.

There is 100% LED lighting throughout the inside and outside of the home, eliminating the requirement to ever change a light bulb.

MERV 14 filters were used to ensure clean air throughout the home and dramatically reduce the dust load.

Five specific heating and cooling zones are matched for year round comfort and energy efficiency. Garage pollutants are minimized with an occupancy sensor driven fan that times-out when finished.

Landscaping considerations included minimizing land erosion with drought tolerant plants selected to compliment the coulee surroundings.

LEED FOR HOMES CERTIFIED SCORE CARD: Innovation & Design Process Location & Linkages Sustainable Sites Water Efficiency

4.5/11 4/10 7/22 5/15

Energy & Atmosphere Materials & Resources Indoor Environmental Quality Awareness & Education

29/38 4.5/16 12/21 0/3

TOTAL

66/136

ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

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LANTIER, QC HOUSE 2014

The task was to replace a lakeside house built by the grandfather many years ago with a new one that could welcome an expanding family of three generations all vacationing together.

The challenge was to design a plan on a long and narrow footprint that was in close proximity to waterfront and heritage trees while having all the right proportions including large open common areas, cathedral ceilings and a loft.

Building to LEED standards made for greater efficiencies.

Pre-built insulated wall panels reduced costs and waste, in addition to stimulating the local economy. Reclaimed elements, such as kitchen cabinets and metal balusters, were incorporated into this sustainable design.

After having 25 years of experience building country homes we were proud that our very first LEED construction earned a gold standard.

www.maisonsroco.ca/eco

You’re invited ‌ to the Demo House Video Building Guide

One of the best information sources on techniques and products for building high-performance housing in the Canadian climate.

View the brief, informative videos, and return often as we add more.

http://www.ecohome.net/guide

A project of ecohome.net in partnership with ecoHouse Canada.

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ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

2015

Attend The Awards Presentation Event 2015 BUILDING LASTING CHANGE June 2, 2015 at 4:15 p.m.

Vancouver Convention Centre, West Meeting Room 302

www.sabmagazine.com

RSVP by May 26 to dgriffith@sabmagazine.com

THANKS TO OUR AWARDS SPONSORS

focus 1/2 awards.indd 1

2015-04-17 3:21 PM

and

Canadian Directory OF Sustainable PRODUCTS SERVICES Find products and expertise for high-performance building http://sabmagazine.com/product-directory.html ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

17

Pape Village

House Active and passive solar in the city

Our clients had begun to outgrow their small, East Toronto bungalow in Pape Village and wanted to pursue their dream of a well-designed, energy-efficient home. We designed them a new, two-storey home which uses passive and active solar systems and a highly insulated, air-tight envelope. The house actually generates electricity and scores 85 on the EnerGuide scale!

by Melodie Coneybeare

Detail of the front entry [1], and streetscape [2]. The rear elevation where sun screens block the summer sun. The photovoltaic [PV] rooftop solar array is visible and is connected to the Ontario MicroFit electricity buy-back program where the excess energy produced from the roof is fed back into the grid for a profit [3].

Triple-glazed windows with fiberglass frames have low conductance of heat and cold [4].

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Site plan A B C D E F G

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Garage Rear yard Deck Two-Storey house Shared driveway Front porch Front yard

ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

C B

F D

A E

G

ACTIVE SOLAR The house has an active photovoltaic [PV] rooftop solar array. The PV panels are part of a 5-kW system that is connected to the provincial MicroFit electricity buy-back program. With no battery storage on site, all the excess energy they produce from the roof is fed back into the grid for a profit.

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This PV system is designed so that each module has a micro-inverter on the back that can be individually monitored and optimized. Generated electricity goes to the mechanical room ready to be used right away, and if efficiency drops [due to blow-on leaves for example], they can know exactly which panels are affected and remedy it right away. There’s also an online dashboard which lets the owners monitor the system from wherever they are.

The numbers from their MicroFit participation are very encouraging. From their program start in late March 2014 until the end of December, they generated 4,759 kWh. That electricity was fed back into the grid in exchange for a monthly cheque, which has already amounted to over $2,500.

Return on investment

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Our energy consultant for this project, BlueGreen Consulting Group, calculated the annual return on investment for the PV system using the initial investment amount of about $22,500 before tax, the MicroFit numbers to date, and climate data for their first eight months in the program. The system will pay for itself in just 7.4 years, a 14% rate of return.

The cumulative net profit over the next 20 years, assuming that the available solar radiation stays the same, will be in excess of $35,000.The cumulative net profit is calculated for 20 years to match MicroFit’s 20-year contract terms. The system will continue to yield a profit after that time has passed, but the rates are yet to be determined by the Province.

Energy efficiency and air tightness In addition to passive and active solar systems, the house uses triple-glazed windows with fiberglass frames which have low conductance of heat and cold, in-floor radiant heating, ductless mini-splits for air-conditioning, an energy recovery ventilator, lots of ceiling fans for air circulation, LED lighting for all pot lights and compact fluorescents for the rest. The plumbing system uses a shower drain heat recovery system which channels the heat from used shower drain water to preheat hot water used elsewhere in the house. The home is also roughed in for a future greywater system, and all fixtures are low-flow.

ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

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Floor plans

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A B C D E F G H I J K L

B A

D

C

Basement

Recreation room Bathroom Mechanical Bedrooms Dining room Living room Kitchen Entry Den Master bathroom Master bedroom Linen/laundry closet

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PROJECT CREDITS

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Architect Solares Architecture Inc. Construction Pro ICF Energy testing BlueGreen Consulting Group HVAC Design Shrigley Garcia & Associates Structural Katakkar Engineering Associates Photos Frank Crawford

Main floor

L B

J D

K

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Second floor

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Insulated concrete forms [ICF] by Amvic are used for the foundation and above-grade walls. The ICF units have 3-1/4� of EPS foam on each side of a concrete core and deliver an insulation value of R22 to R30, and an all-in-one vapour and air barrier [5, 6 and 7].

The front entrance opens onto a large kitchenliving-dining space [8 and 9].

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2 1 Pape Village is our first house built completely with insulated concrete forms [ICF]. The ICF units have 3 1/4” of EPS foam on each side of the concrete core, bringing this wall type’s insulation value from R22 to R30. ICF is considered a premium construction material which gives a very air-tight home with an all-in-one vapour and air barrier – both factors that contribute to extremely energyefficient homes. The increased construction cost incurred by the material was well worth it.

The insulation values of this house are high, with R30 in the walls and basement, R20 in the basement slab, and R56 in the roof. The roof is made using 6” of spray-foam insulation and 3” of polyisocyanurate, making for a highly insulated assembly. With all these strategies, Pape Village achieved one of our best air-tightness ratings yet: a mere 1.05 air changes per hour.

3 4

Wall construction detail 1 - Exterior wall • Cement BD board siding • Amvic ICF Wall: 5-3/4” poured-in-place reinforced concrete between inner and outer 3-1/4” EPS insulation • 1/2” GYP board 2 - First floor • Engineered hardwood on 3/4” OSB • 1-1/2” Synthetic floor topping with in-floor heating tubes • Engineered floor truss @ 16” c/c • 4” Mineral wool thermal insulation • Resilient channels • 5/8” GYP board 3 - Basement slab • Laminate flooring on underlay • 4” Concrete slab with radiant in-floor tubing • 6 mil poly VB taped and sealed [between insulation] • 2-Ply 2” XPS insulation, lap joints • 6” min 3/4” clear stone • 4” Dia weeping tile in 12” deep trenches tied into sump • Landscape fabric continuous to foundation wall 4 - Concrete footing cast in waterproof membrane

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Building section A

E

B

C

F

H

A B C D E F G H I

D

G

I

Master bathroom Linen/laundry closet Hallway Bathroom Dining Kitchen Entry Recreation room Bedroom

Materials Walls constructed with Amvic+ 3.30 insulated concrete forms [ICF]; parallel chord truss roof insulated with polyiso above roof deck and spray foam insulation below; triple-glazed fibreglass frame low E, Argon windows; Velux skylight above stairs, electrically operable with remote control and electrically-operable blackout blind. Flooring is engineered hardwood and unglazed porcelain tile with Mapei tile grout. Energy recovery ventilator and condensing boiler; photovoltaic panels 5 kW system photovoltaic array.

The VELUX skylight above the stairwell is electrically operable with remote control which allows for natural stackhouse ventilation. It also brings abundant natural light into the core of the house, but is fitted with an electrically-operable blackout blind [10]. The second floor accommodates three full-size bedrooms [one ensuite], a family washroom, and a laundry area separated from the hallway by a large sliding wall [11].

Design and interiors

10 11

The owners wanted to use the property they already had and gain more space than their small bungalow allowed, which meant they needed an extra storey on virtually the same footprint. The new home’s flat roof and rectangular shape allowed us to maximize floor area [850 sq.ft. per floor] while keeping within municipal height regulations. The skylight positioned above the stairs brings natural light into the deep core of the house. Floor heights are generous, with 9-foot ceilings on the main and second floors, and an 8-foot ceiling in the walk-out basement. The basement is roughed in for a separate two-bedroom suite, and with three bedrooms upstairs this is essentially a 5-bedroom house.

The front entrance on the main floor links with a spacious home office at the front, and then opens onto a large kitchen-livingdining space. This rear, south-facing family zone is the focal point of the house, and looks out over the backyard through a large floorto-ceiling window with exterior shading. v Melodie Coneybeare is a Senior Project Manager with Solares Architecture Inc., www.solares.ca.

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Strathcona Net Zero House Modern home a living laboratory in historic neighbourhood

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2

The Strathcona Net Zero House, with an Energuide Rating of 95, is located in the 100 year-old neighbourhood of Old Strathcona in Edmonton. The area retains much of its original character including one of the most well preserved historic business districts in western Canada, along with tree-lined streets having a mixture of heritage homes, mid-century walk-up apartments, and new infill housing.

By Paul Horsman

The corner lot is ideal for solar exposure since the back faces south and the side yard faces west [1]. The stair has flair being constructed of parallel strand lumber [2]. Exposed concrete floors on the main floor store excess heat collected on sunny days and release it after the sun goes down [3]. An operable VELUX skylight located over the stair can help to ventilate the home through the stackhouse effect which can save energy by reducing demand on the air conditioning [4].

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ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

Constructed just two blocks from the owner’s previous house, the home was built with a budget comparable to similar-sized homes using technology that could be adapted to main stream residential construction in the future. The owners also wanted to stay in the neighbourhood because of its proximity to local shopping, entertainment and natural amenities, reinforcing their commitment to investing in an established community.

The key to achieving energy efficiency is centered around conservation first and energy production second. Careful attention was given to the selection of energy-efficient LED lighting and appliances, insulation, advanced window glazing and a very efficient cold climate air-source heat pump provides all the space heating requirements. In addition a separate air source heat pump water heater provides all the necessary domestic hot water. The skylight contributes with the ventilation stackhouse effect which can help to reduce cooling demand on the air conditioner.

By maximizing conservation the home owners were able to minimize how much was invested into energy production. Active electricity generation comes from 48 photovoltaic modules on the roof, and passive heating is helped by strategically placed south-facing windows. Exposed concrete floors have the thermal

mass to store excess heat collected on sunny days and releasing it after the sun goes down.

Located on a corner lot surrounded by large trees, the home owners were able to save a large ornamental crab apple tree on the site which fills with pink blossoms every spring. The site itself was selected as the back faces south and its side yard faces west making it ideal for solar exposure. This year there are plans to plant numerous edible perennials and put in a small vegetable garden. Rainwater will be harvested in barrels and will be used for supplementary irrigation.

4

3

Winter sun penetration

Summer sun penetration and ventilation patterns

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L P

Q J E

F

K O

E

G

C

B

I

H

D E

A

Basement

E N

G

M

Second floor

Main floor

Floor plans A B C D

Bar Games/media room Mechanical room Heat pump

E F G H

Bathroom Music area Entry Pantry

I J K

Living room Kitchen Dining room

L Screened deck M Ensuite N Master bedroom

O P Q

5 Energy, Light and Air Strategic use of energy star appliances, drain water heat recovery coil, LED lighting, air-source heat pump furnace and hot water heater, and a 13.5KwH pv solar array in conjunction with passive solar design contribute to our net-zero energy goal.

The 2x8 exterior walls and the use of spray foam and blown-in insulation provides an R-value of 38 in the walls and 80 in the attic. The basement slab has been set on 4” of rigid EPS insulation with a complete thermal break around the perimeter to minimize heat loss. The main floor has a 2” thick concrete floor which provides a beautiful durable finish and serves as a thermal mass collecting the sun’s heat during the day and releasing it after sunset.

The corner lot location allows additional glazing to the side of the home facing the flanking road. This dramatically increases the amount of light into the centre of the long and relatively narrow house. Maximum glazing on the south also brings in lots of light year round. But to control undesirable heat gain during the summer months, the roof overhangs on the south elevation were designed to shade the large south-facing windows during the warmest season.

Operable windows are positioned to take advantage of prevailing wind directions, and an operable skylight on the north side of the roof above the stairs can help to pull interior air up and out to ventilate the house passively.

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ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

Laundry room Bedroom 2 Loft

Technically, Energuide 100 is referred to as “net zero” but in actuality a sum of all the utility bills and credits equaling zero would be the best true test. Since the home has not yet been occupied for a full year, the data is not sufficient to confirm that net zero has been reached.

Materials 2x8 walls with blown-in fibreglass wall insulation and spray foam insulation, R-38 in the walls and R-80 in the attic, basement slab on 4” of rigid EPS insulation, main floor has a 2” thick concrete floor for storing passive heat, fibre-cement board and galvalume siding. Triple-glazed low E, Argon windows with heat gain on selected southfacing windows, operable VELUX skylight, heat recovery ventilator, A. O. Smith Voltex air source heat pump water heater, Mitsubishi Zuba air source heat pump; photovoltaic array supplies 12.24KW, LED bulbs used throughout.

Careful selection of materials helps a lot to improve interior air quality. For example, engineered hardwood flooring was selected to meet strict California Air Resources Board’s Phase 2 compliance for indoor air quality. As already mentioned, the main floor is finished in polished concrete which provides thermal mass for storing the sun’s energy on sunny days while also offering a durable low-maintenance floor. The floors are easy to clean thus minimizing dust build-up and other contaminants. Maple plywood kitchen and bathroom cabinet boxes take advantage of a readily available Canadian hardwood. Zero VOC paint was used throughout the house.

A simple exterior envelope system of Galvalume and cement-fibre composite siding attached to furring strips in a rainscreen fashion provides a durable maintenance-free exterior which is resistant to unwanted moisture penetration ensuring long-term performance.

7 Spreading the word The owners consider the house as a living laboratory and have shared the experience of building and living in a net zero energy house with as many people as possible. A website and blog was created at www.thenetzerohero.com to document the experiences. The broader Edmonton community was invited to visit on the Eco-Solar Home Tour in 2014, even members of the antique auto club came to visit. The house will again open to the public for the 2015 tour [www. ecosolar.ca]. v Paul Horsman is the home owner, and Senior Designer at Landmark Group which built the Strathcona Net Zero House.

6

A highly-efficient Mitsubishi Zuba cold climate air-source heat pump provides all the space heating requirements [5]. The simple, wellappointed kitchen with a durable low-maintenance concrete floor, receives ample natural light [6]. Active electricity generation comes from 48 photovoltaic modules on the roof [not visible in photo], and passive heating is helped by strategically placed south-facing windows which are shaded from the summer sun [7].

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Thermal bridges What they are and how to break them When one section of a wall conducts heat much quicker than another, we refer to it as a thermal bridge, and that can greatly reduce the overall R value of a wall. Thermal breaks are the solution.

>>> By MIKE REYNOLDS >>>

MIKE REYNOLDS

It’s easy to look at the R value rating of a material and assume that our entire wall assembly matches it uniformly. But when you factor in the thermal bridges caused by framing materials and any discontinuities in the wall structure, you can also quickly deduce that this is not the case.

It doesn’t take expensive equipment or an engineer to identify a thermal bridge in a home, just run your hand along your walls on a really cold day and you will find them.

This isn’t only an issue of heat loss and the higher bills that come with it, it is about comfort and quality of life. On really cold days it can make being too close to walls quite unpleasant, rendering part of your home somewhat unusable at times.

Wood, metal and concrete in exterior walls act as thermal bridges, conducting far more heat than the insulation on either side of them. But with most types of wall assemblies we have little choice but to use some kind of heat conducting material as wall frames; foam studs wouldn’t carry a Canadian snow load.

What you can do is factor that in during the design phase so you achieve the actual wall performance you want. Installing R19 batts of insulation with R5 wood studs on either side results in a wall that performs closer to R13 or even lower, depending on the amount of studs. The true or ‘effective’ R value of a wall is further impacted by the quality and amount of windows you install.

If you ran an energy simulation model to find out how well a wall would perform but you neglected to calculate thermal bridges, you would be trying to solve a math equation without using all the variables and your conclusions would simply be wrong.

Thermal imaging gives a good perspective of heat movement.

Here the orange-coloured wall studs show where heat is lost through thermal bridging, highlighting the importance of a seamless blanket of insulation as a thermal break. photo Courtesy alain hamel.

Thermal bridge-free construction Basic guidelines: 1 - Be conscious of the use and type of exterior framing members. Some of the wood used in exterior framing can be safely eliminated - headers on non-load bearing walls, unnecessary cripples, redundant studs in corners etc.

2 - Try to avoid metal fasteners of any kind that span the entire wall assembly.

3 - Design your basement wall so it is better protected against moisture and water damage.

This can allow you to use wood interior studs instead of switching to metal as a durability precaution.

4 - Leave metal stud cavities on exterior walls empty, and instead use the money you would have spent on batts to thicken up a seamless layer of board insulation. You may lose a couple of inches of interior space, but that space would be more comfortable and you will get a much better return on your insulation investment.

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This article originally appeared on our web affiliate, ecohome.net, which contains a wealth of information on high-performance home building.

The growing popularity of metal studs Metal studs are becoming more commonplace in residential construction, and not always with great results. Some builders love them, and for interior walls that’s fine, but the energy performance of buildings that trade out wood for metal on exterior walls can take a serious hit when we ignore thermal bridging.

Metal conducts heat so easily that there is really little point in putting insulation on either side of it. It is estimated that metal studs with batts in the cavities can reduce the overall performance of that insulation by 60 to 70%, or more.

According to Building Science Corporation, “The R-value of 6 inch deep steel studs installed at 16 inch centres with cavity insulation of R-21 is reduced to R-7.4, a value only 35% of the nominal.”

If putting heat conduits on either side of batt insulation reduces their performance by half, you essentially paid double the price for the R value you think you purchased. So your money may be better invested by employing alternatives.

Energy modelling simulation of heat loss through thermal bridging © Denis Boyer for Ecohome.

Building codes and thermal bridges It is not only sensible to address thermal bridging in construction, it is becoming law. Recent revisions to building codes have increased the thermal requirements of building enclosures in many regions, including requiring a thermal break.

Contrary to common assumptions, the insulation values in building codes are not about promoting the most efficient and cost-effective wall systems, they exist to protect home buyers by ensuring there is a bottom rung of performance we don’t fall below.

So if breaking thermal bridges has now made it into code as a ‘must do’ practice, then you know the effects are significant. Thermal bridges affect a home’s energy performance but they also have health and durability implications by causing cold spots that will increase the risk of condensation. So beyond heat loss and comfort, air quality and structural integrity can be a factor as well in terms of mould, mildew and rot.

Insulating exterior wall stud bays is not something we should stop doing, but we should not ignore the overall effect of thermal bridges when we add up all that wood, and we definitely shouldn’t replace insulated wood frames with metal if it can be avoided.

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ecohouse CANADA | SPRING | 2015

Using metal studs as a means of holding insulation was called an ‘abomination’ by Joe Lstiburek of Building Science Corporation who eloquently explained it like this: ‘’Putting insulation between metal studs is like eating a sweater to try and stay warm.’’

Thermal bridges that will cause significant heat loss are not limited to just studs in a wall. They include discontinuities in the insulation, corner junctions, badly installed insulation [convective thermal bridges], concrete slab junctions at walls and balconies, service openings [structural thermal bridges], and ‘penetration’ thermal bridges such as metal I-beams that pass through wall assemblies.

Calculating heat flow through building enclosures is much more complex than calculating it through individual materials, particularly when highly conductive components such as steel or concrete are in play. So the R value written on your insulation indicates what it is capable of, how well it actually performs is up to the designer and builder. v Mike Reynolds is a former home builder, a LEED for Homes Green Rater and the editor of Ecohome.net.

What One Canadian University Learned About Zuba-Central.

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Every HVAC system claims to be energy efficient. But how many of these claims are backed by science? Ours is.

An independent study*conducted by Ryerson University in Toronto proves that Zuba-Central: SAVES ENERGY With a COP ranging from 1.4 to 3.19, Zuba-Central delivers energy savings of up to 60% annually over conventional heating and cooling systems.

OPERATES EFFICIENTLY AT LOW TEMPERATURES Our advanced system design and innovative compressor technology ensures effective and efficient operation in temperatures as low as -30째C. IS MORE AFFORDABLE THAN GEOTHERMAL Zuba-Central delivers similar energy efficiency at a fraction of the installed cost of a geothermal system.

Get the facts for yourself and see why Zuba-Central by Mitsubishi Electric is the proven choice for energy efficiency and cost savings. *Study conducted by Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and Ryerson University: Performance Assessment of a Variable Capacity Air Source Heat Pump and a Horizontal Loop Coupled Ground Source Heat Pump System

*When installed by an authorized HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning) installer. Certain conditions, restrictions and/or limitations apply. See warranty terms and conditions for complete details.

photo courtesy of TRCA

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