Ecohouse#6 - Summer 2014 - Sample

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SUMMER 2014

OJEC

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One Planet T

INNING

the high-performance housing magazine for designers, builders and homeowners

RenO

Residential winner of the 2014 Canadian Green Building Awards

Tips FROM the Field

Essentials for a green home or reno

Great Gulf Active House Big builder pushes the boundaries

Building better

BASEMENTS More comfort and healthier indoor air

ecohouse CANADA | Summer | 2014

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

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NEWS AND PRODUCTS

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SPECIAL FEATURE: ONE PLANET RENO

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Summer 2014 awards issue

AD

AWARDS

thanks to our sponsors

T EC BUILDING

ING PRO N J NG N

The 2014 Canadian Green Building residential award-winning project

Insulating walls with dense pack cellulose

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Time for some respect 17

HOUSE C4

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BUILDING BETTER BASEMENTS

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GREAT GULF ACTIVE HOUSE

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TIPS FROM THE FIELD

Big makeover brings modern look and function Comfort, durability and healthier indoor air Big builder pushes the boundaries of green residential development A builder expert’s essentials for a green home or reno

SEE MORE at:

• www.sabmagazine.com â click on ecoHouse Canada • www.ECOHOME.NET Cover: One Planet Reno, Photo Christian Lalonde ecohouse CANADA | Summer | 2014

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Excellence in Window & Door Hardware

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ecohouse CANADA | Summer | 2014

The 2014 Canadian Green Building Awards THE HIGH-PERFORMANCE HOUSING MAGAZINE FOR DESIGNERS, BUILDERS AND HOMEOWNERS

This issue features the winning residential project from the 2014 Canadian Green Building Awards program that was adjudicated in Ottawa earlier this spring. We would like to take this opportunity to

Member Canada Green Building Council

acknowledge the Canada Green Building

Our web partner www.ecohome.net

SABMag is a proud member and media partner of the CaGBC, and collaborates with them on each issue.

Council as our partner in this program; our Photo: Roy Grogan

corporate sponsors Autodesk, Interface, Uponor and the Canadian Precast Prestressed Concrete Institute; and our

VISIT www.sabmagazine.com for our Product Directory

jurors, Brian Rudy, Jennifer Sanguinetti, Christopher Simmonds and Kevin Stelzer.

Publisher Don Griffith 800-520-6281, ext. 304, dgriffith@sabmagazine.com

If there was a common theme to the residential entries this year,

Editor Jim Taggart, FRAIC 604-874-0195, architext@telus.net

ed on the premise that renovating an existing structure is the

Graphic Design Carine De Pauw 819-778-5040, ext. 308, cdepauw@sabmagazine.com

of construction, while several others sought innovative ways to

Senior Account Manager Patricia Abbas 416-438-7609, pabbas8@gmail.com

dwellings. From a strong field, the jury selected the One Planet

it was renovation and intensification. Several entries were foundmost effective way of reducing the overall environmental impact

editorial advisors • Tom Knezic, M.ARCH., LEED AP, OAA Solares Architecture Inc., www.solares.ca • Roy Nandram, LEED AP, RND Construction, www.rndconstruction.ca • Mike Reynolds, LEED AP-Homes, ecohome.net

develop infill sites with highly livable single family or multi-family Reno in Ottawa for its ambition, its rigour and the transferability of its approach.

This project [and others] made the case that renovation has multiple benefits beyond the simple conservation of embodied energy and reducing the extraction of new materials. By using previously developed sites, it preserves undeveloped land for agriculture or other productive uses; promotes innovation in

Published by

www.janam.net

design often resulting in fresh ideas; it maintains the physical and

81 Leduc St.,Gatineau,Qc J8X 3A7 800-520-6281, ext.304, 819-778-5040 Fax: 819-595-8553

psychological continuity of neighbourhoods; and increases the proportion of the construction budget that is expended on labour.

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This broad interpretation of sustainability found favour with the jury, who remarked that “it is Important to focus on the complete story - a truly sustainable building is one that takes a holistic approach and combines verifiable high performance with careful attention to the less tangible aspects of design.”

Our thanks to all who participated in this year’s program.

ISSN 1920-6259 Copyright by Janam Publications Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or reproduced without written permission.

Views expressed are those of the authors exclusively.

Publication Mail Agreement #40024961

Jim Taggart, FRAIC Editor The 2014 sponsors

Return undelivered Canadian address mail to: Janam Publications Inc., 81 Leduc St., Gatineau, Qc J8X 3A7

The print version of ecoHouse Canada uses Rolland Environ100 Satin, a 100% post-consumer fiber that is certified FSC and EcoLogo. It is processed chlorine-free, FSC-recycled and is manufactured using biogas energy.

Please forward comments, article ideas and project contributions to: Don Griffith, Publisher dgriffith@sabmagazine.com - 1 800 520 6281 ext.304

Environmental savings for this issue:

FSC logo

14 Trees

52,769 litres water

799 kg waste

2,078 kg CO2 ecohouse CANADA | Summer | 2014

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news & products

ASRi launches the Straw Bale Alternative Solutions Resource ASRi, the Alternative Solutions Resource initiative [www.asri.ca] has published the Straw Bale Alternative Solutions Resource [SB ASR].

The SB ASR provides designers, architects, engineers and builders with recommendations for drafting successful permit applications for straw bale buildings in compliance with the British Columbia Building Code – and it makes an authoritative reference in other provinces. In addition, the document offers building inspectors a comprehensive guide when assessing the merits of a building permit application involving the use of straw bales as both structural and non-structural wall assemblies. The document is available for download from the ASRi website [www.asri.ca/shop] for a modest fee. Development of the SB ASR was made possible by the generous support of Vancity and the Real Estate Foundation of BC through their annual Green Building Grant.

BOOK Earthen Floors A Modern Approach to an Ancient Practice

By Sukita Reay Crimmel and James Thomson This comprehensive, fullyillustrated manual covers the history, use and maintenance of earthen floors and features a detailed step-by-step guide to installing this durable, costeffective alternative from scratch.

Constructed from widely available, natural materials, this beautiful, sealed, nontoxic flooring option is suitable for nearly any home and makes a perfect project for the environmentally-conscious do-it-yourself enthusiast. $29.95. Order: http://www.newsociety.com/ Books/E/Earthen-Floors

Empowerhouse powers comfort by energy-harvesting wireless

The duplex Empowerhouse in Washington, D.C. was designed and engineered by students from Stevens Institute of Technology, Parsons The New School for Design, and Milano School for International Affairs. The first passive house in D.C. and home for two local families, the house was awarded for its affordability and cost-effectiveness in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon competition 2011.

Part of the innovative concept is an intelligent home automation system which uses energy harvesting wireless technology. It also combines passive house construction with low-impact and water-saving features as well as photovoltaic cells. The house is so efficient that it draws no power from the grid.

Energy from the surroundings Core of the system is a local database combined with a home area network router that connects to the internet and a universal controller from Can2Go. This controller deploys integrated solutions for HVAC, lighting, etc. - quickly and efficiently linking multiple devices based on many standard protocols. It brings together self-powered wireless switches from Leviton, batteryless wireless temperature and occupancy sensors from Thermokon as well as a box from Intesis for integrating the Mitsubishi heat pump into the automated control. All of these peripheral devices communicate on the EnOcean energy harvesting wireless standard.

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ecohouse CANADA | Summer | 2014

The products based on the EnOcean technology use the energyharvesting principle to collect the energy they need for wireless communication from the surrounding environment, such as motion, indoor light, or temperature differentials. Thus, the sensors operate completely without cables and batteries.

Flexible operation The motion of pressing one of the light switches generates enough electrical power through an electromechanical harvester for a wireless module to send a signal to the controller containing the information “switch on/off the light.” The switches can be positioned at any place in the house. The same applies to the batteryless wireless temperature and occupancy sensors. These devices incorporate miniaturized solar cells that use indoor light as their power source to measure room temperature or presence and to communicate wirelessly.

Sensors control the temperature and match it with the pre-configured set point. In the case of deviation, the sensor sends a signal to the controller that accordingly adjusts the heating/cooling system. All functionalities can be visualized by a browser-based device such as a tablet, PC or, smartphone. The router, connecting to the universal controller and the Internet, enables the residents to access and adjust the automation system remotely from anywhere if needed. http://parsit. parsons.edu/our-house/

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Zehnder America sets precedent in heat recovery efficiency for cold climate ventilation Zehnder America announces that it has completed the Exova laboratory third-party testing of the Zehnder ComfoAir 550 Heat Recovery Ventilator [HRV] with ComfoFond-L ground source heat exchanger. With 99% Apparent Sensible Effectiveness and 91% Sensibly Recovery Efficiency at -25°C/-13°F, heating loads are drastically reduced in a cold climate. The combined power consumption is 90 watts/hour, an extremely low power consumption. By capturing the free stored energy in the ground to pre-heat air entering the HRV, the fresh filtered air coming out of the HRV is within 2-3 degrees of the comfortable inside temperature. This is the case even when the outside temperature is well below freezing. This mitigates uncomfortable cold drafts during winter months. The Zehnder HRV with ComfoFond-L geothermal heat exchanger provides a groundbreaking alternative to a HRV industry performance issue of recirculating stale air in cold weather climates to prevent the HRV core from freezing. www.zehnderamerica.com

Icynene offers higher R-value foam Canadian spray foam insulation manufacturer, Icynene, has unveiled its latest product innovation – Icynene Classic Plus™ – designed to help meet the stringent Canadian building code requirements. The 11.2kg/m3 [0.7lb/ ft3] open-cell spray foam insulation product offers one of the best thermal resistance values in the market, at 0.72 [m2•K]/W at 25.4 mm or an R-Value of R4 per inch. The product achieves a yield of up to 16,500 square feet, and reduces waste and additional labour during application. www.icynene.com.

Ads in this issue: 2 Zehnder America 4 Euroline Windows Inc. 7 Fantech 13 IECS/Igloo Cellulose Inc.

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SRP AirOutshield™ 24 Cosella Dörken 31 Roxul 32 Velux Canada

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The ECO-Touch is a complete Touch Screen Control providing the contractors and homeowners with a higher level of control over indoor air quality. That’s simply better™.

www.fantech.net • 800.565.3548

ecohouse CANADA | Summer | 2014

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One Planet Reno, Ottawa The One Planet Reno project set out to create a beautiful and functional family home for four, complete with a home office, while simultaneously minimizing the ecological footprint of construction and eliminating carbon emissions from operations. The comprehensive renovation of a neglected century-old home was chosen as the basis for the project, limiting the area of new additions in order to minimize embodied energy.

By Scott Demark The house had good solar orientation, a deciduous tree to the south, a footprint of approximately 50m2, excellent access to amenities and transit and a Walkscore of 95 [www.walkscore. com]. The desire was to preserve existing trees and the heritage character of the structure including the exterior brickwork - while creating a high-performance envelope.

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Main design ideas The owners used the guiding principles of the ‘One Planet Living’ program [www.oneplanetliving.org], and the Passive House standard for energy performance. LEED for Homes Platinum certification was achieved through a holistic approach to sustainable design that included the following strategies: • Orient and fenestrate for control of solar gains and optimization of daylight.

• Super-insulate and use a ‘passive before active’ approach to energy design.

• Minimize the ecological footprint of the construction and operation of the house.

• Choose materials and finishes that result in healthy and inspiring interior and exterior living spaces.

Balancing the constraints of One Planet Living and Passive House standards with the desire for beauty and function presented numerous challenges.

For example: Having a narrow city lot, using walls from the original house, and achieving R55, but avoiding an ugly, spray foam, windowless box; harvesting solar energy, but still having sunny spaces for recreation and food production.; retaining elements of the original house to reduce embodied energy and respect the vernacular, but requiring an air-tight envelope; reusing and repurposing building elements [with the associated additional labour cost], while respecting a project budget; and requiring a solar power plant, but not wanting active solar to define the architecture.

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Rain falls on roof. 1mm over 1 sq.m = 1L of water to tank

Filter flushes out debris, retains 95% of water

Pump pressurizes system City water backup supply

Debris and overflow to sewer

10,000L storage tank Rooftop garden irrigation and exterior hose bibs

6 Rainwater harvesting schematic

7 The living room. most of the original walls were rebuilt to a minimum of R45, and made air tight [5]. The stairwell acts both as a thermal chimney for passive ventilation, and as a source of indirect daylighting [6]. The rooftop deck has a vegetable garden and PV panels.

The home uses 90% less energy and 78% less potable water than a typical house [7].

A 10,000 litre rainwater cistern was retrofitted into the basement and plumbed to the toilets, exterior hose bibs, and rooftop vegetable garden irrigation system. Given the frequency of rainfall in Ottawa, the cistern stores enough water to meet the building’s non-potable requirements over the course of the year.

Despite the many compromises that were necessary to meet the design objectives, the home and its occupants use 90% less energy and 78% less potable water than a typical house, while living in comfort with exceptional air quality. Having chosen an older house of a type common in most parts of Ontario, the design team has added value by creating a solution that can be widely replicated.

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Scott Demark, MBA, P.Eng, LEED AP is a partner in BuildGreen Solutions within the Windmill Development Group, Ltd.

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ecohouse CANADA | Summer | 2014

22295 Hoskins Line Rodney, ON N0L 2C0 T 1-800-821-7462 F 1-866-496-1990 www.iecs.com

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THE HIGH-PERFORMANCE HOUSING MAGAZINE FOR DESIGNERS, BUILDERS AND HOMEOWNERS

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Insulating walls with Time for some respect In 2005, Metric Homes of Carp, Ontario designed and built Canada's first Energy Star labelled home in Canada. This home was built with dense-packed cellulose as the wall insulation of choice. Their intent was to produce a better built home with a goal of creating "a proper balance between additional efficiency and price such that it would be attractive to future clients".

BY Phillip MacCallum

Dense pack cellulose insulation can be a superior product to commonly used batt insulation, but somehow it has developed a bad reputation in Canada. Cellulose fibre insulation [CFI] is like the Rodney Dangerfield of insulations, it “can’t get no respect”.

When done right, dense blown cellulose is a highly efficient option for insulating exterior walls. It gives good thermal performance [R3.5-3.8/inch], and slows air flow through walls making your house cheaper and easier to heat and cool. In addition, the high density of packed cellulose can provide a better sound barrier than batt insulation.

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Modern CFI production began in the 1970s and has been commonly used in roofs across the globe, and in walls throughout the US and Europe. When cellulose is densely packed [3.0lbs/ft3 or 48kg/m3 or greater], it is an excellent wall cavity insulation that provides good R value at a reasonable cost. However, it is seldom used in Canada despite its reasonable cost and efficiency.

It has been unfairly criticized for its ‘settling’ issues, and risk of mould and flammability. These criticisms are largely baseless, and dense blown cellulose for wall cavities should be more common in Canada than it is today.

The concern of cellulose in wall cavities settling is probably the biggest misconception, though it is one that originates legitimately because that’s what used to happen when it was blown into walls loosely, as it presently is in ceilings. Cellulose in walls is packed in so that it is, in effect, under pressure and cannot settle, thus maintaining the overall performance of its installed R-value. Any warnings on packages of settling refers to cellulose loose-blown in ceilings.

CFI is commonly manufactured with borate, which is a fire retardant that also resists mould and and insects. In fact borate, in small amounts, has been determined to be largely harmless. Most common foods contain borates at concentrations of 1-20 ppm, so we ingest up to 1 mg/day in our normal diets,2 and it is certainly less harmful than many toxins found in various adhesives and finishes commonly used in housing construction.

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Big makeover brings modern look and function The house is a three-storey flat roof structure with a two-storey addition in the rear. Flat roofs were chosen not only for the modern appearance but for rain water collection and green roof application. The house, with its modern appearance, is appropriately positioned on the site. Set back slightly from its neighbours, the house takes on a more humbled position in the row of houses.

BY MARK THOLEN The house is filled with natural light in every space and meets the client’s desire of acquiring spacious living areas to house a young family with three small children on a standard 20x120 foot narrow and deep lot in an established downtown Toronto neighbourhood.

To distribute maximum natural light provided by the skylight above the light-filled central stairwell, the stair guards are glass, and the walls on the second and third floors have either glazed partitions or glazed clerestory openings facing the stairwell. The open-concept ground floor layout, with large floor-to-ceiling sliding glass walls spanning the width of the house at both ends, provided a series of light-filled, spacious and fluid-living dining and cooking spaces. Great care was also given to have a lower level that is light flooded and does not feel like a basement.

Architectural Design TYYZ / Mark Tholen & Catherine Lin Structural ENGINEER Blackwell Bowick Mechanical ENGINEER Anderson Energy Savers Inc. Hard Landscaping Black Slate, Mark Goger Landscaping General Contractor Golden Hammer PhotoS Robin Zhao, Mark Tholen

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Equitone Fibre Cement cladding and Parklex Wood Veneer panels installed as a reverse ventilated rainscreen give a modern look to the house [1].

Walkway Concrete porch

Existing 3-storey detached house, proposed 3-storey extension

Site plan

Two car garage with green roof

Geothermal bore holes

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asements

Comfort, durability and healthier indoor air The musty basement smell that we have come to accept as unavoidable is actually quite avoidable. The solution is really very simple - don't build below grade with walls that were designed for above grade, because they can't possibly do what you want them to do.

Mike Reynolds

By Mike Reynolds

The key to building better basements is to understand

Grade

that there is a completely different set of challenges facing walls built underground, and different building practices need to be employed for them to work.

The greatest source of moisture that above-grade walls must contend with is the warm, humid air in our homes that wants to get out. Below grade, it is that big porous sponge called concrete that is sucking up moisture from the ground, and that moisture has nowhere it can go but in. When you change the problem, you need to change the solution.

Polyethylene vapour barriers can play a positive role in walls that are above ground level, never below. [But,

Below grade the moisture drive is always inward

not always the case. See “Build a poly-free house,” in the Summer, 2013 issue of ecoHouse Canada.] Above grade, we most commonly build walls intended to dry to the exterior.

That is impossible below grade, yet we build as if it were.

Exterior

Interior

The ground is wet, wood studs are wet and concrete is wet.

How then, is covering something with a sheet of plastic going to keep it dry if it’s already wet?

Above grade, we focus on preventing moisture from getting out; in the basement we first of all need to prevent it from coming in, but also allow the moisture that is already

Below grade moisture drive. Courtesy ecohome.net

in there to get out. Covering walls with a sheet of plastic certainly won’t help you there.

Despite the fact that polyethylene vapour barriers in

A new concrete foundation will take five years to fully dry, and this is

below-grade wall assemblies are commonplace, frustrated

only if measures have been taken to protect it completely from ground

building scientists insist they are unnecessary and do

water and moisture with waterproof membranes on exterior surfaces.

far more harm than good. Professor John Straube of the

Even if no additional ground moisture is able to get in, the untold thou-

University of Waterloo dubbed this type of wall assembly a

sands of litres of water that are in concrete and wood studs are enough

“mould incubation chamber”.

to destroy walls if you don’t let it pass through to the interior.

ecohouse CANADA | Summer | 2014

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Big builder pushes the boundaries of green residential development Great Gulf, one of the country’s largest home builders, is simultaneously concerned with being an innovative, forward-thinking company, and a competitive builder in the residential market.

This project in Thorold, Ontario was a leap of faith in a market that has not to date shown much interest in sustainability. Using the existing local design guidelines of a traditional gabled roof design and adapting them for the Active House yielded a multi-functional design that was the basis for an open plan, an abundance of interior daylight, and a house of superior environmental performance.

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By Meg Graham

Although adapted to the Active House system, the traditional gabled roof design sits naturally beside its more conventional neighbours [1]. The interior is an open plan, and has an abundance of interior daylight and superior environmental performance [2].

Ground floor plan

A B C

Entry Living Room Den

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Dining Area Kitchen Outdoor Terrace

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Study Powder Room

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Tips

from the field

A builder expert’s essentialS for a green home or reno

“Green” has been a buzzword over the last few decades. We are bombarded with reality TV shows, websites, magazines and product descriptions that often give conflicting information about their green claims.

For builders, sorting through these conflicting claims can be challenging. For home owners, it’s worse. It can be both confusing and discouraging.

By Roy Nandram

DESIGN What’s more, we are faced with green words and phrases that fur-

Green renovations can be complex because of a home’s existing

ther compound this problem – words such as environmentally friendly,

conditions, such as its construction type, orientation, age, possible

no- or low-VOC, renewable, eco-this and eco-that, LEED® compliant,

heritage status, and whether it is occupied or vacant during the

and sustainable. Some of these terms are being misused. This is “gre-

renovations. This is why it is simpler to design and build new green

enwashing”: where companies are promoting the perception of being

homes than it is to do green renovations to older homes.

environmentally friendly by making environmental claims that are misleading and inaccurate.

BUILDING ENVELOPE

Consumers must understand what a product is actually offering.

Conservation of energy and thermal comfort are the essence of

Buildings, including homes, account for 30-40% of total energy con-

improving your building envelope; the payback is also the great-

sumption. The energy consumption of homes is a major contributor

est. The most important way to improve the energy efficiency of

of greenhouse gas emissions.Green renovation is the integration of:

a home is to reduce air leakage. Air leakage represents 25-40%

comfort, energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.

of heat lost from an older home. It is unlikely that your home will

Comfort – A home that offers an indoor climate which promotes good health, adequate daylight and views as well as thermal and acoustic comfort.

become air-tight unless one chooses a renovator who understands and has experience in green renovations.

Insulation in walls, exposed ceilings, and attics must be

Energy – A home that minimizes the demand for energy through

addressed in order to improve the R-value [measurement of ther-

good building envelope design as well as reducing air leakage, space

mal resistance] of your home. In addition to the walls, replacement

heating/cooling, electrical loads, and water usage [both hot and cold].

of windows and exterior doors may be essential in improving the

Environmental – A home which minimizes the negative impact on our land, air and water due to the way it is renovated and operated.

energy performance of your home.

When replacing windows, it is important to have the right type of glazing for each façade depending on its solar orientation. The

THE FIRST STEPS

U-factor measures the thermal quality of a window, exterior door or

When planning a major green renovation, start with an energy

skylight. The U-factor is the inverse of the R-value, i.e., the lower the

assessment [audit] of your home, which includes a blower door test.

U-value, the more energy-efficient the window, door or skylight.

This will reveal the current EnerGuide rating of a home and include the air leakage rate. This report can help prioritize green renovations based

HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING

on the most beneficial upgrades and the best payback for your budget.

Now that your home is air-tight, there may be a need to address

We need to protect construction workers during the renovation

mechanical ventilation. The best way to do this is to install an

process as well as everyone who will enjoy the home afterwards.

HRV [Heat Recovery Ventilator] or better yet, an ERV [Energy

Renovations that involve demolition work of an older home require a

heat Recovery Ventilator]; the latter helps maintain a balanced

mandatory designated substance report [DSR]. This report may reveal

humidity level in the home, resulting in better indoor air quality.

any possible presence of mould, lead paint, asbestos and materials

Once heat loss has been addressed, the HVAC equipment may be

which have now been found to be detrimental to our health.

adequate; although they will be oversized. Depending on its age,

In addition to a DSR, a radon gas test should be performed. The

fuel, type, etc., the existing HVAC system may have to be replaced

cross-Canada survey of radon concentrations in homes found that

to achieve substantial energy savings and efficiency. The ideal

4.6% of homes in Ontario, for example, have high radon levels. Long-

situation is to heat and cool as efficiently as possible. The choice

term exposure to radon can cause serious health concerns, such as

of heating system will depend on the available fuel types in your

lung cancer.

area and their cost.

ecohouse CANADA | Summer | 2014

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MORE THAN A ROCK, IT’S FIRE PROTECTION.

ROXUL® insulation is stone wool, which makes it fire resistant. Made of basalt lava rock and recycled steel slag, ROXUL can take heat other insulations can’t and will withstand temperatures up to 2150ºF. ROXUL insulation not only helps you save on energy, it makes your home more safe. roxul.com

ecohouse CANADA | Summer | 2014

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Bring in the light and make your design stand out!

Meet customer demand for natural lighting and fresh air with VELUX Skylights & Sun Tunnels, the professional’s choice.

Only the VELUX No Leak Skylight offers three layers of water protection for absolute peace of mind. The Solar Powered “Fresh Air” Skylight requires no electrician visit making installation quick, simple and cost effective.

Call us today for more information Toll free: 1 800 888-3589 velux.ca

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ecohouse CANADA | Summer | 2014