Insightful Healthy Homes

 

W. 18

Located in Vancouver's South Cambie neighbourhood, this custom-built home demonstrates the greenest in happy and healthy Vancouver living.

A net-zero energy ready (NZER) home, this house is designed and constructed to deliver the same energy performance as a NZE (Net-Zero Energy) home, but has not yet installed the on-site renewable energy generation capacity needed to achieve NZE performance. That's nothing to scoff at - this home can already save 75% more energy for heating and hot water than the standard home built to the latest by-laws. When it becomes cost-effective, it is ready to be upgraded to NZE with the installation of photovoltaic panels, which are currently very expensive.

The construction of a NZER home is an affordable alternative to a full NZE home at present, making high energy efficiency homes more accessible for consumers.

When finished, this home will have an EnerGuide rating of 88.

Our high standards ensure better insulation and a tighter air-seal, so not only does this home save more energy, but provides a healthy, indoor environment for the family within.

 

 

Double wall.

Installing the SIP roof.

After the SIP roof has been installed.

Completed metal roof.

 

 

Interested? Come check out our construction Open House!

July 6, 1:00-5:00pm

July 7, 10:00am-5:00pm

 

Location: 650 W.18th Avenue

 

 

Want more info? Here are some technical specifics:
    

Building Envelope:

  • Wall: double 2x4 stud wall, actual R value = 40.1
  • Roof: SIP roof panel plus mineral wool insulation, actual R value = 50
  • Windows: Triple glazing, double low E coating, argon gas infill fiberglass casement or fixed windows
  • Targeted airtightness: ACH = 0.75 @ 50Pa
  • Base Slab: 4” EPS rigid foam;
  • Crawl space wall: 2 1/8” XPS plus 2” EPS

Construction:

  • Pre-fab walls; reduce construction waste on site
  • Factory made SIP roof panels
  • Crawl space wall and slab:monolithic concrete with waterproofing admixture to avoid construction joint and use of pollution-prone waterproofing membrane or bituminous paint
  • Light colour steel roof: make installation of solar panels easy, long duration and reduce heat gain.
  • environmental friendly, fully reusable, rain screen integrated exterior cladding system
  

Mechanical System:

  • Air source heat pump with four ductless indoor units (multi-split system)
  • Full solar hot water system
  • Two separate fully ducted HRVs to serve main house and secondary suite

Renewable Energy Ready:

  • Fully pre-wired and pre-ducted for 25 PV panels on steel roof
  • Fully pre-wired for electric car charging station in garage

Healthy Building Material:

  • ZERO formaldehyde cabinets
  • Low VOC water based paint
  • Built-in rainwater harvesting system