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Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

Leading the way

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Accolades for Arista Homes for its green building practices  

NATURAL RESOURCES CANADA ENERGYSTAR NEW HOMEBUILDER OF THE YEAR

Being true to its company philosophy is reaping ongoing benefits for Arista Homes Limited.

Founded more than 20 years ago by Michael DeGasperis, the Vaughan-based

Homebuilder of more than 9,000 quality homes across the GTA and Southern Ontario has long been recognized as an industry leader in both innovation and technical excellence – and that’s a key part of its Mission Statement. “While building upon a Life-Friendly TM corporate philosophy, we will encourage the development of our exceptional people to build exceptional homes and communities and deliver a product to our clients that we would be proud to own.” The entire Arista Homes team is motivated by this Mission Statement. Arista’s dedication and commitment to always improving and building the best possible home, alongside being environmentally conscientious, has not gone unnoticed. In fact, Arista Homes was recently recognized as the 2015 Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) Energy Star New Homebuilder of the Year. Receiving this prestigious National Award is certainly a proud accomplishment!

“We take great pride in receiving this nationally recognized award,” says Michael DeGasperis, Arista’s President and C.E.O. “We remain committed to collaborating with suppliers, trades and each of our dedicated employees to ensure we continue building a product for our valued clients that we would all be proud to own ourselves.”

For more than two decades, Arista Homes has embraced green building initiatives and remains determined and dedicated to doing so in the years ahead. The continued implementation of green initiatives, panelized construction practices, recycling programs, and improved construction processes all contribute to a better-built home, which ultimately leads to a more environmentally friendly home and an even more satisfied homebuyer.

The National Energy Star award provides significant acknowledgment of Arista’s efforts and is a direct result of the company promoting the Energy Star brand along with other worthy green building initiatives. Most importantly, there’s no doubt that Arista has embraced a corporate philosophy that is predicated upon building the best possible homes and a strong desire to be environmentally conscious.

“I am proud to live and work in one of the world’s greatest countries,” says DeGasperis. “I take great pride in being entrusted by our homeowners to, in essence, make their dreams come true. This is a significant responsibility that I do not take lightly. Not only

does it motivate me daily, but I derive great satisfaction in future generations aspiring to make an Arista home their own.”

Arista Homes is not satisfied in simply meeting today’s homebuyer expectations; rather the Arista mandate is to exceed these expectations whenever possible.

The utilization of panelized wood construction practices has become the norm in all Arista communities. Arista has embraced the technologies and industry-leading advancements provided by forward thinking companies such as Panelized Building Solutions (PBS) and Tamarack. These companies are at the forefront of providing homebuilders with engineered, factory-built and locally co-ordinated wood panelized products. The expertise provided by their respective design teams has allowed Arista to implement effective on-site strategies that have had a significant impact in not only reducing the carbon footprint left behind, but also a positive effect on Arista’s ability to build a better home.

With several panelized Arista communities now complete, Arista has found that the overall cost effectiveness associated with panelized wood construction along with the many immediate benefits associated with this superior construction method, both immediate and long-term, far outweigh those of conventional house construction.

The immediate benefits of panelization are undeniable and can be measured to include the following:

 Built the right way, the same way every time.

 Save time – 37% faster than conventional stick frame construction = greater economies and efficiencies

 Produces a superior quality finished product.

 Cleaner and safer workplace, virtually no waste material

 Reduces required on-site labour force required for clean-up.

 Reduced WSIB costs.

 A near 50% savings on typical waste-bin costs.

 Virtually eliminates equipment required to clean up sites.

 Cost certainty – as one all-inclusive price is provided.

 Panels are built in a controlled heated environment to exact dimensions.

 Fixed delivery dates.

 Less weather related delays – helps you stay on schedule and on budget.

 Floor and wall assembly systems are tailored to individual builder/client needs and specifications.

 Installed with cranes, thus significantly reducing on-site labour.

 Saves space on site for material staging areas.

Arista’s clients have been quick to recognize this effort. Arista’s V.P of Sales and Marketing, Franco Crispino states: “This exceptional green-friendly initiative can only be described as a huge success.”

Beyond panelized construction, Arista continues to implement many other technologies and advancements into each of their homes. Their current mandate, is to ensure that all new Arista communities are Energy Star-compliant and to build upon their many successes in the green building environment.

Each Arista Energy Star-built home incorporates individual energy-efficient home components and building materials. Such practices effectively contribute to an approximately 25% more energy efficient home when compared to the current building code – much to the delight of each Arista homebuyer. Each home not only exceeds the current standards but ultimately saves the homeowners money as well. In addition, Arista also adheres to neighbourhood friendly on-site environmental protection measures by providing homeowners an introduction to solar-ready conduits and the integration of future energy-saving technologies and water conservation initiatives (e.g. low-flow faucets, high-efficiency flush toilets). Furthermore, improved indoor air quality is achieved with the introduction of environmentally-friendly building materials as well as Heat Recovery Ventilation Systems (HRV’s) as well as several other construction details that are geared towards a more air-tight home.

As far as community development goes, neighbourhood street patterns and designs are given careful consideration in order to create pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and neighbourhood –friendly green spaces. Wherever possible, Arista promotes transit hubs, easy access to public spaces and recreational facilities – anything that can limit the

use of automobiles and make life easier and more satisfying for homeowners. This also includes Live/Work communities. To top it all off, water conservation mandates and policies, proper storm water management, tree preservation, rain barrels and homeowner education are commonplace in many Arista Homes community. Arista cares and it shows.

For more than 20 years Arista has strived to be the industry leader and to assist the building community whenever possible. Part of that means being committed to providing leadership, input and time required to assist in educating clients, trade partners, fellow builders, policy makers and to ensure that the consumer gets the best home possible. Moreover, Arista aims to do this in a responsible manner that will provide both immediate benefits today and ultimately for future generations as well.

Collectively, the Arista Homes initiatives have all contributed significantly to not only building a better home, but also has enhanced the company’s ability to rise above its competition.

“It’s been an incredible 20 plus years,” says Michael DeGasperis. “We have the privilege of working in the most exciting of industries. The rewards can be satisfying, but there is no room for complacency. As this industry evolves, and the market conditions shift, our homebuyers’ needs and wants change. Therefore, we need to adapt quickly and lead by example – it is the only option.” “What this means,” says DeGasperis, “is that the Arista mandate is to be a leader and not a follower – always staying ahead of the crowd.”

Web / aristahomes.com

‘For Arista Homes’ new ‘Impressions of Kleinburg’ community, a designated Energy Star room was created to educate prospective buyers. Actual wall cross-sections depicting an Arista-built Energy Star wall system versus a typical Ontario Building Code wall system is on display, as is an HRV system, high-efficiency furnace, drain pipe recovery system, Energy Star window and necessary teaching aids; all geared towards educating the public and promoting the immediate and long-term benefits of owning an Arista-built Energy Star home.



Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

Sustainable sentiments

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Digram Developments and DiGreen Homes hold environmental impact in high regard

It may seem like a small thing, but the fact of the matter is that the example speaks volumes about the kind of sustainable strategies practised by Digram Developments Inc.

Along with its building division, DiGreen Homes, Digram pays particular attention to any environmental impact for each and every one of its projects.

According to company president Abubakar Masood, Digram definitely understands the impact land development has on the environment, and they always make a conscious effort to lessen any detrimental effects.

“In a project in Caledon,” Masood says, “our firm built a number of large bird enclosures for endangered species to help maintain the surrounding ecosystem.”

Then, citing another, more dramatic, example, Masood says Digram actually stopped development of one of its projects in Greensborough, in Markham, because it was negatively affecting nesting birds.

“That project was at least 50 acres,” he says. “But we prefer trees over cash-in-lieu (referring to the inevitable displacement of trees during the land development process.).”

That kind of mentality ties in to the focus of DiGreen Homes, which caters to the needs of its current homebuyers and to future purchasers. More and more people, Masood says, are looking for smarter homes with eco-friendly features, such as energy-saving thermostats that can be accessed remotely. And DiGreen Homes stands fully behind its clientele’s changing, progressive tastes.


The Masood family is a third-generation homebuilder with 10 years experience in land development. The family, with over 30 years in the construction, planning and development industries, started out in Dubai, but expanded to Canada in 2002.

Digram Developments Inc. was formed in 2006 as a means for the family to branch out on its own. Not satisfied with being halfway involved in the full home building process – that is, only servicing the land for other, external homebuilders – the family felt it was appropriate to grow its expertise in the construction industry.

Its home builder firm, DiGreen Homes, started in 2014. It was deemed important for the family to be present both at the start and completion of a project, from raw land to finished product, Masood says.

What Digram and DiGreen Homes end up with is far from some of the cookie-cutter products offered by others in the industry, he says. They aim for a unique outcome, something that gives customers bang for their buck, and a distinct source of pride.

While still maintaining work ties to Dubai, the Canadian operation has grown by leaps and bounds. Based in Markham, the two firms work mostly in the GTA. Digram does the site servicing, including installing water mains, asphalt works, sidewalks and curbs, while DiGreen builds the houses and connects with the services.

Masood is extremely cognizant of changing trends in the industry, noting that today’s buyers want their homes to be connected, to be smart. And they’re willing to spend more to get that “cool factor.”

Current projects that both family firms have been involved with include:

• Santaguida Residences, at Donald Cousens Parkway and Delray Drive in Markham (nine single family detached lots, 3,100-3,400 square foot on 45-foot lots) with a completion date set for the summer of 2016;

• The 16th and Williamson Project, at 16th Avenue and Williamson Road in Markham (42 townhouse condo units) with a completion date set for the end of 2017;

• And Swan Park, in Markham (about 10 units), Caledon (about 70 units), Brampton (about 200 units), with current land development projects in Vaughn (close to 400 units) and Oakville and Caledon.

Looking ahead, Masood says he’s focused on getting significant amounts of land, but stresses that both DiGreen and Digram plan to continue building and developing houses.

His goal is to become one of the leaders in homebuilding, providing high-quality homes and adapting to the latest marketplace trends.

 

Web / digreenhomes.ca / digram.ca

 

Uncategorized

The PCMnow.com Inc. difference

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Premium custom home builder up to any challenge – all part of its focus on service and quality

It’s true that PCMnow.com Inc. is made up of a team of dedicated professionals who consistently deliver luxury homes to clients demanding the highest level of quality, workmanship, timing and on-budget completion.

That’s a given.

But sometimes there are other property management challenges for PCMnow.com Inc., the Oakville-based company that prides itself on unparalleled uniqueness, and attention to detail … all with no surprises for the client.

Case in point – the renovation of a 60-year-old apartment building, which was in a “terrible state,” says PCMnow.com Inc. President Carlos Jardino.

“There were many leaking pipes and plenty of waste in water, gas and electricity consumption,” recalls Jardino. “We had a flood of work orders for clogged pipes, for ceilings that were falling down due to the large amount of mould caused by many water leaks, condensation and lack of ventilation. That, plus the heating system was extremely old and inadequate, the whole building was full of pests, roaches and bedbugs – you name it, it was there.

“The living conditions were terrible to say the least.”
Insurmountable? Not for PCMnow.com Inc., which came up with a plan to improve the building on all levels – from mechanical and electrical to plumbing and environmental. But the renovation had to reflect good business sense, as well, and PCMnow.com Inc.’s due diligence made sure the building’s owner was well-served in that regard.

“The capital improvement project would, in the end, have to pay for itself or the other solution would be to demolish the building,” Jardino says.

A thorough audit on the consumption of energy, water and overall efficiency of the building, plus an environmental assessment, was conducted. The result, Jardino says, was a conclusion that, in most cases, the building was consuming well over seven to eight times more utilities than the industry standard. There were other problems to consider, as it turns out, but the bottom line is PCMnow.com Inc. came up with a viable plan of action.

“At least we identified the majority of issues and, like the saying goes ’50 per cent of the solution is knowing what the problem really is’… and now we know.”

Before construction could begin, all existing tenants needed to leave the premises. PCMnow.com Inc. negotiated acceptable terms with all tenants over just a few months. Then PCMnow.com Inc. looked to its project and construction arm to look after custom building needs.

It took them eight months to get through the pre-construction stage – which included construction planning efforts and coordinating legal efforts. Then they began demolition of the fourth floor of the building and the construction of two pilot units.

“These pilot units were done so that the builder could learn more about the actual construction,” explains Jardino. “It became very obvious after starting that all of the plumbing, electrical wiring and HVAC had to be completely replaced.”

They found that many existing partition walls also had to be demolished and replaced. At the same time, drilling of the exterior wall had to be done in order to introduce various levels of ventilation.

“As well as placing new air-conditioning units, along with new blown air heating units, old windows were thrown out and replaced with new Energy Star windows,” says Jardino. “All in all, we basically kept the existing shell of the building and absolutely everything else was replaced, including doors, hardware, appliances and so on.

Jardino says there are other green elements throughout the project, including LED lighting, environmentally-friendly paint to replace the old lead paint and the planting of trees.

“Approximately $120,000 was spent per unit, or well over $3-million in total,” Jardino points out. “The result is a building that will have a much, much smaller carbon footprint, spend substantially less on utilities and have a much-improved living environment, equal or surpassing brand new buildings.”

The bottom line, he says, is that the renovated building will not require any capital improvement projects for the next 15-20 years.

“This means there will be very low maintenance, as well,” says Jardino. “There’s a five-year builder warranty included, as well, something you don’t see in the industry. And the building has started to get its first tenants, making the entire turnaround time just under one year.

“The owner is happy with the outcome of the project and it’s a true triple win – Win/Win/Win for Planet + People + Profit.”

The starting point for PCMnow.com Inc. is always a holistic, realistic and transparent budget that is understood by both the client and PCM. Without these key ingredients, PCM will refuse to engage in any relationship. And PCM surrounds itself with the best in-class suppliers and associates. Also, President Carlos Jardino is aligned with various charities, most notably the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, St. Michael’s Hospital and Bethany Kids.

 

Web / pcmnow.com

 

Architecture, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends, Wood

Wood – Renewable and Responsible Choice

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Wood – a natural choice for today when considering our tomorrow

by Peter Moonen
National Sustainability Manager
Canadian Wood Council

Photography: Ema Peter (Vancouver, BC)

Photo courtesy of the Wood Design & Building Awards Program

In November 2015, countries from around the world came together with the united goal of solidifying global efforts to reduce the threat of climate change. For the first time, countries made strong commitments to identifying areas in which they would strive for improvement and agreed to specific targets they hoped to achieve. In many countries, explicit carbon reduction strategies will be put into place. In others, a greater effort will be placed on the energy performance of buildings.

Already, most of the countries in the European Union have very high energy performance requirements for buildings, more than 50 jurisdictions – local, regional, and state level – have building codes which specify performance to meet or surpass passive house standard levels.

Canada has distinguished itself as a world leader in high performance design, with more certified green building space per capita than any other country in the world (CaGBC, 2015). As well, Canada’s strong environmental ethic is not driven solely by energy costs, as is the case in other countries.

Around the world, the green building phenomenon of the past has become a mainstream movement to address a plethora of environmental and health concerns of today. Greater attention is being paid to the impacts of the materials that go into our buildings. Are they procured from a sustainable source? Is the manufacturing process as benign as possible? How much energy is used?

In Canada, all levels of government are examining how best to raise the environmental performance of buildings by reducing energy consumption and carbon impacts, enhancing the indoor environment and achieving this in a cost-effective manner.

Wood, a natural material, plays a significant role in a number of these burgeoning areas of concern. It is renewable, organic, non-toxic, sequesters carbon, uses little energy to process and, with the advent of innovative engineered wood products, can replace other materials that have a greater environmental impact.

In addition, new design practices and construction techniques are raising the performance expectations and capabilities of buildings. Passive design, which targets improved air quality and comfort, as well as energy savings of about 90 per cent over conventional code minimum construction, is growing rapidly in Canada; resulting in lowered operational energy use for these buildings. The choice of building products also contributes to lowering the operational impact of a building; as seen with wood’s exceptional thermal resistance properties. Choosing wood components as part of the building envelope, over other more thermally conductive materials, makes it easier to meet design requirements for high performance buildings.

The 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report galvanized countries around the world to undertake the mammoth task of both reducing and mitigating future climate change.

Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, Director of the Center for Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Policy (3CSEP) at the Central European University, was a member of that Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In her keynote address to delegates at the North American Passive House Network, Vancouver, B.C., October 1st, 2015 she said:

“The best way for the planet to reduce its energy use is to build and retrofit every building to a passive design. Compared to all other options, doing so is the fastest, most effective and least expensive way to reduce energy.”

Wood can contribute to energy reduction in several ways.

Firstly, wood is a natural, renewable material grown using the energy from the sun. No fossil fuels are required to grow forests, which absorb carbon dioxide and sequester atmospheric carbon into wood. Forests also act as a huge carbon sink, storing carbon in the forest soils and vegetation.

Wood’s cellular and porous structure also grant it a natural thermal resistance, acting as an effective way to resist heat transfer through walls and floors.

Finally, only wood can cost-effectively be machined to the exact tolerances needed to fabricate the precise components and assemblies critical to the airtightness of ultra-high performing buildings. In addition, as more buildings move to modular construction or significant off-site assembly and prefabrication practices, wood’s low mass means a lower energy and carbon impact due to transportation.

As the world moves towards higher expectations and regulations for building performance, design and construction practices will need to change accordingly. Off-site, prefabricated construction of high-performing buildings, common in Europe, will become the norm in Canada. The concentration of skills and trades in a controlled environment have demonstrated that speed and accuracy are improved along with worker comfort, safety and productivity.

Building codes across the country are gradually changing to acknowledge the performance capabilities of wood products. And still, more change is needed – as many building types that could be constructed safely using wood products are currently not permitted. The recent change in the 2015 National Building Code to allow mixed use mid-rise wood-frame buildings is moving steadily but not yet fully accepted across the country. More complex structures such as taller wood buildings are still not recognized in the code, but possible via an alternative solution. Regardless of the code barriers currently present for tall wood buildings, examples such as the University of British Columbia’s Brock Commons project (an 18-storey wood building), demonstrate the desire from Canada’s design community to elevate building innovation within our country, recognizing the many ecological benefits of wood for taller applications.

Performance-based codes, equal recognition of materials based on true capabilities coupled with greater knowledge by both designers and contractors are all necessary elements to have comprehensive, safe and effective use of wood products in our built environment.

But will an increase in wood use deplete our forests?

Not at all. More than 90 per cent of Canada’s forestland is owned and controlled by government. Maximum harvest levels are set based on the productivity of the forest and the biological limitations and requirements of the land. Canada also has the strictest forest management legislation of any jurisdiction in the world. Our vast, productive forests act as an important carbon sink for the planet while our high level of management ensures there will be a sustainable supply of wood for future generations. Wood, forests and green design are all exquisitely linked in this regard. In fact, when examining climate change mitigation strategies, forests and wood afforded one of the best opportunities to reduce carbon in the atmosphere.

Building with wood = Proactive Climate Protection

Photo Credit:Dovetail Partners, Inc.

Building with wood, where possible, not only stores carbon but avoids the emissions that would have been caused had other more greenhouse gas intensive materials been used. However, we can and should strive to achieve more from our buildings. Greater emphasis needs to be made on both the performance levels of our built environment and the choices being made for materials to build our structures. Wood can and should play a leading role.

It’s a natural choice – for our well-being, for our economy and for our environment.

Architecture, Building Envelope, Green Energy, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends, Wood

Forest Stewardship and Education Centre wins Environmental Design Award

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Bill Fisch Forest Stewardship and Education Centre built to world’s strictest environmental standards

By Sarah Hicks

Walking through the Hollidge Tract of the York Regional Forest today it is difficult to believe that a century ago it was a treeless wasteland. Yet as recently as the early 1900s, in York Region as well as other parts of Ontario, vast swaths of forested land cleared for farming in the 1700’s had become unproductive. The trees, soil and agricultural livelihoods were gone and once thriving farms had become barren, desolate landscapes.

In the 1920s, a groundswell of concern from landowners, foresters, Councils and Associations urged the government to enact legislation and the Reforestation Act of 1921 was passed to enable the Minister of Lands and Forests (now the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry) to enter into agreements with County governments to reforest and manage lands owned by the Counties. In 1924, the York County Forest became the second Agreement Forest.

Since that time, the management structure of York Regional Forest has evolved, but property purchases and land donations to the York Regional Forest continue to this day, increasing forest cover in York Region and expanding the York Regional Forest which is now comprised of 2200 hectares (5500 acres) of land in 20 different tracts across York Region. This story is one of the most successful forest regeneration projects in the world. Today the York Regional Forest is recognized as Canada’s first public forest to be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

The new Bill Fisch Forest Stewardship and Education Centre (BFFSEC) integrates seamlessly with the surrounding forest. It is a one-of-a-kind building and an important part of the Centre’s educational mandate. Though most people on staff at the facility consider the forest the real classroom, the Centre provides essential meeting space for the many programs hosted there. It also has a boardroom and hoteling stations for York Region staff and a fully accessible washroom with an outside door to serve existing events and recreational use of the forest when the Centre is not open.

York Region working with DIALOG, the project architect, brought together a unique, interdisciplinary team that not only included architects, engineers, and interior designers, but also forest education experts, arborists and ecologists. “We wanted to create a building that could function like a forest ecosystem, be an integral part of nature and enhance it,” says Craig Applegath, DIALOG Principal-in-Charge. The team developed a holistic design solution with several key goals: the project would restore natural habitats and surrounding ecosystems, generate its own clean energy and water, and engage, educate and connect the community with the Hollidge Tract forest.

A single-storey, 4,000 square foot space for education, corporate and community meetings, and operations, the Education Centre is adjacent to one of the first nature trail loops constructed to meet the Built Environment Standard of Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. The Education Centre has targeted LEED® Platinum certification and is also expected to be recognized as the first Living Building ChallengeTM (LBC) certified project in Ontario.

The use of wood in the building’s design is central to its performance and appropriate to its function as a Forest Education Centre. The structure was built almost entirely of laminated and Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), all of which sustainably harvested and FSC certified. CLT is the only fully renewable heavy-duty building material, and the production of CLT emits a small fraction of the carbon emitted in the production of other common construction materials. In addition to providing a quality finish and being very durable, CLT also uses significantly fewer chemical compounds, and simultaneously sequesters and stores significant amounts of carbon.

The Centre was also designed and constructed for easy disassembly so in the future when BFFSEC comes to the end of its useful life (100 years or so), the building materials can be repurposed, just as the Centre’s exterior wood cladding was salvaged from old local buildings that were taken down and repurposed in this building.

Recent winner of a Wood Design Award for Environmental Building, the Centre is the quintessence of sustainable construction. “Wood construction has significant environmental advantages over competing materials,” says Marianne Berube, Executive Director of Ontario Wood WORKS! and creator of the awards program. “It enhances the performance of any building by reducing energy use, reducing resource use, minimizing pollution and sequestering carbon.”

This project pushes the boundaries on the use of wood with the integration of CLT for use as walls and roof structural panels.

The BFFSEC is expected to achieve ‘net zero’ water and ‘net positive’ energy performance. The facility relies exclusively on water provided by nature. Rain, collected in a trough that cleaves the asymmetrical butterfly roof, flows into a cistern that provides water for toilets and urinals, while groundwater wells supply UV filtered water for sinks and showers. Waste water passes through a treatment system which relies on aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and a biofilter to cleanse it of pollutants. The forested location of the building makes this process possible.

With its high performance building envelope, roof-mounted photovoltaic panels, heat recovery ventilators, in-floor heating, LED lighting, and extensive envelope commissioning, the BFFSEC will generate more energy than it uses, feeding renewable power back into the electrical grid.

“The building exceeds our expectations,” says Ian Buchanan, Manager of Natural Heritage and Forestry.“A decade ago I might have envisioned the centre as a log cabin in the woods, but what we have in this building is a log cabin of this century, built on a foundation of new technology. It is a beautiful and inspirational wood building in a forest setting. You don’t have to know the technology to see how this building fits into the forest.”

Sarah Hicks is the Communications Manager of Ontario Wood WORKS! /a program of the Canadian Wood Council

Green features of the building include:

  • Net-zero water performance:Rainwater is harvested from the roof for use in toilets and urinals, while a system of groundwater wells and UV filtration provides water for sinks and showers. The wastewater treatment system incorporates both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and a bioswale.
  • Net-positive energy performance:With the combination of a high-performance building envelope to reduce heating and cooling loads, a roof-mounted 35 kW solar panel array to generate renewable energy, and energy reduction strategies such as heat recovery ventilation and LED lighting, the building should succeed in hitting its annual energy use target of 40,000 kWh or less.
  • Innovative use of wood:All of the wood used in the project was sustainably harvested or recycled. The building design incorporates Cross-laminated timber (CLT), which limits the use of chemical compounds, while sequestering and storing carbon.
Sustainability, Top Stories

Homebuilders Recognized for Building Green

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Net Zero and ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes in the Spotlight

EnerQuality announced the 2015 EnerQuality Award winners at a sold-out gala in Toronto. Each year the awards are presented to builders committed to building energy efficient and sustainable homes.

The ENERGY STAR® for New Homes Builder of the Year – Large Volume award was given to Mattamy Homes, Canada’s largest home builder, who earned the achievement for the third time. Mattamy Homes was one of the first builders to participate in the ENERGY STAR program, which has become the most successful green building program in Canada. Today, 32 per cent of all new homes built in Ontario are ENERGY STAR qualified.

Two Oshawa based builders walked the green carpet. Midhaven Homes received the ENERGY STAR for New Homes – Mid Volume award and Jeffery Homes received the ENERGY STAR for New Homes – Small/Custom award.

The Minto Group was awarded Ontario Green Builder of the Year for a second year in a row. The award is presented annually to a builder that raises the bar for the rest of the industry through its leadership in improving the environmental, energy efficiency, and overall image of the industry.

Reid’s Heritage Homes took home the inaugural Net Zero Builder of the Year award. Net Zero homes are energy self-sufficient and are designed to produce at least as much power as they consume. Reid’s Heritage Homes was also the recipient of the Building Innovation – Low Rise award, and the Best Green Marketing Campaign of the Year, for their efforts to educate home buyers.

Tridel, the largest builder of condominiums in the Toronto area, was awarded the inaugural award for Building Innovation – Mid and High Rise. The award recognizes technical excellence in energy efficient and green building practices, which is key to achieving more sustainable communities.

Andy Goyda, Canadian Builder Lead and Market Development Manager for Owens Corning Canada was inducted into theEnerQuality Hall of Fame. The award is presented to an individual who, over the course of their career, has made a lasting impact on energy efficiency and green building in the housing industry. Mr. Goyda has been influential in the residential industry for 40 years, including his pioneering support of ENERGY STAR for New Homes and Net Zero. His leadership has helped Ontario’s home building industry become the most energy efficient in Canada.

Sonja Winkelmann, Director of Net Zero Energy Housing for the Canadian Home Builders’ Association was recognized as EQ Leader of the Year.

“Ontario’s homebuilding industry has a commendable track record of creativity and innovation,” said Corey McBurney, President of EnerQuality, “ENERGY STAR for New Homes is a success story that all Ontarians should be proud of, proving that voluntary, builder-led initiatives work.”

The awards show followed the EnerQuality Housing Innovation Forum, where a sold out audience discussed the future of green building in Ontario. In the closing keynote conversation, Dr. Dianne Saxe, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, and Mr. Peter Gilgan, Founder and CEO of Mattamy Homes and member of Ontario’s Climate Action Group, discussed the future of homebuilding in light of Ontario’s new Climate Change Strategy.

The complete list of winners in  The Minto Group – Ontario Green Builder of the Year

  • Tridel – Building Innovation  (Mid and High Rise)
  • Reid’s Heritage Homes–  Building Innovation (Low Rise)
  • Mattamy Homes – ENERGY STAR® for New Homes Builder of the Year (Large Volume)
  • Midhaven Homes – ENERGY STAR® for New Homes Builder of the Year (Mid Volume)
  • Jeffery Homes – ENERGY STAR® for New Homes Builder of the Year (Small/Custom)
  • Reid’s Heritage Homes – Net Zero Builder of the Year
  • Reid’s Heritage Homes– Best Green Marketing Campaign of the Year
  • 4syte Design Build – Best Green Renovation Project of the Year
  • John Corvinelli – ENERGY STAR® for New Homes Champion of the Year
  • Stephen Magneron – Evaluator of the Year
  • RND Construction – R-2000 Builder of the Year
  • Andy Goyda– Hall of Fame
  • Sonja Winkelmann– EQ Leader of the Year
  • Union Gas, Owens Corning Canada, Enbridge Gas Distribution– EQ Industry Partners of the Year
  • Fernbrook Homes– Enbridge Savings by Design Award

Also returning to the forum this year was the Innovation Gauntlet – a Dragon’s Den-style competition where industry manufacturers and organizations pitched their smartest, most innovative products and services to a panel of judges. The Innovation Gauntlet winner is chosen live by the audience. This year’s Innovation Gauntlet award was presented to LiteBuilt for their concrete “LITEBOK” building system – an environmentally friendly, interlocking building block that is ideal for taller buildings.

Green Energy, HVAC, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

Double duty

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Unique solar installation system on brownfield site increases productivity of property

The concept makes perfect sense to Bill Panagiotakopoulos and the Owner/CEO of Cardinal Group Inc. aims to share his vision with the world.

He knows that over the past decade the solar energy industry has been growing exponentially, gaining in popularity along the way. He realizes that thousands of projects, both residential and commercial, have been popping up globally, putting a spotlight on a once-novel technology.

But he has also noticed that, lately, while the commercial solar sector is growing, the social consciousness seems to be lessening. And he says that people are becoming conflicted each time they see another green space, like a farm or field, covered in solar panels.

“It’s challenging people’s notions about how environmentally-friendly solar energy really is,” he says.

But Panagiotakopoulos believes he has the perfect answer for those concerned about solar. And he’s tackled a project that more than supports his claim. The concept involved transforming a brownfield property with a poor environmental record into a renewable energy centre, while maintaining its commercial use as a recycling centre.

He did this, he says, because he believes the future of renewable energy is not only in multi-megawatt solar farms, but in the union of renewable energy installations combined with commercial operations.

“The installation is the largest elevated solar tracking system on an industrial brownfield in Canada,” he says. “We show that it is possible to generate a second source of revenue from the same piece of land.

“Although there are larger solar installations on fields, farms and other green spaces, this is the largest to be placed on an operating industrial property.”

His interpretation of the Ontario Power Authority’s Feed-In Tariff (FIT) program is that solar farms should be put on brownfields and industrial parks. He’d like to see others follow suit, with similar installations done rather than covering green land and limited its use to solar power generation, and solar power generation only.

“People in our industry and those outside it both seem awestruck when they see that it’s possible to have two very different commercial operations on one property,” he says. “But they can.”

The design and technical specifications of Cardinal Group’s solar installation – located off Highway 6 in the Township of Flamborough in Hamilton Ontario – is unique in that it occupies a position on the industrial property that was not used previously. Utilizing the Sonnen Tracking Systems, the solar panels move, guaranteeing the maximum, most-efficient power generation. The dual-axis photovoltaic tracking systems align the solar panels to the optimum angle to the sun for power generation. This process allows the energy usually generated using static photovoltaic panels to be increased by as much as 45 per cent.

Putting them in brownfields and commercial industrial parks makes perfect sense, says Panagiotakopoulos.

“Those kinds of locations are heavy consumers of electric power and thus should be encouraged to generate what they can right on the properties,” he says. “Putting this style of solar installation there reduces the demand on the grid and, consequently, makes the most efficient use of the FIT electrical generation.

His goal for this type of photovoltaic installation is for it to be recognized across Ontario, Canada and the world, so that others can understand the benefits of solar energy on their commercial/industrial properties.

He understands that this model is more costly, but strongly believes that the benefits and increased production of the Sonnen System Trackers far outweigh the extra expenditures.

“The project has already doubled the productivity of the property.”

Web/ cardinalgroupinc.com / sonnensystems.com

Architecture, Building Envelope, Green Energy, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

Heartwood the Beach

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Toronto’s first wood-frame condo development features character and sustainability

Toronto is known as a city with a vibrant, cross-cultural population mix, but that penchant for diversity is now extending into the housing market as well.

With the construction of Heartwood the Beach Condos, the traditional all-concrete building model will be eschewed in lieu of the city’s first six-storey wood-frame development.

The collection of 40 luxury suites being built at the northeast corner of Woodbine Avenue and Queen Street is being undertaken by Fieldgate Urban, with Hullmark Developments. And Quadrangle Architects were brought on board to design the residential building.

Quadrangle, known for their industry leadership in mid-rise development, also advocate wood construction and were recently awarded the 2015 Wood Advocate Award by WoodWORKS! Ontario.

“It’s always interesting to be working on a new typology,” says Richard Witt, Principal at Quadrangle. “When almost all multi-unit residential buildings in Toronto are concrete, envisioning one in such a naturally beautiful material as wood is very exciting. The sustainability benefits of the product combined with the exposed character and warmth of ceilings and walls within the unit are a completely new option for home buyers.”
Kitchen
The units range from 900 square feet to 1,600 square feet and will include spacious balconies, with a 6,000-foot retail space at ground level.

Quadrangle designed the architecture and the interior design of the building to showcase the elegance of wood-frame construction. Expansive glazing should draw attention to the rich wood interiors that will feature exposed wood ceilings and exposed wood walls.

Wood-frame construction allows the delivery of a higher-quality, equally safe product in a faster time frame with a reduced environmental impact. A substantial portion of the wood components in Heartwood the Beach – floor and wall slabs as well as the exterior – will be prefabricated and assembled onsite. Prefabrication ensures higher quality construction while cutting costs by reduced construction time and onsite accidents.

The skeleton of Heartwood The Beach will be constructed using cross laminated timber (CLT), a strong and lightweight material that exhibits superior thermal, acoustic, and seismic performance, as well as greatly improved fire resistance over basic timber. Unlike concrete and steel, the use of CLT generates very little waste on a construction site, another element in the product’s sustainability. The development will boast a green roof, further offsetting the development’s already minimal carbon footprint.

Bathroom

The project is located at a busy intersection, which makes for a shorter construction timeframe (aided by the prefab wood components) attractive. Not only is the use of wood expected to shorten construction by about four to six months, but it is expected to minimize the amount of disruptive construction that occurs on site. Construction is expected to be finished by early 2017.

Half of the construction time, says Witt, will be allotted to digging and pouring concrete foundations and the underground parking. Finishing will take less time. The speed will come from the use of cross-laminated timber, a strong and lightweight material that exhibits superior thermal, acoustic, and seismic performance, as well as greatly improved fire resistance over basic timber. Unlike concrete and steel, the use of CLT generates very little waste on a construction site, another element in the product’s sustainability. The development will boast a green roof, further offsetting the development’s already minimal carbon footprint.

Although the Ontario Building Code permits structures to be made from wood, it also requires the cladding to be non-combustible. Quadrangle used fibre cement panels. As such, Heartwood the Beach is a hybrid structure, with steel and concrete playing an important role, along with wood, to complete the design.

It is believed that using an engineered lumber product can withstand flame spread and its shrinkage is easier to predict and therefore to accommodate.

With the Heartwood the Beach project, Quadrangle hopes to show that there is an alternative material choice that is both warm and workable for creating sustainable mid-rise developments in the city.

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“Because of land availability and purchaser trends, there is a tendency at the moment towards an increasing amount of mid-rise building product in the Toronto condo market,” Witt says. “Wood offers the opportunity to deliver the project in a different way due to the factory assembled method of panelized wood production. As noted, this means faster installation, fewer street closures, cleaner and less noisy construction sites and ultimately less time.”

Web / quadrangle.ca / heartwoodthebeach.com

Building Envelope, Green Energy, Ideas, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

Pinnacle of energy efficiency

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Owens Corning Canada and a team of 5 leading builders have partnered to build affordable net zero homes in 5 communities across Canada

The future is now for net-zero housing in Canada.

Owens Corning was the proponent of a national demonstration project launched by Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) made possible through  funding from the federal government in 2011, to support energy technology innovation to produce and use energy in a clean and efficient way.  Owens Corning Canada worked with 5 leading builders in this project to design and build 20 net zero energy homes along with 1 net zero multi unit project in Canada.  The scope of the project was to design and build affordable net zero homes using current technologies with production builders in a community setting.

The five innovative builder partners were Mattamy homes with their net zero project in Calgary, Alberta, Reids Heritage Homes with their net zero project in Guelph Ontario, Minto Communities with their Net Project in Kanata, Ontario, Provident developments with their Net Zero Project in Bedford, Nova Scotia and Construction Voyer who built the first Net Zero Multi Unit (6 Plex) project in Laval, Quebec.

Each of the builders worked with Owens Corning, local energy consultants and experts to build affordable homes designed with sustainable features. Owens Corning helped the builders implement high performance building envelope systems in their designs to help them meet their goals bringing building science to the field in a house-as-a-system approach.

The learnings from this pilot project will allow builders to move to offering Net Zero ready as a standard which is the springboard to full Net Zero, providing Canadians with comfortable and energy efficient housing.

“Net-zero is the pinnacle of energy efficiency,” says Salvatore Ciarlo, Owens Corning’s National Technical Services & Specifications Leader, Canada. “It’s definitely the future of the Canadian housing industry. Net-zero homes provide the ultimate homeowner living experience.”

“Affordability is achieved through conservation first before generation,” says Ciarlo, noting that the key components of a NZE home are: outstanding insulation, a tight building envelope with high performance windows and, right-sized efficient mechanical systems for heating and cooling.  Then all we need are the renewables (solar panels) to generate the energy to offset what we the occupants are using to get to a zero annual energy bill (Net Zero).

“Owens Corning solutions help turn building science into building genius by addressing the three principal building science principles” says Andy Goyda, Owens Corning’s Market Development Builder Leader, Canada. “Those are heat flow, air flow and moisture flow, and they are dealt with in one application with Owens Corning’s innovative exterior Air Barrier System.”

All five builders across Canada opened their NZE homes in 2015. The goal wasn’t just to demonstrate that this building team was capable of building ONENZE home, but that it can build entire net zero communities in a large-scale setting at an affordable price.

Subsequently, Reid’s announced that, by the end of 2016, all future communities of their single detached homes will be solely NZE-ready homes, making them the first builder in Canada to make such a commitment. The company has a history of building energy-efficient homes, dating back to 2007, when it built the first LEED Platinum home in Canada.

“It’s not  question of if, but when, affordable NZE homes will be the standard.” Goyda stressed.

Web / owenscorning.ca

 

Architecture, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends, Wood

Treehouse

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Up, up and away

Adventurous homeowner bucks tradition with unique treehouse dwelling

Photo credits JVL Photography

For 20 years, the owner of a beautifully-lush, heavily-wooded Ottawa property lived in a little bungalow surrounded by abundant foliage.

Then something happened that changed things forever … and Houry Avedissian, owner of Ha2 Architectural Design, was there for every step of the transformation.

“The owner, my client, has an outdoorsy, adventurous nature,” recalls Avedissian. “She wanted a new home on the very same property. So I came up with an idea, based on the wooded lot.”

That idea, to create a live-in treehouse dwelling to replace the existing house, took on a life of its own, it seems, as Avedissian was basically given carte blanche, and came up with a truly unique custom home.

The corner area it now sits on is surrounded by Spruce and Crabapple trees, virtually engulfing the bungalow that once lay beneath the overhanging branches. Avedissian created a symbiotic design that pushed the living experience up into the trees.

“We tore down the existing bungalow and created a far more spacious new two-floor detached home for the client and her partner to live, work and entertain in,” she says. “By locating the main living space on the second floor, we gave the client a fresh, new uplifting experience amidst the every-changing foliage of the trees.”

With two tall Spruce and four Crabapple trees, the home is right in the middle of branches, so that one can engage in the seasonal experience of the ever-changing leaves. The privacy provided, plus the south-facing cantilevered overhang that extends the dining room to the outside environment, serves as a shelter to the rain, while keeping the heat at bay during the summer and early fall months.

A visitor to the treehouse would see a contrasting, custom-designed steel, glass and concrete staircase up to the main living area on the second floor. The kitchen, dining and living rooms all flow into one another by way of a clear open concept. Adjacent to the living room, there’s a study separated by a low wall with custom-built cabinetry and sculptural shelving cubes. This design feature allows a visual barrier to delineate the space, as well as open the views for the entire house and glazed patio doors. To top it all off, the open concept is augmented by a see-through divide – a gas fireplace.

The experiment continues with the blending of inner and outer spaces, diverse, yet complementary textures, angles and rich colours. Contrasting materials and volumes balance the natural and refined with the rough and exposed as harmonious contemporary living spaces thrive among the naturally-evolving landscape that surrounds the house.

Environmentally-friendly touches are evident everywhere, with particular attention to the inclusion of wood products throughout.

“Inside, the materials were carefully selected to reflect the natural environment by using a rich palette of woods and veined marble tiles in earthy tones, reinforcing the concept both within and on the outside,” says Avedissian. “We were heavily inspired by the surrounding trees.”

To that end, Western Red Cedar (WRC) siding wraps the majority of the home’s exterior in a myriad of different applications such as knotty textured wood trellises that run both vertically and horizontally.

“Yes, wood is in the majority,” Avedissian says. “And while this is not a LEED project, nor a green project, per se, we did use sound principles to achieve efficient qualities.

“Mainly, it’s the southwestern orientation, with large overhangs and the location of operable windows for abundant air flow that heavily factored into the design to keep the heating and cooling costs to a minimum. That, plus we added environmentally-friendly insulation.”

Did you know? Cedar was used in four ways throughout the exterior and interior of the house. The main volume of the second floor is clad in vertically laid tongue and groove 1×5 WRC. Secondly the southwest elevation has 2×2 vertically installed (and spaced one inch apart) knotty grade WRC lattes to give it depth and texture. Within the balcony perimeter of the upper deck volume, again, 2×2 knotty grade cedar spaced one inch apart, is used, only this time, installed horizontally. And lastly, serving as the backdrop to the inner staircase wall is 1×5 tongue and groove.

Web / ha2d.comBC Passive House Plant

Photos courtesy of the Wood Design & Building Awards Program