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Sustainability, Technology, Trends

Practising what they preach

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North Star Homes is committed to building energy efficient homes and a perfect example is LEED Silver-designated Pacific Villas project in Markham

At North Star Homes, they practise what they preach.

Staunchly aligned with green initiatives, North Star’s latest coup is the Pacific Villas project, which has achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes Silver classification – one of the first of its kind in Markham.

“We are committed to building energy efficient homes,” says Frank Dodaro, President, North Star Homes Inc. “Our sustainability consultant has been recommending the best methods to deliver greener homes to keep us on the leading edge of the best homebuilders.”

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Recognized as Home Builder of the Year by the Building Industry and Land Development

Association (BILD) in both 2004 and 2008, North Star was founded in 1990 and prides itself on being on the cutting edge of industry changes, so that buyers know they will be getting the latest in “design and finishes that deliver a high quality home at a good price.”

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Phase 1 of Pacific Villas – to be followed by Phase 2, which will be an apartment building with commercial uses on the ground floor, also built to achieve LEED Silver – has a whole world of shopping, services and restaurants right on its doorstep. The vibrant community is a private enclave of beautiful bungalows and two-storey townhomes, walking distance from Pacific Mall, Splendid China Tower Mall and Market Village Mall.

But there’s more. Just down the road are Aldergrove School, Milliken Mills High School and Town Centre Montessori Private School.  All the amenities of Milliken Mills Community Centre, Aldergrove Park and the playing fields of Kennedy Reservoir Park are minutes away. Also, the Milliken GO Train Station is within walking distance.

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LEED is a rating system which awards points for construction, design and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED’s Silver rating is one of the highest in the industry and is verified with independent third party testing.

Designing to LEED for Homes Silver rating transforms the way homes are built. It promotes waste diversion of construction materials, soil erosion controls, use of recycled construction materials, advanced framing, water conversion, and many other environmental advances that other programs do not cover.

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Pacific Villas incorporate a number of energy saving features that led to LEED Silver designation.

The list of additional features, both inside and out, is thorough and impressive. Some of those include:

  • Insulation: Roof R50, walls R24, basement wall R20 and exposed floors R31;
  • Ice and water shield (six feet) from edge of eaves, 30 gauge steel at all valleys, and rubber flashing at all penetrations;
  • Complete air barrier between attic and conditioned space and all penetrations sealed;
  • Energy efficient windows and doors;
  • Pest management control features;
  • Low flow water consumption plumbing fixtures;
  • Drain water heat recovery pipe with insulation;
  • Individually controlled, hi-velocity  fan coil unit (with ECM motor and MERV 10 filter) integrated with EnviroSense gas fired hot water heater provides heating, cooling and domestic hot water at 90 per cent efficiency;
  • Energy recovery ventilator (ERV) to provide fresh air with dehumidification control;
  • Install drain pans to capture leaks under water heaters;
  • Refrigerant type: R-410a (Eco Friendly);
  • Air seal ventilation ductwork;
  • Energy Star ® appliances;
  • Energy Star ® compact fluorescent light bulbs throughout;
  • Surface water management system – final grade tamped and sloped away from foundation;
  • And drought-tolerant plants and turf.

North Star Homes continues its focus on green and sustainable building with the following project examples:

Canyon Hill Gardens

A prestigious development of 74 luxury detached homes is now underway in Richmond Hill and being built to meet Energuide 82 standards that are above the current Ontario Building Code levels.

The notable sustainability features include:

 

  • R31 half-pound spray foam insulation to exposed floors;
  • R22 batt insulation + R4 Insulsheathing for exterior wall;
  • R20 for walls below grade;
  • Two-stage gas furnaces with ECM motor rated at 95 per cent efficiency along with an HRV (heat recovery ventilator) rated at 74 per cent efficiency;
  • Hot water heater with 86 per cent efficiency;
  • Drain water heat recovery – five-foot pipe mounted on drain stack;
  • And maximum 2.5 air change per hour.

All homes are evaluated and undergo a blower door test by a third party rater to verify the program requirements of Energuide 82 are met. Additionally, top soil depth will be at three feet, to foster tree health.

 

King’s Crossing

The final phase of the King’s Crossing development in Richmond Hill consists of townhomes and semi-detached homes. For this site, North Star has chosen the Energuide 82 standard to exceed the minimum building code level.  These homes will also be individually evaluated and tested to receive the official label for Energuide 82.

 

Bayview Gardens

An infill development of 70 townhomes featuring open space floor plans and distinctively modern exteriors is coming soon to Richmond Hill. North Star is targeting a sustainability package of construction features that will achieve a 20 per cent better than code rating.

 

For many years, North Star Homes has been a beacon of quality for the new home buyer in communities across Metro Toronto and beyond. The North Star name has been proudly displayed in Barrie, Brampton, Markham, North York, Scarborough and more, and in each area home buyers have been offered an exceptional selection of homes, innovative designs, all reflecting superb craftsmanship.
North Star Homes will be bringing its commitment to build green and sustainable buildings to future developments such as the 43-storey residential tower in the heart of the Mississauga city centre.

For more information please go to www. northstarhomesinc.com

Architecture, Sustainability, Technology

Forward thinking pays off

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MOE reaps the benefits of completing a green reno by taking home LEED Platinum award

By Greg McMillan

Sometimes it’s a good thing to put the cart before the horse.

Case in point: Prior to relocating about 150 staff members back in 2009, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) decided to complete a renovation to the specifications of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum for Commercial Interiors rating system.

And the MOE’s forward thinking ended up reaping benefits still being felt today.

Not only did the MOE project on the 10th and 11th floors of the Ferguson Block at 77 Wellesley Street in Toronto receive Platinum certification in 2012, but it was also the highest level achievable and the first in the Ontario Public Service, according to Eva Musso, the MOE’s Project Green Team Lead.
Working with Enermodal Engineering and Freeman + Freeman Design Inc., she said the MOE renovation was completed at a cost that was less, on a square foot basis, than other comparable projects undertaken around that time.

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David Freeman, Principal, Freeman + Freeman Design Inc., says the MOE took a lead position on working toward obtaining LEED Platinum certification, right from the start.

“The project was expected to be 15 per cent more costly than a typical office build out,” he explained, “however, with reusable wall panels, furniture that could easily be reconfigured, built-in energy and water savings, enhanced air quality testing and monitoring, the additional up front costs will be recouped in 7-8 years and the project will actually produce cost savings over the life cycle on the 10-year lease, from that of a typical office build out.”

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To begin with, Musso says, the project achieved a 92 per cent waste diversion rate during the reno process, through the extensive training of tradespeople, a litterless workspace, separate diversion room on site, and extensive monitoring of input materials.

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She described green building features found throughout the space that reflect the MOE mission:

  • Each floor is organized into four themes represented by panels – water, air, earth and energy. Features of the space include the use of reclaimed and local materials, such as salvaged wood beams and flooring from 1860s farmhouses.
  • A living wall designed and created in Brantford.
  • Countertops containing 80-100 per cent recycled content, including concrete, glass and shells
  • Real time tracking of energy use for carbon footprint – space is metered throughout with Energy Star equipment.
  • Heating and cooling provided by deep lake water cooling, and electricity.
  • 100 per cent EcoLogo certified alternative electricity.
  • Provisions for bicycle parking.
  • A kiosk providing interactive information about the space for visitors and staff.
  • 90 per cent of all occupants have access to daylight and views.
  • Low cubicle walls and daylighting control sensors and low wattage lighting which adjusts to the amount of light outside – lowers the demand for electricity as well.
  • CO2 sensors installed throughout to monitor carbon dioxide levels and communicate with air handling unit to bring in more fresh air from the outside if the levels are high. 10015-18

 

Musso added that economic savings have been realized through improved use of natural light, sensor lighting, Energy Star appliances, and low flow and aerated faucets and washroom fixtures.

Freeman stresses that the MOE saw an opportunity to lead by example when it came to the construction of new offices.

“Since the project’s completion the MOE has adhered to the LEED principles and undertaken renovations to the space to maintain the Platinum rating,” Freeman says.  “Walls and furniture workstations have been relocated with no waste, the water and energy savings, through monitoring and controls, have been confirmed, and the staff enjoy the access to daylight and views.

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“With a defined goal and commitment, the MOE demonstrated it is possible to achieve the highest standards of green building and sustainability.”

 

 

Architecture, Building Envelope, Green Energy, Ideas, Sustainability, Technology

The light of glory

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A world first: Cathedral’s stained glass windows generate solar power

By Greg McMillan

For Canadian artist Sarah Hall the challenge was straightforward.

Simply put, she was asked to design stained glass windows that generate solar power for the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon.

“The intention of the project is to demonstrate that beauty, art, and renewable energy can work together,” says Hall.

A world first, the cathedral project, called Lux Gloria (The Light of Glory), features an embedded array of 1,113 silver solar cells and is connected to Saskatoon Light and Power’s grid through SaskPower.

According to Kevin Hudson, manager of metering and sustainable electricity for Saskatoon Light and Power, the solar panels are expected to produce about 2,500 kilowatt hours annually.

Conventional, roof-mounted solar panels were originally considered, but the cathedral group decided they’d be difficult to integrate visually, so a solar element was brought into the mix for the art glass windows.

It was pointed out that Lux Gloria was inspired by the beauty of God’s creation expressed in Saskatchewan’s vast prairie skies by day and the northern lights by night.

Within the silver-hued solar array are 12 dichroic glass crosses, signifying the Apostles. There is also a circle, representing a prayer for unity. The windows were fabricated by Glasmalerei Peters GmbH in Paderborn, Germany, while the new windows were engineered by solar expert Christof Erban, of Aachen, Germany.

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“This project was particularly challenging,” says Hall. “In terms of size, the panels were large, shaped and heavy, making them difficult to handle.

“The largest window is 37 feet high by 12 feet wide and the two others are only slightly smaller. There are 18 panels in each window, totalling 54 with solar cells embedded in each one.

“Each of the 54 panels was a different in shape and dimension so everything was custom made.”

She says accessing the windows was also very demanding, as they needed to be installed and wired from the exterior by crane and cage starting 107 feet up in the air – with the crane operator doing his work “blind” because of the overhanging canopy.

“Not for the faint-hearted,” Hall says.

From an artist’s perspective, designing stained glass windows that generate energy is a far cry from traditional techniques.

“Designing stained glass windows that generate energy, versus the traditional technique of painted and leaded windows is a significant artistic leap,” Hall says. “It has been a steep learning curve.

“For a thousand years our goal as artists and artisans has been to add beauty, meaning and mystery to buildings.  The experience of colour and light can be transformational. What we do have in common with solar is an absolute dependence on sunlight.  The crystalline structure of solar cells relates well to glass art.

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“The primary difference is that the artist has to bring a grid of cells into the design – and that it has to be functional from a solar viewpoint,” Hall says. “An artist also needs to collaborate with experts in solar technology right from the inception of the project.

“Since my work has always been part of architecture and set within a building it was not a difficult transition to consider adding building integrated photovoltaics.  I have also always liked the juxtaposition of nature and geometry in my artwork, so solar cells immediately provided the geometry.“

Hall says she thinks there is now a lot of interest in solar art glass façades.

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“I think we are just at the beginning of a new way of building – where our façades generate energy and the field of stained glass can add a beautiful dimension to solar and our buildings. My hope is to soften hearts about renewable energy and provoke interest and conversation.”

Web

www.sarahhallstudio.com
www.holyfamilycathedral.ca

Architecture, Green Energy, Ideas, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

Grand Cancun

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Richard’s Architecture+Design

Eco resort, energy power farm and water recycling plant in a marine platform complex

15-GRAND CANCUN WATER LINE VIEW

It will undoubtedly be one of the most dynamic 50th anniversary celebrations of all time.

How else would one begin to describe what is being planned for Cancun, Mexico, in 2020? Architect Richard Moreta Castillo envisions a self-sufficient eco-resort, called Grand Cancun, which will ostensibly generate renewable energy as well as clean up the ocean around it.
10-GRAND CANCUN SIDE VIEW
This floating island, a grand offshore marine platform to be built on stilts, will include all the usual luxury components, plus loads of shopping and underwater dining. But it’s the sustainable touches that set this project apart.
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Solar panels will cover the surface of the offshore platform, providing energy for the resort and the city of Cancun’s grid. Even more clean energy will be produced by underwater tidal wave energy collectors and vertical wind turbines. Making the complex completely self-sufficient will be a rainwater collections system that will tie into a mini desalination plant.

Grand Cancun will also improve the environment by filtering out pollutants and hydrocarbons in the water, thereby reducing fossil fuel consumption, ideally creating a zero carbon footprint.

Of special note is the centerpiece of the design. The shape of the structure’s main building is snake-like. Originally, the Mayan name Kaan Kun, or Nest of Snakes, evolved into the present-day Cancun, hence the tie-in to the Mayan snake myth.

“This awesome eco architecture contributes to the myth and raises the serpent from water to infinity, a great representation of exceptional harmony between Mayan people and their new metropolis,” according to promotional literature for Grand Cancun.

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Conceived to fight global warming, the Grand Cancun design will not simply address the energy crisis and local fossil fuel dependency, organizers says, but also address other problems such as scarcity and depletion of its groundwater table and drinking water, the pollution of coastal shores, and alleviating construction space limitations due to an overdeveloped coastal area.

“Grand Cancun will be the first marine platform designed to help recover the environment instead of exploiting it,” organizers say. “There are 3,850 oil rigs in the Mexican Gulf. Using the platform concept instead of an artificial island, it creates more space and minimizes the impact in the marine ecosystem.

“But the most interesting thing is that it will clean the seas. The technology planned will separate the water from floating solids and hydrocarbons.”

(Project Grand Cancun was singled out from among 70 entrants for the Radical Innovation in Hospitality Award and won first prize in the National Architecture Awards of Dominican Republic in 2012.)

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Concept and Design: Arch. Richard Moreta Castillo (Richard’s Architecture+Design)

Ilustración and gral. contribution: Art. Dir. John Michael Silvers Godoy (5d+ 05 Dimensions)

Intl. Developer: Qatar Developer Group

Architecture, Ideas, Style, Trends

Stonebridge by the Bay

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Wasaga Beach community billed as ‘the total package’ still going strong after 12 year

Some might say it’s like living in another place and time.
But that’s not all they would say about Stonebridge by the Bay, the unique residential complex and community in Wasaga Beach that’s still going strong after 12 years of work and planning.

Just six years ago, Stonebridge by the Bay was mostly a vision and untamed green space.

Now, however, the project is entering Phase 5 of its ongoing evolution.

The focus remains the same – a bustling community of engaged and connected residents and businesses that are taking advantage of the “changing-your-lifestyle-for-the-better” mentality.

Stone gates mark the entrance to Stonebridge by the Bay where the architecture reflects a mix of 1920s Wasaga Beach and Cape Cod design sentiments.

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The riverside community is connected by 2.1 kilometres of walking trails, which lead to other homes and a commercial area called the Stonebridge Town Centre.
This town centre feature makes Stonebridge an almost self-contained community within the larger town of Wasaga Beach. The centre has restaurants such as Harvey’s-Swiss Chalet, Boston Pizza, major retailers such as the Wal-Mart Superstore, EB Games, The Source, Living Lighting, an optometrist, a dentist and a Canada Trust branch. And more shops are planned.
It’s quite common to see people cycling and strolling through the community, often meeting for social events held by residents, taking in live music at a restaurant, doing a little shopping, or using the medical and professional services.  And it’s all within walking distance, as is the world-famous beach.
There are nearly 23 acres of open space parkland, which include two ponds and shady tree-covered areas to relax in. Over the years, in fact, Stonebridge has added the free long-weekend Wasaga Beach Blues Festival, featuring Canada’s best in blues including Downchild, Jack de Keyzer and Paul James.

S0180654Complementing the park experience is the luxurious and private Stonebridge Beach Club, billed as a great place to relax, entertain and further foster a sense of community.
Backing on to the Nottawasaga River, the club features breathtaking views, a patio, a lounge, meeting room and a stunning fireplace. Homeowners also have exclusive use of an outdoor, heated, saltwater pool, complete with cabana.
Stonebridge by the Bay homes also have Energy Star-certified features such as low-E argon-filled windows, extra insulation, a high efficiency two-stage furnace, and a high-efficiency heat recovery ventilator.
Complementing the existing mix of housing styles, including bungalows and two-storey villas, Phase 5 will feature low-rise condominiums with two-bedroom suites and the only condo apartment building in Wasaga Beach with covered parking.
And the new models, according to Stonebridge marketing, will back onto the trails and woodlots, so “you’ll be surrounded by beauty.”
Also, some of the standard features at Stonebridge, offered by developer Hamount Investments Ltd., include other builders’ upgrades which are aimed at enhancing the homeowners’ living space and lifestyle.
Dubbed “the total package,” Stonebridge continues to help reinvent Wasaga Beach – while giving homeowners there the opportunity to reinvent themselves at the same time.

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“Stonebridge has been designed as pedestrian-friendly, active community that offers residents more than just a collection of houses.”
In other words, then: The total package.

Web: mystonebridge.ca

Architecture, Green Energy, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Trends

The American Institute of Architects Select the 2013 COTE Top Ten Green Projects

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Projects showcase excellence in sustainable design principles and reduced energy consumption

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have selected the top ten examples of sustainable architecture and green design solutions that protect and enhance the environment. The projects will be honored at the AIA 2013 National Convention and Design Exposition in Denver.

The COTE Top Ten Green Projects program, now in its 17th year, is the profession’s best known recognition program for sustainable design excellence. The program celebrates projects that are the result of a thoroughly integrated approach to architecture, natural systems and technology. They make a positive contribution to their communities, improve comfort for building occupants and reduce environmental impacts through strategies such as reuse of existing structures, connection to transit systems, low-impact and regenerative site development, energy and water conservation, use of sustainable or renewable construction materials, and design that improves indoor air quality.

#10

Charles David Keeling Apartments; La Jolla, California
KieranTimberlake

The design response was to tune the design to capitalize on the favorable environmental features, while moderating or eliminating the undesirable ones. This led to a building envelope that uses thermal mass to buffer temperature changes, minimizes solar gain, and naturally ventilates. Water scarcity is managed through a comprehensive strategy of conservation and reuse, including on-site wastewater recycling. A vegetated roof, an unusual feature in this dry climate, absorbs and evaporates rain that falls on that portion of the building, with overflow directed to the courtyard retention basins.

Charles David Keeling Apartments - UC San Diego Architects - Kieran Timberlake

 

#9

Clock Shadow Building; Milwaukee
Continuum Architects + Planners

This project cleans up a brown-field site that was difficult to develop. The continental climate provides large swings in temperature and humidity which necessitated passive strategies such as: southern facing windows with sun screens that maximize insolation of the sun during cooler months and operable windows that let cool fresh air into the building, allowing the users to effectively “turn off” the heating and cooling systems during swing months. To gain the most efficiency from the HVAC systems, the project utilizes a geo-thermal system, drilled directly below the building, which stabilizes the temperature of the conditioned water used to heat and cool the spaces.

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#8

Federal Center South Building 1202; Seattle
ZGF Architects LLP

Current energy models predict the building to operate at a “net zero capable” Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of 20.3 kBtu/SF/year, performing 40 percent better than ASHRAE 2007. The building will earn an ENERGY STAR Score of 100 and comply with 2030 Challenge goals. The project is one of the first in the region to use structural piles for geothermal heating and cooling, as well as a phase change thermal storage tank. Two new products, chilled sails and open office lighting, were developed and manufactured specifically for this project to help achieve aggressive energy targets. To optimize the use of the available reclaimed timbers, the team designed, tested, and constructed the first wood composite beam system in the U.S.

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#7

Marin Country Day School Learning Resource Center and Courtyard; Corte Madera, California
EHDD

Around 95 percent of spaces are daylit and naturally ventilated. Night time operation of the cooling tower and an underground water tank provide active thermal storage, for daytime cooling. The design of the building envelope includes air tightness detailing and the use of fire treated wood stud framing to minimize thermal bridging. To provide an excellent thermal envelope, walls were constructed with 2×8 and 2×10 wood studs (rather than conventional steel studs) to minimize thermal bridging and provide ample insulation. This building is designed to achieve an EUI of 6.74 kbtu/sf/yr including the energy generated by the PV array, and to use less than half as much energy as California’s strict energy code.

#7_MCDS_02_Josh Partee

#6

Merritt Crossing Senior Apts.; Oakland, California
Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects

The roof area has a cool roof surface and is devoted to both a solar water panels and photovoltaic panels. Ground floor spaces benefit from the full height storefront system that similarly provides ample daylight and transparency to the outdoors. These windows are also thermally broken and have high performance glass. The windows are shaded in summer by either exterior sunshades or an overhang from the second floor. With no mechanical air conditioning, cooling is achieved by a low volume ventilation system augmented by ceiling fans in each habitable room. The site has a 94 walkability rating, an 82 transit rating

and an 86 bike friendly rating from walkscore.com.

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#5

A New Norris House; Norris, Tennessee
College of Architecture & Design, UT Knoxville

At 1008 square foot, this production house is less than half the size of the median house. “Rightsizing” reduced material and operational loads and costs, and shifted funds to quality design and construction, passive strategies and high-efficiency systems. The dormer and skylight are placed so daylight is reflected and diffused. No-VOC paint color is warm white with a punch of red-orange hidden within the swing space to produce a warm glow from reflected light. Low-E glass and translucent blinds provide further control over heat, glare and privacy. All interior rooms are daylit throughout the day. Electric lighting is integrated with cabinetry and includes low-energy LEDs.

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#4

Pearl Brewery/Full Goods Warehouse; San Antonio
Lake Flato Architects

This 67,000 square foot LEED Gold warehouse includes passive solutions including open breezeways, which were carefully oriented to prevailing summer breezes and supplemented with large ceiling fans. Large light monitors oriented to the north provide natural daylight to the breezeways, while the south wall of the cupola is open to allow hot air to escape as it rises. 100% of the rainwater captured from roofs coupled with recycled water, is used to irrigate the landscaping on site, eliminating the need for potable irrigation water. Highly efficient ductless minisplit systems were installed to condition indoor spaces. These systems can serve multiple zones using only one outdoor unit, and allows individual control of the air conditioning in each room.

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#3

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Headquarters (SFPUC); San Francisco
Joint Venture: KMD Architects w/ Stevens & Associates

The building is designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification and will exceed California’s recently-instituted Title 24 requirements for energy efficiency in new office buildings by 55% according to SFPUC estimates. The building will produce up to 7% of its own power needs from renewable photovoltaic and wind sources; will provide $118 million in energy cost savings over 75 years; and will require 45% less energy to illuminate the interior through daylight-harvesting and advanced lighting design, compared to typical Class A office buildings. The SFPUC consumes 60% less water than similarly sized buildings and is one of the first buildings in the nation with on-site treatment of gray and black water.

#3_San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Building_©2012 Bruce Damonte. All Rights Reserved

#2

Swenson Civil Engineering Building; Duluth, Minnesota
Design Architect: Ross Barney Architects
Architect of Record: SJA Architects

As an educational facility whose curriculum directly impacts the natural environment, the building overtly exposes sustainable systems and materials. 73% of the site is devoted to pervious materials and landscaping, reducing site detention requirements. An extensive green roof with native plants covers 22% of the roof, reducing storm water rates and filtering impurities. Storm water is directed from the roof to three scuppers and into above ground cylinders filled with rocks for filtering. Storm water eventually makes its way to a French drain system of underground water storage pipes for retention. The site lighting is minimal, and all fixtures are equipped with full cut-off optics.

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#1

Yin Yang House; Venice, California
Brooks + Scarpa

This sound passive design strategy combined with a very tight perimeter building envelope and other active sustainable features such as the 12kw solar system make this home a zero energy consumption home. It produces 100% of its energy needs and since completion, has never received an electric bill. The design maximizes the opportunities of the mild, marine climate with a passive cooling strategy using cross-ventilation and a thermal chimney. A large cantilevered roof overhang shades all the bedrooms from direct sunlight while providing ample natural light and ventilation. The project also has green roofs, its own storm water retention system and retains 95% of roof storm water on site.

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Architecture, Green Energy, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Trends

Brooks + Scarpa

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Yin-Yang House

Location of Project:                 Venice, CA

Total Square Footage:             4200 sq. ft.

Total Cost:  $1.7 mil

The Yin-Yang House is a net-zero energy single-family home in a quiet Venice, CA neighborhood. The design objective was to create a space for a large and growing family with several children, which would create a calm, relaxed and organized environment that emphasizes public family space.  The home also serves as a place to entertain, and a welcoming space for teenagers as they seek social space with friends.

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The home is organized around a series of courtyards and other outdoor spaces that integrate with the interior of the house. Facing the street the house appears to be solid. However, behind the steel entry door is a courtyard, which reveals the indoor-outdoor nature of the house behind the solid exterior. From the entry courtyard, the entire space to the rear garden wall can be seen; the first clue of the home’s spatial connection between inside and out. These spaces are designed for entertainment, and the 40 foot sliding glass door to the living room enhances the harmonic relationship of the main room, allowing the owners to host many guests without the feeling of being overburdened.

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The tensions of the house’s exterior are subtly underscored by a 12-inch steel band that hews close to, but sometimes rises above or falls below the floor line of the second floor – a continuous loop moving inside and out like a pen that is never lifted from the page, but reinforces the intent to spatially weave together the indoors with the outside as a single space.

Scale manipulation also plays a formal role in the design of the structure. From the rear, the house appears to be a single-story volume. The large master bedroom window and the outdoor steps are scaled to support this illusion. It is only when the steps are animated with people that one realizes the true scale of the house is two stories.

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The kitchen is the heart of the house, with an open working area that allows the owner, an accomplished chef, to converse with friends while cooking. Bedrooms are intentionally designed to be very small and simple; allowing for larger public spaces, emphasizing the family over individual domains. The breakfast room looks across an outdoor courtyard to the guest room/kids playroom, establishing a visual connection while defining the separation of uses. The children can play outdoors while under adult supervision from the dining area or the office, or do homework in the office while adults occupy the adjacent outdoor or indoor space.

Many of the materials used, including the bamboo interior, composite stone and tile countertops and bathroom finishes are recycled, and reinforce the environmental DNA of the house, which also has a green roof. Blown-in cellulose insulation, radiant heating and a host of other sustainable features aids in the performance of the building’s heating and cooling.

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The active systems in the home include a 12 KW solar photovoltaic panel system, the largest such residential system available on the market. The solar panels also provide shade from the sun, preventing the house from becoming overheated. The owners have been in the home for over nine months and have yet to receive a power bill.

Photography:  John Linden

 

 

Ideas, Sustainability, Technology, Trends

A benchmark in North America

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Innovative sustainable home near St. Louis certified as industry’s first Active House

An innovative sustainable building project near St. Louis, Missouri, has been certified as the first Active House in North America.

Not to be confused with a Passive House designation, an Active House is one that incorporates a comprehensive, exceptionally-green design both inside and out.

Designed by Jeff Day Architect, and built by Hibbs Homes & Verdatek Solutions, the Smith house in Webster Groves, Missouri, is an industry-innovating sustainable home that is the first in North America to be certified to the Active House Alliance standards. The home is also certified for Energy STAR, ANSI ICC-700, Builder’s Challenge Home, EPA Indoor Air Quality, and EPA Water Sense metrics. 

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A culmination of the leading green, sustainable, and environmentally-conscious building practices from around the world and in the U.S., Active House takes a unique and holistic approach to sustainable and environmentally conscious home construction and design.

Other homes have been built internationally under the Active House umbrella, utilizing Active House specifications, in countries such as Portugal, Austria, Norway, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, and Russia.

AH1

The Active House standard was created by window manufacturer, Velux, to provide an alternative vision of sustainable housing – one that includes more windows than a typical Passive House.
Active House uses state of art energy-efficient materials, design techniques and building practices that rely on renewable resources from design to construction and through the life of the home.
Energy efficiency in the Smith home is made possible by solar orientation, solar energy collectors, airtight building envelope, HVAC and water heating design, use of daylight, and natural ventilation.

Passive House versus Active House

Both Passive House and Active House models are sustainable and environmentally-friendly. The difference is that Passive House focuses on conserving energy through a combination of air-tight building materials, superinsulation, advanced window technology and designing the house to achieve maximum solar gain, resulting in ultra-low energy buildings that require little energy for space heating or cooling. Even the expected body heat of the building occupants is factored into the calculations.
Instead of focusing on environmentally-friendly ways to produce energy, passive houses cut the need for energy consumption in the first place—by as much as 90 per cent compared with the average home.
Active House takes an innovative approach to energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and interaction with the surrounding environment.


While most of the green building standards concern materials and building processes, Active House standards are the first to account for those, while primarily focusing on what happens when the homeowners take up residence.
The immediate goal is to provide the homeowner with a cost-effective and easy to operate and maintain living space, that creates healthier and more comfortable lives for their occupants without impacting the climate.
In short, Passive House has a singular focus on energy efficiency, while the Active House expands the focus to quality of life issues, such as indoor air quality, fresh air, and natural sunlight.

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Web: www.activehouseusa.com

Architecture, Ideas, Sustainability, Technology, Trends, Wood

Wood Solutions – Innovations and Opportunities for the 21st Century

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By Adam Robertson, M.A.Sc., EIT

When Gustave Eiffel, proposed building a skeletal steel structure for the Paris World Fair, he was ridiculed by professional engineers and most of high society in France. The tower was built for the 1889 Fair and instead of being torn down as initially suggested, became the most recognized and enduring cultural icon of France.

The 320 metre tall tower was the tallest structure in the world for more than 40 years and changed the world’s perception toward tall buildings.

If the first dozen years are any indication, wood is poised to undergo its renaissance in the 21st century. Increasingly, wood is being specified as the material of choice as advancements in wood science, design skills, and connection technology merge with the environmental aspirations of designers, governments, and occupants. Wood is no longer limited to houses and low-rise structures.

Major regulatory changes have occurred in North American and around the world to reflect the surge in awareness of the performance capabilities of wood. Over the past two decades, wood building technologies and design methods have advanced significantly in the areas of structural, fire safety, and energy performance. In 2009, mid-rise (up to six-storeys) wood-frame construction was approved in the British Columbia Building Code, with the Province of Quebec making similar amendments in April 2013.

In response to drivers such as cost savings and environmental benefits, building industry stakeholders are moving toward National Building Code (NBC) changes that would allow the construction of taller wood-frame buildings across Canada. The Joint Task Group on Combustible Construction has proposed to implement new mid-rise provisions for the 2015 National Building Code of Canada. This proposal includes the increase in allowable height from four- to six-storeys for both residential and business occupancies, along with increased levels of fire protection, such as sprinklers throughout the building.

The potential for wood in taller buildings does not stop at six-storeys. Several Canadian manufacturers are now producing massive timber engineered wood products such as cross laminated timber (CLT), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), and laminated strand lumber (LSL). With these products, it is now possible to design and construct even higher wood buildings. The world’s tallest residential wood building was recently completed in Melbourne, Australia, reaching a height of ten-storeys. There are other examples of seven-, eight-, and nine-storey wood structures in the U.K., Scandinavia, and Central Europe. Here in Canada, there are many examples of innovative, high-performance wood building designs and construction; including the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability and the Earth Sciences Building, both at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, as well as the Fondaction building in Québec City.

While the increased structural performance capabilities of wood products may be new to many designers, the environmental performance of wood is well recognized and appreciated by many.

From an environmental perspective, wood products and building systems have several advantages, including operational energy savings, low embodied environmental impacts, and carbon storage. Compared to other structural materials, wood has exceptional thermal performance, due to its much higher heat resistance value. Wood insulates 10 times better than concrete and 400 times better than steel. The natural structure of the wood fibre, virtually identical to a drinking straw, allows wood building products to trap air within the cells, enhancing its thermal capabilities and helping save the use of operational energy over the course of the building’s lifetime.

A number of life cycle assessment (LCA) studies from around the world have demonstrated that bio-based building products and systems are less environmentally impactful throughout their life cycle (raw materials acquisition, manufacturing, transportation, use, and end-of-life) when compared to other building materials. In addition, substituting wood in place of other more fossil fuel-intensive materials reduces overall GHG emissions that would have otherwise been emitted during the production of these non bio-based materials. Wood building products, such as lumber, panels, and decking, continue to store the carbon which was initially absorbed as CO2 by the trees during their growing cycle. While a new tree is growing, this carbon is locked-up and kept out of the atmosphere, enabling wood products to act as carbon sinks over the course of their service life.

Materials Matter

LCA is now a well-developed science and has been incorporated in building design and rating tools around the world. While operational impacts of structures still dominate the design considerations, the embodied impacts of materials will become more significant as operational efficiencies increase.

As the importance of embodied impacts become more apparent, LCA is the foundation for development of Environmental Product Declarations or EPDs – a standardized method of quantifying the environmental impacts of a building material, manufactured product or system. Typically, the EPD for a product will include information covering extraction, manufacturing processes, energy and water use, toxicity, emissions to air, soil, water and solid waste. An EPD can be used by design teams to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of alternative building material choices.

In some European counties, EPDs are now legal requirements for products – and North America is not far behind.

Some of the first North American EPDs developed for use by the building sector were for wood. The Western Red Cedar Lumber Association commissioned EPDs for some of their products. Several other wood product EPDs are scheduled to be released by the end of 2013. Designers will then be able to evaluate which materials have the lowest impact and are thus best suited for a particular function.

Regulatory changes

New codes affecting building height are not the only changes. Energy performance levels are increasingly becoming enshrined as well. This too provides greater opportunities for effective use of wood. Thicker walls can provide greater cavity space for insulation. New pre-fabrication methods increase structural accuracy and can significantly improve air tightness, thereby reducing both heat loss and moisture issues. Wood fibre insulation, thick walls and breathable panels are now common in Passive buildings in Europe and are making inroads in the North American market.

Why Wood?

As design teams, builders, and occupants strive to reduce the environmental footprint of their buildings, wood can play a critical role – from the sustainably managed forests of Canada to the diversity of new structural products and systems – designers will be able to achieve buildings and performance levels they wouldn’t have thought possible 40 years ago.

In the 19th century, Gustave Eiffel was no doubt asked ‘Why steel?’, but he persevered and revealed to the world a new way to build.

In the 21st century, some might well ask the question ‘Why wood?’

No other material has as many sustainable attributes as wood. Think about it – wood is renewable, recyclable, reusable, organic, biodegradable, strong, lightweight, ductile, diverse, easy-to-use and inexpensive. It stores carbon, produces oxygen, cleans the air we breathe and the water we drink, provides habitat and recreation opportunities in the forest and is the only major structural material grown by the sun. The challenge we face is to understand how this material works, how to integrate into our designs and to strive to even greater heights than we thought possible with wood.

So maybe the real question for the 21st century isn’t ‘Why wood?’; perhaps it is ‘If not wood, what?’