This is the first ‘Green Home’ in Canada to be evaluated for the effectiveness of its energy and water conservation features and an array of the latest environmentally-friendly building systems and materials.
A graduate student-led team from Ryerson University’s Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering through its Centre for Sustainable Energy will monitor, measure and report on the use of electricity, natural gas and cold and hot water in the demonstration home for the next year, and for at least a second year, once the home is sold and occupied.
This 4,429 s.f. four-bedroom ‘Oakdale’ model is in ‘The Reserve’, a luxury development featuring two cul-de-sacs of 50’ lots adjacent to a forest preserve, also in Richmond Hill.
For comparison purposes, an identical home, built to the ENERGY STAR ® Quality Standard in Heathwood’s nearby ‘Forestbrook’ community, will be monitored during the same time period, to provide further cost benefit analysis.
The data collected will quantify the ‘Green Home’s’ reduced carbon footprint, and educate builders and consumers on the true monetary and energy savings in the Green Home.
“The data will be used to determine the benefits of the energy saving systems in the home and will provide valuable information on peak loads, solar electric power generation and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Hugh Heron, Heathwood Homes’ President.
“This extremely energy-efficient home is also beautiful and livable, which sets it apart from most other green demonstration houses.” Said Bob Finnigan, COO, Housing, of the Heron Group of Companies and 2011 President of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association,
“We know that ENERGY STAR® saves owners up to 30 per cent over homes built to Ontario Building Code. With the results from the ‘Green Home’ monitoring, we will be able to determine how much families can save in dollars and energy with the added features.”
Said Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow, “We congratulate Heathwood Homes for their foresight and initiative in demonstrating and quantifying the benefits of green technology to home building and for selecting Richmond Hill as a model for other communities across Canada.”
Key highlights of the ‘Green Home’ are:
- The Grey water system, which reuses cleansed bath and shower water for flushing toilets and saves approximately 1/3 of total water usage;
- Roof-mounted glycol solar panels that use energy from the sun to help warm the home’s tankless hot water system, which heats only the water being used at any given time, saving up to 40 per cent over tank-style heaters;
- Roof-mounted photovoltaic solar panels to generate electricity that is put back into the grid to lessen the overall demand for fossil-based power generation;
Additional features and systems that are on display include the following:
Energy Conservation: energy monitoring (real-time electricity use, electricity including peak/time of day/historical/by specific appliance, solar generation, gas and water, solar-assisted hot water); ENERGY STAR® wall assembly; Low E Argon-filled windows – Zone B; attic insulation; insulated garage ceiling; air sealing of the building envelope; insulated garage door; under-slab insulation; ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) system; heating systems integrated with the ERV; Energy Star programmable thermostat; energy-efficient lighting; motion-activated bathroom lighting; ENERGY STAR® qualified bathroom fan; ENERGY STAR® appliances
Water Conservation: dual-flush toilets, low-flow faucets and shower heads, permeable pavements, infiltration galleries that help infiltrate storm water runoff, xeriscaping (mass planting of drought-tolerant native species to replace lawn areas and minimize the need for irrigation), rain barrels
The Environment: engineered floor system; carpets made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the plastic used in pop bottles; natural stone flooring; bamboo flooring; zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints for healthier air; granite countertops; fibreglass shingles and HEPA filtration systems that remove 99 per cent of airborne contaminants
Interactive touch screens throughout show real-time energy data, the home’s automated systems and informative videos about this home’s components.
Individual and group tours of Heathwood’s Green Home can be made by appointment. Visit www.heathwoodhomes.com
