NEWMARKET
Eco home is green - and it's affordable
October 17, 2009
Tracy Hanes
TORONTO STAR
How "green" is the Garden at 1034 Bob Scott Court in Newmarket?
It's at least 50 per cent more "green" than a lot of its competitors' offerings.
The 2,695-square-foot house built by Garden Homes at its Stonehaven site in Newmarket, is one of the first in Ontario to meet the Green Builder Challenge issued by the recently launched Sustainable Housing Foundation. The eco-model has exceeded the goal of saving 50 per cent in energy when compared to houses constructed to building code standard, at minimal extra cost to the homebuyer. Its monthly energy bill is estimated to be $64.30.
"We started working toward this challenge about a year and a half ago. It's very good challenge," said Garden Homes president Ignazio Giardina at the model home's launch last week, when he received EnergyStar and Green Builder Challenge certificates for the model home. The builder is also aiming for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification. "I think we are now one of the most advanced green builders in Ontario."
The point of the Green Builder Challenge, explained Lenard Hart, director of the Toronto-based Sustainable Housing Foundation, who ran Ontario's R2000, EnergyStar and EnerGuide for New Houses programs when he worked for the EnerQuality Corp., is to help builders build greener in a way that's not administratively or financially daunting. And it uses a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) that is easy for buyers to understand.
"This home is beautiful to look at and it's very efficient," said John Godden, one of Ontario's top green building consultants. Godden is on the board of directors of the Canada Green Building Council, Toronto chapter, the Canadian Residential Energy Service Network (CRESNet) and a member of a national committee that established the Canadian LEED for Homes rating system.
"You've got to build in a way that is affordable and create homes that people will want to live in, that you can sell."
Godden said the Garden Homes' model cost only about 5 per cent more than it would have to construct it to building code standards.
Brisk winter winds won't permeate its airtight building envelope or upgraded insulation. In the basement, the space is bright and comfortable, thanks to infloor radiant heating and a new glossy white, finished-surface, full-height basement insulation from Roxul which serves as a fire, air and thermal barrier.
It also has a state-of the-art Uponor fire sprinkler system and an innovative HVAC system combines solar hot water preheating with a Vertex hot water tank that supplies hot water as well as space heat for the basement radiant floors and the Life Breath furnace.
The home's waste heat is recovered through a drain water heat recovery PowerPipe and an integrated heat recovery system.
"The way we have been building is past and it's not the way we will be building in the future. Ignazio understands that; he's always built beyond code," said Hart.
"This a quantum leap," agreed Corey McBurney, president of the EnerQuality Corp., which administers several "green" building programs in Ontario, including EnergyStar, GreenHouse and LEED.
Garden Homes took a team approach, holding training for staff and trades and looking at the most cost-effective ways to build more efficient, healthier homes.
Giardina said his company will be implementing some or all of the new practices and products showcased in the model in all of its 92 homes at the Stonehaven site, where semi-detached homes start in the low $300,000s and singles in the mid-$400,000s. Some features will be included as standard, while others will be offered as upgrades.
The Town of Newmarket now requires all new homes to be built to EnergyStar or better standard.
Toronto Star