High Performance Houses in a world of uncertainty. Houses of the future, today.
The next few weeks will show us that the systems we rely on for our everyday needs are more precarious than we realized. That usual sense of security we feel when everything works as normal as a perfectly functioning system is going to be slowly chipped away as the COVID-19 situation in Canada (and worldwide) progresses. We as Canadians take for granted simple things like turning on our lights with the flick of a switch, plentiful access to warmth via natural gas (or other sources), health and safety provided by our government services (fire, police, healthcare and social services), and accessing fresh, safe food anytime at our local grocer. That last one, we’ve witnessed, is the most visible crack we’re seeing emerge in the system.
I don’t want to dwell too much on the doom part of this emerging situation. I want to talk instead about opportunities. Since we most likely will be spending more time at home, I think it’s a great time to think about what changes you can make to future-proof your home against uncertainty and changing conditions. If you’re planning to build, this is the perfect time to think and make changes to your design in preparation.
Blower door testing to find out where air leaks are and how tight the building envelope is
Future-proofing means that the buildings we retrofit or build will use less energy (we’re moving toward net zero ready by 2030!). It also means that Wherever you purchase energy from, you have the choice to choose cleaner, greener options. Access to energy is something that is within your control to future-proof your home. This supports the green energy industry, and its support will help sustain and build it. By purchasing green energy or REC (Renewable Energy Credit), we can futureproof our own Province against energy uncertainty and move us toward a more diversified energy system. Every little bit helps.
Energy can be produced on-site through geothermal, wind, or solar photovoltaic systems. The last option is the most feasible, accessible and cost effective for most people. This allows you to produce your energy and use it first, rather than relying on the grid, during the day. At night, or during low-light months (winter), you would be purchasing more from the grid of course. However, you can further offset the requirement to purchase it by paring your PV with battery backup systems (think Tesla Powerwall). Energy is then stored in your home to use when you need it. Not only does this provide energy security, but energy sovereignty as well. Energy sovereignty is when you can make your own decisions on energy generation, distribution and consumption. Another benefit of renewable energy is that it basically guarantees your price for electricity for as long as the system is producing. Electricity prices in Alberta are increasing and solar will reduce that impact.
Being in control of your own energy is something that a lot of people don’t think about, until it becomes unavailable. Power outages are a good time to remember that the energy systems are precarious, but why wait until an outage to make changes?
The comfort of your home is within your control as well. Things you can do in your own home (or if you’re building one) is to make it as air-tight as possible (while considering its ventilation needs). Air sealing existing homes can be done with easy to access materials using simple tricks. For new home construction, pre-drywall blower door testing is a fundamental component of ensuring your air-barrier system is intact and continuous. Next, add insulation. You can add insulation to your walls, roof, cantilevers/bump-outs, and foundation. Ask a local energy advisor to assist in making recommendations. Your windows and doors may need to upgraded to higher quality versions if they are very old or leaky.
By reducing air-leakage and increasing insulation, your home will also withstand drastic temperature fluctuations experienced day-to-day, especially here in Alberta. Some days can have 30 degree temperature swings! A high-performance home does not suffer from the impacts of this because they are so air-tight and well insulated. Not only does this maintain the comfort for the occupants, but it reduces costs related to heating (or cooling) the home during these changes. Although the day-to-day temperature changes are definitely something to think about, also prepare for long-term climatic condition changes. It is estimated that in Alberta, we’re going to see a warmer, drier climate, with more extreme weather. Summers that get a bit warmer will require us to think about how we will prevent summer heat from entering the home (through design, such as south-side overhangs, adding operable windows on opposite sides of a home), adaption (installing exterior window shadings, using passive cooling techniques), or mechanical cooling. Did you know you can have an energy advisor calculate if your home is at risk of overheating? It’s a great way to plan for this before you have to experience a hot house in a hot summer. High-performance homes may be at risk of overheating but there’s plenty of ways to mitigate this.
When building or making changes to your home, consider the durability of materials chosen. Exterior siding, roofing and other materials can be selected to last up to 50 years! In fact, the Thomas House Project’s recycled rubber roof will last just that, which is great since it has solar installed on the roof. We won’t need to uninstall the panels to replace the roof, which can be very costly down the road. We also are susceptible to hail and wind storms; vinyl siding and asphalt roofing does not hold up during these events. Durable materials require less maintenance, and thus, lower costs related to maintaining them or replacing them. This includes less insurance claims! Lastly, it reduces your own environmental impact as you won’t have to replace it as more often as it won’t degrade as fast as less durable options.
Since we’re talking about durability, we need to touch on the ability for a home that’s been future-proofed to protect itself against internal and external moisture, air and heat transfer. These flows can create structural problems, as well as health issues such as mould. High-performance homes are much more resistant to these transfers since they are carefully designed to ensure that air, moisture & heat are managed appropriately. By considering the house-as-a-system concept prior to making changes to your home, or building, you can ensure that your home is resistant to structural damage and healthy.
While we’re on the subject of health, ventilation and fresh air is extremely important. Air-tight homes need mechanical ventilation, and the most efficient way to provide this is by way of a heat-recovery ventilation system, which pumps in fresh, filtered, pre-warmed air, and exhausts the stale air outside. This removes moisture, which is especially important during the wintertime to prevent moist air from leaking into places it shouldn’t, causing damage (like attic rain). One thing to think about is fitting your ventilation system with a high MERV filter, when required. In Alberta, we face some pretty smoky days when the forest fires are raging and sadly, this is something we will experience more often as climate continues to change. Keep in mind, high MERV filters can tax your ventilation system, so it’s good to be cautious when using them.
Another thing to think about is that homes are not necessarily designed for “aging in place”. Consider accessibility - is your laundry on the main floor? Is your master bedroom on the main floor? What happens if you cannot climb stairs easily? What about your front steps? If you plan on building your forever home, consider these issues during the planning phase.
50-year recycled rubber roofing underneat solar racking on the Thomas House Project
Retro-fitting or building a home to higher energy efficiency standards also means you’re building to tomorrow’s energy codes. Remember, when homes today are built to code, they’re built to minimum code. If within 10 years, homes will have to be net zero ready. Why not build your house to that standard today. Not only do high-performance homes have a higher market-value than their conventionally constructed counterparts, but they won’t need to be updated if the home is to be resold, reducing costs. A survey recently concluded that 93% of respondents located in British Columbia looking to purchase a home viewed energy efficiency as a marketable feature, with 76% agreeing that high performance homes “provide high levels of comfort, health and quality.” As well, “overall energy-efficient home” as the #4 “Must Have” home feature in 2019.”
As I mentioned before, you don’t really think about the perilousness of our energy system until you’re without power from a black-out, right before you’re about to cook dinner. The same thing goes with future-proofing housing. It’s important to think about what actions you can take to update and protect your home from the impacts we may face when systems around us face strains. As many of us spend more time in our own homes over the next few weeks, it’s a perfect time to reflect, or for those of you needing something to do, make these changes! I know a few people who are already thinking about home renovation projects since we may be faced with having to stay home anyway.