Insulation

One hundred years ago, houses were cold and drafty in the winters, hot and dusty in the summers. Basements were damp, attics were a fire hazzard. Today's state-of-the-art construction methods and materials, which stabilize indoor temperatures for comfortable living are show cased in the NNZP.


As this house was designed to produce more energy that it will use, insulation is essential to capture and save what has been produced. This post will document the different insulations used throughout the house, the R Values, and some of the thinking behind our choices.

Let's start from the ground up.

The basement foundation and the ground floor walls are made from Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF). These forms look like meat sandwiches: foam insulation "bread slices" on each side, with concrete "meat" in the middle.

The ICF creats an airtight building envelope, which prevents heat loss. They also increse performance of the insulation. In and of themselves, they give an R Value of 23. However, due to the process of heat transfer, they give an effective R Value of 50. The cement inside the forms acts as a thermal mass which causes a resulting heat lag effect.

Not exactly insulation, but on a related theme, Thermal Mass is dense stone or concrete incorporated into the building to hold heat or cool temperatures, slowing down the changes of inside comfort levels. In the basement, the cement floor, and in the main floor Great Room, the fireplace stonework act as thermal mass for the NNZP.

The second story of the house has blown insulation equivalent to R Value 32.

Windows are the weak link in any building envelope when it comes to insulation, which is why we have to work so hard to compensate for their losses in other parts of construction. In the NNZP, all north-facing windows are Norstar Triple Glazed with Krypton gas. Their R Value is 4.7. The east, west and south-facing windows are Double Glazed with Argon Gas. Their R Value is 3.5.

Ceilings create the area of highest heat loss in any building. In the NNZP, the ceilings all have an amazing R Value of 70 - 80. This has been achieved with both blown-in pink fiberglass and spray foam. The pitched roof over the Great Room is insulated with 2 differest types of spray foam, which give us three effects: insulation, sealing any potential heat leaks and providing sound-deadening effects.

Starting July 10th, the NNZP will be open for inspection every other weekend for July and August. Come and see this first Net Zero Project in Niagara for yourself and see what all the hype is about. An elegantly appointed home, in a beautiful setting, boasting the best of modern green technology.

Healthy Living

Remember the smell that assaults your nose as soon as you walk into a new house?

A chemical soup, a blend of gases being released from everything that went into the building of the house is what we perceive as "smells". We are actually breathing in volatile organic compounds (VOC's). Although technically not acutely toxic, VOC's cause significant affects on the human body. Especially indoors, where VOC's accumulate in higher concentrations, this is cause for concern.


Paints, primers, sealers, adhesives, wall boards, ceiling tiles, certain woods, wall coverings, electrical equipment, formaldehyde in building materials all contribute to the "sick building" syndrome. The mucous membranes of the respiratory system become irritated, allergies, autoimmune reactions and asthma are all part and parcel of this. Those most affected are infants, children and people with chronic respiratory disease.

The designers of the NNZP spent time and sensitivity selecting the lowest VOC building and decorating materials available.

Zero-VOC Paints. When the painters were working in the house, spraying the ceilings and then the walls with this new-to-them paint, they were truly shocked that there was no smell at all. They didn't even wear their usual masks while they worked. They were all smiles, very happy to be able to work under such comfortable conditions.


Low-VOC Primers


Low-VOC Tile Sealant


A Double Air Filter was installed into the Heat Recovery Ventilator to further enhance and purify the interior air quality.



Solid Wood Baseboards and Crown Moldings were installed instead of Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF). MDF is a type of hardboard made from wood fibers glued under heat and pressure. It is a material filled with epoxies and formaldehyde, which release large amounts of VOC's for a long period of time after installation.



Hardwood Flooring is being used throughout the main and second floors of the house, over the option of wall-to-wall carpeting with under padding which again, are one of the biggest sources of VOC's in homes and offices.

A word here about flooring. Although the designers for the NNZP had at first opted for Bamboo Flooring, it was rejected for several reasons, in favor of a different, harder wood.

Bamboo is the new hot item in interior decor and designers are eager to hop on the bandwagon with this latest trend. Suddenly it is in high demand. Although it grows and matures significantly faster than any other trees, the "renewable" aspect of this resource is outweighed by the many drawbacks associated with it. Third world countries, where it grows, are clear-cutting rain forest to reap the harvest and the profits. This is causing soil erosion and loss of indigenous plants and animals due to the changes in habitat. Then there are the issues of chemical fertilizers being used in massive quantities to speed up growth even more. There is not one bamboo company that has credible environmental certification.



This soft, reed-like wood, is really a type of grass. Unlike hardwood trees that are solid, bamboo is hollow and has to be cut into thin bands which are then compressed and laminated one on top of another with epoxy and acrylics to build up to a thickness usable for floors. Are you reading VOC's here? .



One further issue is this: when bamboo floors become scratched, dented and chipped, which they very easily do, they can not be refinished. Bamboo is an inferior floor product, which does not stand up to the wear and tear of usual home living. As it dries, bamboo is notorious for peeling, splitting and cracking. Unlike oak floors that last for 100 years or more, they can not be sanded down, re-stained and re-coated. "Put it in. Tear it out," is what the professional installers say about bamboo.

Over all, every effort is being made to ensure the healthiest interior living environment possible in the NNZP.

What are your feelings about these issues?

Do you or your family suffer respiratory illnesses?

Do VOC gasses cause you concern?

Have you learned anything new about bamboo flooring in this post, or do you feel bamboo is still worth it?

Social Blogging for Buisness Reasons

The Niagara Net Zero Project is moving forward in very pleasing ways. The PV Solar array is connected to the grid and making $8.00 an hour. The geothermal in-floor radiant heating is making things comfortable inside. The exterior is adorned with stone and stucco and the interior ceramics are beautifully done. The cistern and the garage floor are pored concrete. Preparations are underway to install the solar hot water system. Excitement is mounting day by day.

Why are we blogging about all this?

Although being green is becoming increasingly more poplar, the learning curve is a dramatic one. Most people do not know or understand many of the aspects that go into developing a sustainable eco-friendly house. Educating the consumer is our mission here. Each week we highlight an individual aspect of the NNZP to increase public awareness and education.

When you visit our blog, please consider taking the time to make comments or ask questions.

Tell us how we are doing. Let us know what you think of the NNZP and of the government initiatives to move us towards greener communities. Which aspects of the NNZP are most interesting to you? Would you like us to address any specific topics? Just ask. We are not here to see how many followers we can entice, but to enter into dialogue with interested people.



Thank you for stopping by. Please visit again. We are waiting to hear from you.

Electrical Safety Authority

Having passed the ESA inspection, the 10 Kw solar PV system was officially hooked up and is now producing solar energy for the grid. Not only is this the first net zero house in Niagara, but according to local distribution company, Niagara Peninsula Energy, it is also the first microFIT project in Niagara.

See the happy faces.

Free Hot Water

Welcome to the Twenty-first Century of home building and design. The latest innovative technologies have gone into the Net Zero Project to:

produce energy,

recapture energy,

save energy,

and make money for the homeowner.

Today I want to talk about the Geothermal Heat Pump and its amazing features that end up giving Free Hot Water to the house.

The design team from Informed Energy Solutions chose to install the Boreal Geothermal System in the NNZP. This is one of the most advanced systems available, requiring little or no maintenance over many, many years of operation.

Its main function, in very simplistic terms, is to transfer heat from one place to another.

Glycol solution circulates through flexible piping buried 6 - 8 feet underground around the perimeter of the house, capturing the sun's heat stored in the earth.

After the basement floor was insulated to the level of R14, closed-loop heat-exchang piping was laid down, and then covered with concrete. Cycling an inexhaustible supply of energy found 6 - 8 feet underground, the Boreal heat pump is already supplying radiant in-floor heating to the basement level of the NNZP. The pump moves 3 - 4 times more heat into the building than the energy used to operate it.

When the seasons change and the house is hotter than the ground outside, the process is reversed. Heat is absorbed from inside, circulated out and exchanged for the cooler temperature of the earth 8 feet down. Air conditioning flows through the central duct system. This is accomplished by a simple adjustment of a room thermostat.

And this is where the free hot water comes in.

In the summer, as heated solution is being circulated out of the basement floor mass, heat recovery coils collect the unwanted heat from the house and directs it to the hot water tanks. Even winter operation of the system boosts hot water at a 60 - 75% savings over that of an electric hot water heater alone. The annual savings on the typical electric bill is usually 20 - 30%.

Over all, the geothermal system built into the Net Zero Project house saves carbon emissions equivalent to the output of 5 cars per annum.

Talk about Earth Day!

Every day, all year long!!

Friday Follow for NNZP

Well here is a blog you don't see every day in cyberspace. It's a new venture, going for the green in environmental aces. I have decided to put it out there in the fun venue of Friday Follow to garner as much exposure as is possible attract.

The Niagara Net Zero Project is the first of its kind in the Niagara Ontario Region. Filled with state-of-the-art green technologies, this is a beautifully appointed home producing as much or more electricity than it can use. As of this past Wednesday, the house, still under construction, has been connected to the hydro grid, feeding in clean electricity from the 10 kW solar array mounted on its south-facing roof and getting paid to do so at a rate of $.802 per KWhr in accordance with the Ontario microFIT program.

Become a follower of this blog. Learn about the green technologies that among other things, can make your roof work for you. It's new. The learning curve is massive. Our poor planet is relying on people like you to make healthy changes in energy consumption and renewable resource development. Follow the continuing posts to learn more. Ask questions. Make comments.

Friday Follow is sponsored by three lovely mavens at the following blogspots:

Midday Escapades

One 2 Try

Hearts Make Families

Check us out and follow along. The fun is in meeting new people, being exposed to new ideas and learning more about the world we live in now. Stop for a visit, leave a comment and we will follow you back. Have a happy Friday and a great weekend.

Feeding the Grid

Record Breaking News!

As of 2pm. Tuesday, April 20th, the 10 kW solar photovotaic (PV) system of the Niagara Net Zero Project was connected to the hydro-electric grid of the Niagara Region. The beautiful sunny skies began feeding the grid at a rate of $8.00 an hour under Ontario's microFIT program.

one of many micro inverters

Solar PV racking on south-facing roof

The Enphase Envoy EMU. System is connected and feeding the grid at a rate of $0.802/kWh

Where the white and red IES banner is displayed on the roof right now is the reserved space for the solar hot water panels. It is clear to see the panels integrate with the design of the roof, achieving an asthetic installation.

As rates for residencial electricity are on the rise, solar panels are a viable consideration for lowering the cost of owning and operating a private residence. Infact, this solar PV system will generate roughly $10,000.00 per year for 20 years, becoming a sustainable source of revenue for the home owners. The PV systems sold and installed by Informed Energy Solutions Inc. have a guaranteed life span of 25 years, usually equivalent to the longevity of the homeowner's mortgage. Together with current government incentives, 20 year contracts to buy back power production, and low financial rates, homeowners must seriously think about investing in this state-of-the-art solar energy solution.

Call an IES professional solar consultant at 905-562-1426 or visit our website to request personal attention only we can give:

* a written quote on the job

* finances discussed and facilitated

* application process to microFIT enabled

* permits and inspections handled by IES


Let Informed Energy Solutions Inc. lead you and your home into the 21st century of solar electricity production and start saving money today.