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The tops in green homes

CRAIG SAUNDERS

From Friday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 12:12 PM EDT 08/05/08

Just what does a residence built to the highest environmental standards look like? Come right in ... ...Read the full article

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  1. Brian Van Ezel from Ottawa, Canada writes: Too bad it is not a green urban plan. Is it close to schools? Stores? Does it save land? Is there transportation? Is the road surface area minimized? Is there a bike path? Wilderness area?
  2. Citizen Kane from GTA, Canada writes: I so want it now! When are they going to build it in Brooklin?
  3. Morgiana Halley from Bangor ME, United States writes: I am a person who likes to have a window open in her bedroom, even in the dead of winter, who loves wide-open windows in spring and summer, and who finds interiors uncomfortably warm and stuffy year-round. My favorite homes have been pretty leaky, as far as seals go. I am also an avid recycler and moderate conservationist. While I applaud the concept, I worry about the dwellers in such a home never getting to open the windows and let in fresh air. I would prefer a home that used the 19th-century concept of closeable floor gratings to heat the upstairs in winter, and left a few openable windows, especially one over the kitchen sink and air-circulation potential in the sleeping and living areas.
  4. South Sea from Canada writes: Morgiana, the house likely has a Heat Recovery Ventillator (HRV) to constantly bring in fresh air. The R50 attic insulation is great, and surprisingly cheap. We upgraded our attic insulation to R50 at a cost of about $1/square foot with blown in cellulose, and it has made a huge difference in comfort both in summer and winter.
  5. Paul G from Toronto, Canada writes: South Sea has a good point. There's a huge difference between a well ventilated house and one that is drafty... especially for sore muscles.

    These upgrades won't mean much unless the site supervisor makes sure that this stuff goes in right before it's covered up. After my experience with new construction I suggest the builder should have a 'green supervisor' in addition to the building supervisor to ensure the proper installation.
    ...
  6. A B from Saskatoon, Canada writes: We did Energuide on our house reaching 75 (energy efficient new house) and house was 50 years old. Financially - it is well worth it. Heating bill in Sask went half. As for the worries about sealed house - if done right - you can still open the windows. The difference is - windows are sealer properly. (This person from the States, should try to live in leaky house when -60C hits. :) )

    What's sad about this article - the price tag is outrageous. Builders scooped even more then they do with normal houses, so that will make sure it never becomes a standard living.

    There is no mentioning of solar use (if geothermal covers everything, then that's great), there is no mentioning of lighting (house has pretty small windows) ... I wish there was more real details how things were done.

    I am even more interested, since we just dipped into 108 years old house project - that we have ambition to reach even better then 75 Energuide rating, while maintaining a look of historical building. That is going to be a challenge.
  7. Antonio San from Canada writes: The meter of GHG to ensure guilt is spewed right in your home is a nice touch: do you really need to take a bath? How about not using your made in China fridge?... If houses in Canada were properly built to start with one would not have to marvel on this piece of advertisement...
  8. Tough Camper from Vancouver, Canada writes:
    I just watched, Garbage Warrior, an inspirational film about Michael Reynolds, an architect building off-the-grid housing and subdivisions down in New Mexico.

    All the materials are recycled -lots of old tires and thrown-away wine and water bottles, and he's solved the problems of heating/cooling, power and sewage.

    Those homes sure didn't cost $150,000 or base-house PLUS $150,000!! And they are gorgeous looking- both inside and out.

    Check out the movie, and imagine what his group thinks of Reid's modest improvements and massive price-tag!

    After that, go buy a shovel and DIY!
  9. Tough Camper from Vancouver, Canada writes:
    whoops- here's a link to the film's website- check it out!

    http://www.garbagewarrior.com/

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