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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main stages of any architectural project in Ontario?
PRE DESIGN, DESIGN DEVELOPMENT WORKING DRAWINGS PERMIT AND SITE VISITS (WILL WRITE THIS)
What should I provide an architect to help them design my home?
IMAGES - WRITEN IDEAS - SPECIFIC NEEDS THAT THE HOME HAS TO MEET -
What is a passive house?
INSULATION
Similar to wearing a nice thick jacket in the winter, it keeps heat inside and requires less energy to maintain a constant temperature. Our projects use low carbon insulation in amounts that are double the minimum required by code.
NO AIR LEAKAGES
90% of heat loss is through air leakage. Proper air barriers and taping ensure that you aren't wasting energy to heat the outside world.
NO THERMAL BRIDGES
Thermal bridges are like small highways for heat energy to travel from the inside of your house, past the insulation and be lost. Keeping them as minimal as possible creates a stronger thermal envelope for your home while minimizing the risk of condensation damage.
PROPER WINDOWS AND DOORS
Openings are the most thermally weak points of your building. Triple pane windows and doors allow all the beauty of traditional windows but provide better insulating properties and seals. Better windows last longer, save money and make you feel comfortable all year round
ORIENTATION
Proper orientation allows us to best use the sun for its heating energy. Roof slope can be manipulated to allow more light during the winter months and less in the summer, maintaining a stable temperature inside.
HEAT RECOVERY VENTILATOR
A heat recovery ventilator cuts energy usage by taking the heat from already warmed indoor air and transferring it to new air being brought into the building. This allows for fresh air in the home 2/7 with minimal energy loss.
Similar to wearing a nice thick jacket in the winter, it keeps heat inside and requires less energy to maintain a constant temperature. Our projects use low carbon insulation in amounts that are double the minimum required by code.
NO AIR LEAKAGES
90% of heat loss is through air leakage. Proper air barriers and taping ensure that you aren't wasting energy to heat the outside world.
NO THERMAL BRIDGES
Thermal bridges are like small highways for heat energy to travel from the inside of your house, past the insulation and be lost. Keeping them as minimal as possible creates a stronger thermal envelope for your home while minimizing the risk of condensation damage.
PROPER WINDOWS AND DOORS
Openings are the most thermally weak points of your building. Triple pane windows and doors allow all the beauty of traditional windows but provide better insulating properties and seals. Better windows last longer, save money and make you feel comfortable all year round
ORIENTATION
Proper orientation allows us to best use the sun for its heating energy. Roof slope can be manipulated to allow more light during the winter months and less in the summer, maintaining a stable temperature inside.
HEAT RECOVERY VENTILATOR
A heat recovery ventilator cuts energy usage by taking the heat from already warmed indoor air and transferring it to new air being brought into the building. This allows for fresh air in the home 2/7 with minimal energy loss.
What is sustainable design?
PROPERLY SIZED BUILDING
DON’T OVER BUILD The most sustainable thing is to do less.
REDUCING ENERGY USE
Incorporating quality HIGH EFFICIENCY APPLIANCES AND appropriately sized HVAC with a reliance on natural LIGHTING
REDUCING WATER USAGE
APPROPRIATE FLOW FIXTURES - WATER COLLECTION - GREY WATER SYSTEMS - COMPOSTING TOILETS -
THERMAL MASS
Masonry, rammed earth, low carbon concrete store excess heat during the day that can be slowly released at night to reduce mechanical energy to maintain your buildings temperature
AIR QUALITY
highly efficiency mechanical and natural ventilation improves air quality year round. Using non-toxic materials reduces off gassing during construction and afterward.
NON TOXIC LOW CARBON MATERIALS
Using lower carbon intensive and natural materials allows your building to act like a carbon sink reducing your carbon footprint
PASSIVE SOLAR
By maximizing orientation to the sun you can reduce the use of electrical lighting and increase solar energy potential
LANDSCAPING
Extend your grenn impact into your garden with native species planting.
NATURAL VENTILATION
Using science to position windows such that they maximize natural ventilation through the building.
LONGEVITY
Nothing lasts forever but the materials you choose for your biggest investment should last a long time.
DON’T OVER BUILD The most sustainable thing is to do less.
REDUCING ENERGY USE
Incorporating quality HIGH EFFICIENCY APPLIANCES AND appropriately sized HVAC with a reliance on natural LIGHTING
REDUCING WATER USAGE
APPROPRIATE FLOW FIXTURES - WATER COLLECTION - GREY WATER SYSTEMS - COMPOSTING TOILETS -
THERMAL MASS
Masonry, rammed earth, low carbon concrete store excess heat during the day that can be slowly released at night to reduce mechanical energy to maintain your buildings temperature
AIR QUALITY
highly efficiency mechanical and natural ventilation improves air quality year round. Using non-toxic materials reduces off gassing during construction and afterward.
NON TOXIC LOW CARBON MATERIALS
Using lower carbon intensive and natural materials allows your building to act like a carbon sink reducing your carbon footprint
PASSIVE SOLAR
By maximizing orientation to the sun you can reduce the use of electrical lighting and increase solar energy potential
LANDSCAPING
Extend your grenn impact into your garden with native species planting.
NATURAL VENTILATION
Using science to position windows such that they maximize natural ventilation through the building.
LONGEVITY
Nothing lasts forever but the materials you choose for your biggest investment should last a long time.
How much can I save building an environmental home?
Depending on the scope of work you can reduce the energy use of your existing home by over 80% We can help you find the right mix of scope and energy improvement based on your budget and needs
Environmentally speaking Where is the biggest bang for the buck in renovation?
This is a complex question that needs to look at all aspects of the project to properly answer. Some of the best options to think about are.. 1 reduce the amount of space you a renovating to what you most need. 2 use low carbon insulation where possible in the largest amount possible. 3 if you are upgrading windows and doors get the best insulated ones you can afford. 4 choose the best all electric HVAC system for your project. 5 spend the money on air sealing your home.
I have allergies - how can we make sure that there are minimal alergens in the home?
Choose low VOC materials and have a MERV 13 filter that you maintain in the whole house ventilation system. If you are environmentally sensitive make sure you have a specialist on the team.
How difficult is it to get permits for green architecture?
Outside of major cities we have found it very easy with a licenced architect and engineer on the team to get permits for natural materials such as strawbale and rammed earth. It tends to be more difficult in larger cities and may require going through the "alternative solution" section of the Ontario Building Code. Each time we do this it gets easier.
How to find contractors that are knowledgable in green construction?
We have worked with sustainably trained contractors that are as passionate as we are to create and build homes. Typically we give you a list of firms to talk to and find the best fit.