from the ground up - The Tyee

Low-Energy Homes Mean Thousands of New JobsIn Europe, that is, where Passivhaus principles are going into building codes.Could B.C. do it?By Monte PaulsenArticle first published on January 27, 2011 by TheTyee.ca.Thirty-two years elapsed between the invention ofthe Saskatchewan Conservation House and the erectionof Austria House in Whistler (structures thisseries profiled in the previous two stories).Canada’s second certified Passivhaus was completedjust a year later. And a dozen more Canadian Passivhausprojects are underway.Passivhaus buildings -- which include schools, offices,apartments as well as a growing number ofrenovated structures -- use 90 per cent less energy forheating and cooling than conventionally built buildings.Since buildings consume up to half of all energyin North America, the prospect of a 90 per cent reductionposes what green building advocates believe isthe most affordable way to reduce energy costs andslash the emission of greenhouse gasses.Europe has embraced the idea. The continent alreadyhas more than 25,000 Passivhaus certified buildings.And by 2020, every new building in the EuropeanUnion must be a “near zero energy building.” Withthat shift has come a steep rise in new green constructionjobs.Given that both the City of Vancouver and the Provinceof British Columbia have committed to cuttinggreenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent by 2020, it’sworth asking: Is B.C. ready for Passivhaus buildingcodes?On the Rideau, a Passivhaus duplexCanada’s second Passivhaus was certified last November.It’s a three-storey duplex overlooking theRideau River in Ottawa. The building sports a greenroof (with 12 inches of soil for gardening), a heat recoveryventilator, a geo-thermal system and a rainwatercistern.Chris Straka designed the building, and lives on oneof the two 1,650 square foot residences.“I focused my attention on the building’s envelope,using triple-glazed windows, a combination of foaminsulations, and I sealed the house carefully to avoidthermal bridges that would transfer energy across theouter walls. All of this plus a south-facing rear wallof windows overlooking the Rideau River, keeps thecold out while inviting heat inside,” he said. (Photoshere.)Straka built his duplex, which is also seeking platinumcertification under the LEED for Homes pro-49