Better Builder Magazine Issue 18 Summer 2016

PUBLICATIONNUMBER42408014
IN THIS ISSUE
Designing HVAC Systems
Small is Beautiful
Home is Where the Heart Is
RenewABILITY Celebrates 15 Years
Homes of Tomorrow, Today
ISSUE 18 | SUMMER 2016
The
Mechanical
Issue

A b r e a t h o f f r e s h a i r .
MAX SERVICE
All mechanical and electrical components are
accessible from the front of the unit.
Heating coil and fan/motor slide out for easy
service.
One of the most extensive warranties in the
business:1-year parts & labour,2-years on parts
only,where applicable.
MAX COMFORT
With the increased efficiency of this optional
Electronically Commuted Motor (ECM),
homeowners will be free to cycle air continuously
with a minimal increase in electricity cost.
Continuous fan operation helps improve
filtration,reduce temperature variations,and
helps keep the air clear of dust and allergens –
making your customers’ homes more comfortable.
Mini Ducted Hi-Velocity Air Handling System
Optional Prioritizing of Comfort Levels with Energy Savings
MAX SPACE SAVER
The MAXAIR fan coil is so compact that it fits
anywhere:laundry room,attic,crawl space,you
can even place it in a closet.
It can be installed in new or existing homes.
It takes less than 1/3 of the space of a conventional
heating and air conditioning unit.
MAX ENERGY SAVINGS
Energy savings,temperature control and comfort
levels are achieved in individual levels of the home
by prioritizing the requirements.This is achieved
by installing optional space thermostats. If any
area calls for heating or cooling, the individual
thermostat allows the space it serves to achieve
optimum comfort and still maintain continuous
air circulation throughout the home.
This method of prioritizing is a great energy
savings measure while offering an increased
comfort level to the home owner.
FLEXAIRTM
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
MAX FLEXIBILITY
The supply outlets can be placed in the wall,
ceiling or floor.
Each unit has four choices of locations for the
return air connections.
The FLEXAIR™ insulated 2½" supply
duct will fit in a standard 2"x 4" wall cavity.
Can be mounted for vertical or horizontal airflow.
Can be combined with humidifiers,high efficiency
air cleaners or ERVs / HRVs.
Snap-together branch duct and diffuser
connections.
MAX ELECTRICAL SAVINGS
ECMs are ultra-high-efficient programmable
brushless DC motors that are more efficient than
the permanently split capacitor (PSC) motors used
in most residential furnaces.This is especially true
at lower speeds used for continuous circulation in
many new homes.
1-800-453-6669 905-951-0022519-578-5560613-966-5643 416-213-1555 877-254-4729905-264-1414
For distribution of Air Max Technologies products call
www.airmaxtechnologies.com209 Citation Drive, Units 5&6, Concord, ON L4K 2Y8, Canada

BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 18 | SUMMER 2016
4
1
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
2
HVAC Systems –
Small is Beautiful
by John Godden
THE BADA TEST
3
Home is Where the Heart Is
by Lou Bada
INDUSTRY NEWS
4
RenewABILITY
Celebrates 15 Years
by Alex Newman
10
Zoning HVAC Systems
by Brian Jackson
INDUSTRY EXPERT
7
Advanced ERVs
by Gord Cooke
INDUSTRY EXPERT
12
Misguided Municipal
Regulation of the
Home Building Industry
by Michael Lio
BUILDER NEWS
14
Cross Border Challenge
Winners
by Patricia Duffy
28
John Godden Receives LIV
Communities Vision Award
by Better Builder Staff
SITE SPECIFIC
24
David Fisher: Designing
HVAC Systems That
Meet Builders’ Needs
by Alex Newman
FROM THE GROUND UP
30
Imagine the Homes of
Tomorrow, Today
by Doug Tarry
FEATURE STORY
16
Tower of Power
Tridel and Tower Labs are on the cutting edge of creating systems designed
to reduce the carbon footprint of high-rise residential buildings.
by Rob Blackstien
14
16
30
ISSUE 18 | SUMMER 2016
On our cover: HVAC design © vchal.
Images internally supplied unless otherwise credited.

T
he book, Small is Beautiful: A study of economics as if people
mattered by EF Schumacher has a relevant title to home builders.
If we build homes with people as the focus, those homes need to
be efficient, affordable, durable and comfortable. Energy performance
standards in the Building Code have increased, resulting in smaller
energy loads in newly constructed homes. If smaller loads are not
factored into HVAC design, the unintended consequence is heating
and cooling systems that don’t run long enough at lower outputs which
creates discomfort for homeowners and complaints for builders.
Ambient air temperature is measured by a thermostat that simply
measures the average air temperature in a space. Mean Radiant
Temperature (MRT) is a better metric for describing effective
distribution of heat. Comfort in our homes is determined by radiant
heat loss or heat gain from the human body to the surrounding
surfaces. Radiant losses or gains are not determined by air
temperature. A central thermostat with remote sensors measuring
MRT would enable systems to run at lower outputs longer, in turn
affecting surface temperatures.
In new homes, single stage furnaces are often too large; we
always need to heat hot water. The SB-12 2012 reference house has
a heating load of 33MBtu/hr. Under package A1 of 2017 SB-12 the
heating load is 28MBtu/hr. It seems logical to integrate space and
domestic hot water heating into one unit. One gas appliance – a
condensing hot water heater with a fan coil – easily and comfortably
heats a large single-family home. One appliance with a single set of
vents and gas line will reduce builders’ installation costs.
The key to efficiency and comfort in a home is proper mechanical
design. Our article on Dave Fisher of Martino HVAC explores how
Dave works with builders to install right-sized systems. As furnace
sizes shrink, air conditioning becomes a challenge. Zoning is an
approach that provides affordable comfort. A walk-through of the
math in Brian Jackson’s article proves that zoning is not as expensive
as one would think.
Conventional HVAC design in high-rise buildings employs
huge make-up air units. Massive amounts of energy are required
to preheat supply air for common areas and corridors. This issue
features an article on Tridel’s innovation manager, Subhi Alsayed,,
who developed an integrated fan coil and ERV system for individual
condos that eliminates these large wasteful make-up air systems.
Proving the old adage that good things come in small packages,
Doug Tarry of Doug Tarry Homes shows us the house of tomorrow
with a small but beautiful right-sized furnace. This system is coupled
with an air source heat pump and small distribution ducts. BB
HVAC Systems –
Small is Beautiful
PUBLISHER
Better Builder Magazine
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Toronto ON M4B 3N5
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PUBLISHING EDITOR
John B. Godden
MANAGING EDITOR
Wendy Shami
editorial@betterbuilder.ca
To advertise, contribute a story,
or join our distribution list, please
contact sales@betterbuilder.ca
FEATURE WRITERS
Tracy Hanes, Alex Newman
PROOFREADING
Karen Hoffman
CREATIVE
Wallflower Design
www.wallflowerdesign.com
This magazine brings together
premium product manufacturers
and leading builders to create
better, differentiated homes and
buildings that use less energy,
save water and reduce our
impact on the environment.
PUBLICATION NUMBER
42408014
Copyright by Better Builder
Magazine. Contents may not be
reprinted or reproduced without
written permission. The opinions
expressed herein are exclusively
those of the authors and assumed
to be original work. Better Builder
Magazine cannot be held liable
for any damage as a result of
publishing such works.
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER
All company and/or product names
may be trade names, trademarks
and/or registered trademarks of the
respective owners with which they
are associated.
UNDELIVERABLE MAIL
63 Blair Street
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Better Builder Magazine is
published four times a year.
publisher’snote / JOHN GODDEN
John Godden
Alex Newman
Gord Cooke
Michael Lio
Lou Bada
Doug Tarry
CONTRIBUTORS

BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 18 | SUMMER 2016 3
The new Ontario Building Code
SB-12 for 2017 and the drive for
energy efficiency are forcing us to
look more closely at the mechanical
systems that we install in new
homes. Tighter building envelopes
and greater insulation levels present
challenges when designing with
conventional mechanical systems
that are typically over-sized. A
new built-form with smaller house
footprints and multiple, back-to-
back and/or stacked townhomes
necessitate manufacturers, designers
and builders to re-think and innovate.
These new built-forms are relatively
new to our industry, which used to
build predominately detached homes
or sufficiently wide semi-detached
houses or townhomes.
These new built-forms with lim
ited exterior wall space for metering,
gas-piping and venting appliances,
for HRV intake and exhaust vents
(that will be mandated by SB-12),
and for the installation of air
conditioning condensing units are
challenging to build and design. The
use of combination heating systems
presents a possible solution to some
of these challenges by combining two
appliances into one. There is one less
vent and one less intake to consider
when installing a combo-system.
Combined water and space
heating entail the use of a dual-
purpose water heater that feeds both
the domestic hot water system and
a forced-air fan coil (either high or
low velocity) for heating. Although
this technology is not entirely new,
it is a change from our conventional
forced-air furnaces. Builders in the
mass market are just beginning to
explore and gain experience with
combination systems. Systems can
use a water heater that is “tankless”
(though they often require a small
storage tank, oddly enough), or it
can be a condensing hot water tank.
Many condensing tank water heaters
require only a single vent, are a
simpler installation and are a great
help when dealing with limited space.
Tankless heaters usually require
two vents (intake and exhaust) and
are more restrictive in their venting
requirements and installation, but
there can be a place for them under
the right conditions. New products are
being developed constantly.
Early iterations, 10 to 15 years ago,
of some tankless systems were hailed
as the Holy Grail of water heating, but
failed miserably after a few years. One
of the condensing tank water heaters
had problems as well. Consumers,
TARION and some builders were left to
pick up the pieces. As an industry, we
need to be cautious about moving too
quickly so that we avoid unintended
consequences. Consumers don’t want
us experimenting with their homes’
heating systems. We need tried-and-
true systems that are bullet-proof, cost
effective, scalable and repeatable.
The production home building
industry is still finding its feet with
this technology. We need flexibility
and choice to address the myriad
challenges presented by new
regulations. SB-12 for 2017, as proposed
so far, recognizes one prescriptive
pathway for combination systems and
correctly offers builders the possibility
of using tankless or condensing water
heaters. ENERGY STAR, however,
mandates tankless systems that meet
the CSA-P.9-11 performance standard
for combination water heating
systems. The process for certification
has been difficult, time consuming
and expensive for manufacturers.
Forcing builders to use only
tankless water heaters, whether or not
they are the best solution for the host of
challenges that we face, is not the best
approach. Additionally, adding more
layers of regulation is not always the
answer to complex problems. Builders
should use tankless or condensing
water heaters where they work best.
Builders will find a way to make the
new and denser built-form work.
Sometimes, one method or product
will be more effective than another.
Talk to your builder to understand the
process behind deciding what’s best
for the heart of your home. Because if
it doesn’t work properly, we all have to
deal with the heartache. BB
Lou Bada is an executive with the Starlane
Home Corporation in Vaughan as well as
a member of RESCON’s technical council.
Home is Where
the Heart Is
thebadatest / LOU BADA
I
have always had a sentimental reaction to the expression “home is where the
heart is.” It often guides my approach to my work and my work/life balance.
But, to me, the “heart” of a home is its mechanical systems. As you can see,
I am quite the romantic. Let’s face it: mechanical systems are the heart, lungs
and circulatory system of a home. These systems are vital.

It’s one of the cheapest and easiest
means of energy conservation, says
the company’s VP of Operations,
Jonathan Cook. “You’re extracting
heat from warm water that is just
going down the drain anyway.”
Now, 15 years later, RenewABILITY
is the only facility in Ontario to
produce wastewater recovery units.
Two other companies in Canada – one
in Saskatchewan and one in Quebec
– also produce them, but without the
unique patented copper pipe that
RenewABILITY uses.
How it works
The Power-Pipe®
is a straightforward
design. Made entirely of copper, it is
wrapped with four to eight or more
coils, depending on the requirements
of the design application. Mounted
on the Power-Pipe®
is a mini manifold
header that takes incoming water flow
and divides it among the wrapped
copper tubes. The Power-Pipe®
itself
replaces a straight vertical section of
the home’s main drainage stack.
Heat energy is extracted in a fairly
simple way. When water from the
shower or dishwasher goes down the
drain, it clings to the inside walls of
the copper pipe. Since copper is an
efficient thermal conductor, as soon
as warm water touches the inside wall
of the pipe, heat energy transfers to
the copper tubing wrapped around
the outside of the Power-Pipe®
which
then warms up the incoming water.
When it enters the water heater, less
energy is required to heat it up. The
Power-Pipe®
is known as a double
wall vented heat exchanger because
incoming water doesn’t come into
contact with outgoing drain water
(two copper tubing walls separate
them) eliminating any chance of cross
contamination.
The Power-Pipe®
also saves a fair bit
of money, says Cook. RenewABILITY’s
calculations show savings up to 35%
on water heating costs and up to 10% of
the total energy bill. An added benefit
is the heat transfer to the surrounding
air when warm water runs through
the copper pipe. Cook points out there
is no need to upsize the water heater,
“even with a household of teenagers all
clamouring for a hot shower.”
RenewABILITY
Celebrates 15 Years
industrynews / ALEX NEWMAN
G
erald Van Decker has always had a thing for energy efficiency and, after
getting his degree in mechanical engineering, worked as a consultant and
distributor for unique and specialized energy-conserving products.
One of those products happened to be a first generation heat exchanger – not
nearly as efficient as today’s but nonetheless filling a void in the market that
wasn’t being addressed. That’s why Van Decker got involved in drain water heat
recovery – and started his company, RenewABILITY Energy Inc. – in 2000.
Gerald Van Decker celebrates 15 years of energy efficiency.

In addition to energy conservation,
RenewABILITY does its part for sus
tainability of the local economy. Their
copper pipe and spools of copper
tubing are purchased from Great
Lakes Copper in London, ON, the only
copper mill still operating in Canada.
RenewABILITY is a local employer
as well. At their site in Kitchener,
the milled pipe is cut to a length
determined by special orders from the
builder, or from the stores that carry
it, like Sears or Home Depot. Once the
pipe is cut, specialized equipment
tightly wraps and forms the copper
tubing around the outside, and a
process of brazing attaches it tightly
to the pipe so it doesn’t uncoil.
Who buys it?
Cook has found that typical buyers
range from the “DIY home handyman
to the largest builders in Canada and
the US. There are the people who
are looking for every opportunity to
reduce consumption, who are into
net zero and passive homes, green
roofs, to the simple householders who
look at their gas and water bill and
say, ‘This is crazy. We have to reduce.’
There are custom homebuilders,
building a handful of high quality
homes a year. There’s the smaller
builder looking for savings on code
credits, or striving for HERS credits.”
RenewABILITY’s
calculations show
savings up to 35% on
water heating costs
and up to 10% of the
total energy bill.
Jonathan Cook shows
how each Power-Pipe®
is pressure tested.

Displaying the copper DWHR pipes
at home shows and selling at stores
like Sears and Home Depot means the
general public is more exposed to this
technology and becoming more aware
of its benefits. “People see it at a home
show, then they see it online when they
browse Sears or Home Depot while
they’re looking at tankless hot water
systems, or at an RO system.”
The public is becoming increasingly
aware of these relatively easy,
inexpensive energy savers, and in its
15 years, RenewABILITY has seen the
market expand exponentially – they
now ship to France, UK, Sweden, and
Mexico. “There’s just so much more
market awareness, particularly as
the awareness of reducing energy
consumption is pushed to the
forefront, in the news, and politics,”
says Cook.
He sees no let-up, either. Manitoba
recently became the first North
American jurisdiction to make heat
water recovery mandatory in new
home and multi-level construction.
In California, HERS is the more
accepted standard of rating a home’s
energy efficiency and drain water heat
recovery is part of the energy credit
system. BB
Alex Newman is a writer, editor and
researcher at www.alexnewmanwriter.com.
Great Lakes Copper in London supplies copper produced locally.
Manitoba recently
became the first North
American jurisdiction
to make heat water
recovery mandatory in
new home and multi-
level construction.

Somewhat surprisingly, the sensi
ble recovery efficiencies listed in the
prescriptive packages placed the gas
heating options in a range of 65% -
81%, quite a jump. This can present
a challenge for manufacturers who
have been working over the last 25
years or so to make ever smaller, more
cost effective, reliable and easy-to-
install products.
I look back fondly to the early
days of HRVs. In 1986, VanEE had just
introduced the double core 2000Plus
HRV. The unit had an amazing
efficiency of over 80%, but it was
over 52" long and 20" deep. The thing
was a monster with great thermal
efficiency but less efficient fan motors.
Nonetheless, my home unit (pictured
here) lasted over 23 years with just
one fan motor and one damper motor
change. It still looks pretty good. This
represents a proud moment in Cana
dian manufacturing – HRVs and ERVs
have now become an important element
in houses throughout North America.
However, it is time again to focus
on overall energy performance. While
attending the Canadian Mechanical
Exposition last month, I was very
pleased to see the unveiling of the
newest VanEE and Venmar high
efficiency series of products. The
VanEE Gold Series features four new
models – two HRVs and two ERVs – that
are set to exceed the performance
attributes of the Passive House certi
fied products coming out of Europe.
Here are a few highlights:
• Sensible Recovery Efficiency (SRE)
at 0ºC and 30 L/s (64 CFM) for the
most efficient model is 84%
• Total Recovery Efficiency at 35ºC
and 30 L/s (64 CFM) (latent and
sensible combined) is an amazing
68%
• Perhaps most importantly, the
fan efficacy of the ERV above is 2.9
CFM/watt and the other models
have fan efficacies of over 3.5 CFM/
watt – about three times better
than the ENERGY STAR HRV fan
requirements, even better than the
requirements for an ENERGY STAR
qualified bathroom fan.
That said, the size has increased.
The new unit is not quite the
monster that my old 2000Plus was,
but dimensions of 32"w x 20"d x 31"h
may take some planning in tight
mechanical rooms.
Out of curiosity, I checked the
efficiency gains of these new high-
performance models against a more
normal ENERGY STAR qualified HRV at
65% SRE. In high-performance homes,
such as Net Zero Ready or Net Zero
Homes, the compelling metric is a
comparison of costs and savings to the
equivalent requirements of PV solar
panels to make up the energy used.
Using both HOT 2000 and REMRate to
determine what difference the new Gold
Series would make, I found that though
the results were similar for both, the
HOT 2000 has a little better algorithm
in a Canadian context because it can
capture the latent effects of an ERV.
I compared an ENERGY STAR
qualified HRV with a Sensible Recovery
7
Advanced
Energy Recovery Ventilators
industryexpert / GORD COOKE
L
ast month, the draft of the Ontario Building Code Supplementary Standard
SB-12 Energy Efficiency requirements for January 2017 was released. It was
no surprise that all of the prescriptive packages require a heat recovery
ventilator (HRV) or an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). That means that those
builders (and their energy evaluators) who don’t want to put in HRVs/ERVs will
have to find some other compelling energy upgrade to replace the efficiency
benefits of an HRV under one of the performance path options.
Original High Efficiency HRV circa 1986.

Efficiency (SRE) of 65% and a fan
efficacy of 1.2 CFM/watt to the new
Gold Series ERV, 84% SRE and 2.9
CFM/watt in a four-bedroom (75 CFM)
near Zero Energy home in Toronto.
The total annual energy consump
tion was 820 kilowatt-hours per year
less with the high performance ERV
in this home. The improvement came
from three important differences:
the improvement in sensible recovery
efficiency, the reduced fan power
consumption of the ECM fan motor,
and the improved cooling (latent
and sensible) performance due to the
ERV core.
At current installation costs of
$3.00 to $3.50 per installed watt
capacity of PV panels, and knowing
that in Toronto a 1000 W array capacity
generates about 1200 kWh per year
of electricity, the new Gold Series
would be the equivalent of avoiding
the installation of 680 watts of PV
capacity or approximately $2,000
worth of solar panels. This would more
than pay for the incremental cost of
the new Gold Series product. Add to
the conversation the increased high-
speed airflow capacity of the unit, the
lower noise levels and better moisture
control of the ERV core, and we see a
nice progression beyond the simple
requirement for HRVs and ERVs that
will be in effect next January.
There are lots of encouraging things
happening in mechanical systems
for new homes and the continual
improvement of HRV and ERV offerings
is worth consideration to recalibrate
your thinking regarding the best
systems for your homes. BB
Gord Cooke is president of Building
Knowledge Canada.
VENMARVENTILATION
vanee.ca
All these products meet ENERGY STAR’s higher standards
For more information or to order, contact your local distributor.
vänEE 100H vänEE 200HvänEE 60H vänEE 60H-V+ vänEE 90H-V ECMvänEE 40H+vänEE 90H-V+ vänEE 60H+ vänEE 50H1001 HRV
vänEE Gold Series
2001 HRV
vänEE Gold Series
vänEE air exchangers: improved line-up
meets ENERGY STAR®
standards
Superior Energy Efﬁciency
Ideal for LEED homes and new building codes
5-year warranty*
FRESH AIR JUST
GOT GREENER
*ON MOST MODELS.
Next generation HRVs are more compact
and efficient.

PANASONIC
HAS THE
RIGHT
PRODUCTS
TO BUILD THE
RIGHT
HOME
go.panasonic.ca/build
Learn more about Panasonic’s Partnership
Program for rebates, co-branding and
value added programs for your buyers
and employees

industrynews / BRIAN JACKSON
Historically, HVAC design pro
fessionals calculated their heat gain/
loss scenarios based on peak demand,
and provided oversized, single-point
control mechanical systems to satisfy
the overstated heating and cooling
requirements. These systems are
neither cost efficient to operate nor
do a good job at providing occupant
comfort.
Recently, the industry has started
to adopt the notion of “right sizing
systems” for heating and cooling
equipment that more realistically
reflects actual load demand.
Part of the process of sizing equip
ment properly is zoning or isolating
specific areas of the building for
“time of greatest need” conditioning.
This is not a new concept and has been
deployed for specialized applications
on premium housing types, but it
has remained largely absent from the
volume housing market. The concept
involves sending heated or cooled air
to where it is needed in the home. For
instance, if the second floor is cold in
the winter but the ground floor is mod
erate, the hot air is sent to the second
floor and the ground floor is left alone.
To adapt this methodology, a
designer can utilize a factory-designed
zoned system, a field-fabricated zoned
system, or, at the very least, design the
air distribution system as zone ready
to allow the home owner to upgrade to
zoned equipment at a later date.
The zoning of the HVAC system has
two tangible positive results from a
conservation perspective: a reduction
in energy usage and a substantial
reduction in peak demand of the
structure or subdivision (Fig.1).
From a comfort point of view,
a zoned system aligns the indoor
conditions with the ASHRAE ideal
comfort zone, a zone that is ideal for
optimal comfort (Fig.2).
Aside from the savings and comfort
benefit, any progressive builder
promoting the application of zoned
systems has an additional marketing
tool to differentiate themselves from
the less innovative status quo.
A local manufacturer, Airmax
Technologies, has advanced their
zoned product offering to the point
that the prime air handling unit ships
to the job site pre-configured and
wired for zone installation in both
two- and three-zone models. The basic
system is configured as high velocity to
suit a vertical method of construction
and is available as CSA P.9-11 certified.
The only field work is the split ducting
Zoning
HVAC Systems
R
esidential home builders are being inundated with a great deal of informa
tion about energy efficiency and how to make a home that is typically better
than Code. However, an important aspect of any home design is human
comfort. Providing proper humidity, temperature, and air filtration are essential
for a satisfied customer. Many of the so-called conservation methods have a
reasonable payback, while others do not. Zoned systems have a solid payback.
Source: Natural Resources Canada / CanmetENERGY
*based on 2,180 SF of finished area (incl. basement); and 2.7 occupants per household
Fig.1 ZONED HVAC – HOMEOWNER ENERGY BENEFITS Fig.2 ZONED HVAC – HOMEOWNER COMFORT BENEFITS

for the zones and separate thermostat wires for each zone.
In our very competitive market where system cost is
so important, a system that appears to carry a premium
price tag might be quickly dismissed. However, a recent
comparison done for an HVAC designer yielded the
following results:
To drop from a Max 100e (62,741 BTUH @ 140ºF water)
to a Max 70e (58,902 BTUH @ 160ºF water) resulted in a
$135 savings.
There is $315 difference between the Max 70e (1 zone)
and the upgraded Max 70e P2 (2 zones).
These are approximate wholesaler costs.
Further savings were realized from the condensing
unit cost as well. The designer was comfortable dropping
2,000 BTUH to the smaller condensing unit because of
the zoned unit.
3 ton $1,138
2.5 ton $960
Again, costs to the contractor.
A further $25 can be saved using a smaller evaporator
coil. An additional thermostat for two zones costs $15.
The design number of diffusers for a Max 100e is 22
outlets, and 19 outlets for a Max 70e P2. Net savings on
material for three outlets at $40/outlet equals $120.
Therefore, $315-($135+($1,138-$960)+$25-$15+$120) =
$128/suite capital material cost savings for zoning.
Additional costs include separate main duct runs
for the third- and fourth-floor walk out, and main and
basement levels. This equates to six pieces of eight-inch
snap lock, elbows, and labour to install.
Specifics of the building, an end-unit townhouse with
three floors plus a fourth-floor rooftop terrace, were a
heat loss of 58,000 BTUH and a heat gain of 32,000 BTUH.
The building was designed as high velocity.
Not using zoning in homes over 1,000 square feet
doesn’t make sense, nor does it where the building is
oriented or constructed in such a way that results in non-
uniform heat gain/losses.
For more information, visit the NRCan website at
www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/efficiency/housing/leep/
case-studies/17346 to review the latest publication on
zoned systems, Zoning Decision
Guide for Builders. BB
Brian Jackson, P.Eng. is a professional
engineer specializing in equipment and
systems design.
11
Roof truss and wood
sill connection.
Simpson Strong Tie
MGT system shown
Drywall
screwed
into amvic
polypropylene
webs as per
building code
Electrical
outlet
Wood sub-floor
installed as per
local building
Simpson strong tie
ICFLC and wood floor
joists connection
Amvic insulating
concrete forms
Amdeck floor &
roof system
Exterior wood
siding installed
as per local
building code
Amvic high
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Acrylic,
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applied to
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of Amvic ICF
Brick veneer
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Perforated
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industryexpert / MICHAEL LIO
The regulation of new construc
tion is complex and justifiably so.
The many systems in a building
are interrelated and changes to one
system often impact others. The
introduction of new materials and
components often requires time
for builders to field test and debug
performance to prevent what could be
disastrous consequences. As a general
rule, building Codes follow rather
than lead in establishing minimum
requirements for buildings.
Code changes are often first
adopted at the national level within
the model National Building Code.
The Canadian Commission for
Building and Fire Codes oversees a
national process that includes many
standing committees, task groups,
and working groups to carefully
examine and research each and
every proposed amendment to the
Code. Code changes which pass
this intense technical scrutiny are
released for public examination and
comment. Stakeholders from across
the country examine each change and
provide comment and guidance. Each
comment is carefully examined and
revisions are made accordingly. Each
Code change then becomes available
to the provincial regulator to consider
within its jurisdiction. Provinces
conduct their own technical and
public review before finally adopting
a change within the provincial Code.
Changes to building standards are not
taken lightly.
Consider, on the other hand,
municipal councils with paper-
thin expertise enacting municipal
regulation which could mandate
Net Zero buildings or residential
sprinklers, for example. What technical
review, life cycle analysis, or public
consultation has the municipality
conducted to support its regulation?
How many public comments or
revisions from stakeholder groups has
the municipality gathered?
There is nothing wrong with
municipalities encouraging builders
to voluntarily improve building
performance. There is nothing wrong
if they choose to share the benefits
from reduced infrastructure costs
with those same builders as part of the
encouragement. There is plenty wrong
if they force the industry to build to:
1) standards that exceed those in the
Code;
2) standards that impose components
and practices that are new and
untested; and,
3) standards that risk building defects
and occupant discomfort.
Municipalities who have regulated
ENERGY STAR levels of performance
should take particular heed. The 2017
version of ENERGY STAR will likely
demand equipment and practices
which can deliver a 35% improvement
in energy efficiency compared to the
current Code. The 2017 ENERGY STAR
will impose practices which have
not had a long history of field testing.
Builders would need a number of
years to try the new practices and
perfect their construction in advance
of any regulation. Municipalities who
force builders to venture out into this
uncharted territory put builders and
their buyers at risk.
ENERGY STAR was devised as a
Code leading voluntary program
Misguided Municipal Regulation
of the Home Building Industry
M
unicipalities in Canada are creatures of statute. Generally, and unless
they are specifically permitted otherwise, municipalities cannot pass
legislation that infringes on areas regulated by the province or the federal
government. For example, a municipality would not be able to regulate criminal
law which is within the federal government’s jurisdiction.
Recently within Ontario, a number of municipalities have regulated building
standards which are part of the Building Code Act – provincial legislation. Aside
from crossing over into provincial jurisdiction, these municipal regulations may,
in the near future, force builders to adopt building systems that have not been
fully field tested and which could result in defects and homeowner complaints.
Builders would need
a number of years to
try the new practices
and perfect their con
struction in advance
of any regulation.

that could be used by builders to
differentiate themselves. It was
intended to field test near-Code-ready
energy efficiency techniques and
components. Its founding principles
never contemplated municipal
governments thoughtlessly referencing
it in municipal regulation and forcing
builders to build what they may not be
ready to build.
Climate change action is com
mendable. Encouraging improved
housing performance is admirable.
Thoughtless municipal regulation is
not in anyone’s best interest. BB
Michael Lio is president of buildABILITY
Corporation. michael@buildability.ca
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energy-efficient home building in the
US and Canada that we decided to
make the program an annual RESNET-
CRESNET event.”
With over 1,000 conference partici
pants in attendance at the opening
plenary, John Godden, President of
CRESNET, Steve Baden, President of
RESNET, and the award sponsors, Paul
Duffy of Icynene and Rod Buchalter
of RenewABILITY, presented the
special President’s Awards. The 2016
RESNET President’s Award was issued
buildernews / PATRICIA DUFFY
T
he second annual friendly
competition between American
and Canadian builders to see
who can build the most energy-
efficient homes was once again
presented to a full audience at
the 2016 RESNET Conference in
Scottsdale, Arizona last March. Steve
Baden, Executive Director of RESNET,
noted that “the 2015 Cross Border
Home Builder Challenge has been
such a huge success in promoting
the utilization of the HERS Index and
to KB Home and the 2016 CRESNET
President’s Award was awarded to
Rosehaven Homes. The winners of
the CRESNET and RESNET President’s
Awards each won an insulation
package from Icynene. Products
included Icynene Classic Max and
Classic Plus low density spray foams
and Icynene ProSeal and ProSeal Eco,
medium density spray foams.
Later that same day, there was a
workshop presentation of the other six
winners in the following categories:
Cross Border Challenge Winners
Paul Duffy, CRESNET president,
John Godden, Fred Vallozzi and
Anthony Martelli, LIV Communities.
John Godden presents the award
to Anthony Martelli, Chief Operating
Officer, LIV Communities.

• Lowest HERS score American
Production Builder – Brookfield
Residential, Colorado with a HERS
Index of 32
• Lowest HERS score American
Custom Builder – Greenhill
Contracting, New York with a
HERS Index of 25
• Lowest HERS score Canadian
Production Builder – LIV
Communities, Ontario with a
HERS Index of 26
• Lowest HERS score Canadian
Custom Builder – Seaman & Sons,
Ontario with a HERS Index of 9
• American Net Zero Award winner
– Greenhill Contracting, New York
with a HERS Index of -5
• Canadian Net Zero Award winner –
Denim Homes, Nova Scotia with a
HERS Index of -3
Each winner in all lowest HERS
Index scores categories received a
free Power-Pipe®
Drain Water Heat
Recovery System. American and
Canadian builders in attendance at the
workshop had fun comparing notes
over a few Canadian beers! All in all,
the 2016 RESNET Conference was a
very successful competition and event
in Arizona. BB
Patricia Duffy is
Executive Director
of CRESNET and
the Sustainable
Housing Foundation.
15
Announced at RESNET Conference
Nick Sanci and Joe Laronga with
the 2016 CRESNET President’s
Award for Rosehaven Homes.
Award-winning Canadian
custom builder Derek Seaman
with his son and Gord Cooke.
Net Zero Award winner
Caleb Howden, Denim
Homes with Gillian Delaney.

18 BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 18 | SUMMER 2016
Tower

As Tridel’s Innovation Manager
and Projects Director at Tower Labs,
Subhi Alsayed is at the centre of the
company’s drive to be on the cutting
edge of developing difference-making
technology such as its integrated
Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)
and fan coil system that is now
dominating the Ontario market.
So what exactly does an innovation
manager do?
“It encompasses doing things better
than the way they’re currently done,
and doing things differently with
the goal of always maintaining your
leadership position in the industry
and (gaining) a competitive advantage
strategically over everybody else,”
says Alsayed, a mechanical engineer
who also earned his MBA this year,
giving him a technical and business
background.
A decade ago, Tridel made the
decision to go green and only build
LEED-certified buildings that were
highly energy efficient. This began
with Alsayed and his team dissecting
the various building systems to
identify which consumed the most
energy.
Their research revealed that the
ventilation system was one of the
of Power
featurestory / ROB BLACKSTIEN
Tridel and Tower Labs are on the cutting edge of
creating systems designed to reduce the carbon
footprint of high-rise residential buildings.
I
n this age of hyper corporate social responsibility, you constantly hear
companies touting their focus on making a difference in the world.
In the case of condominium developer Tridel Corporation, it’s putting its
money where its mouth is.
Tridel is so committed to perpetually improving and innovating – especially in
the green building space – that it not only has an innovation manager, but also its
own non-profit green building technology adoption arm, Tower Labs.

major energy consumers, as high rises
at the time were ventilated by a huge
makeup air unit that sat on the roof.
It had enormous motors, big fans and
it would basically supply massive
amounts of outside air to be pumped
into the corridors.
“The fans consumed a lot of energy
to ensure there’s enough pressure
in the corridors to allow the air or a
fraction of the air to enter each suite
from under the door,” he explains.
Alsayed says the problem with
this system was wasted energy that
was needed to make up for the air
that escaped through the garbage
chute or elevator shaft. Also, stack
effect – uncontrollable air movement
in the building resulting from the
high difference between the indoor
temperature and the outdoor
temperature, mainly in the cold
temperatures season.
“That caused a lot of resistance to
the delivery of ventilation air through
the centralized system,” he says.
This revelation led Tridel to an
alternative: in-suite ventilation,
whereby an Energy Recovery Ventilator
(ERV) is placed in every suite, bringing
in air from outside.
They started by testing this concept
in a small number of suites, at the time
trying a standalone ERV. It’s a ceiling
mounted piece of equipment with
two fans and an energy recovery core
and was installed in suites at different
elevations to test the performance at
various heights.
This type of device had been used
in single family homes, but Tridel was
the first to successfully bring it to a
high-rise dwelling.
The experiment was run over a
whole year to see the affect during the
different extremes of weather.
The result? All that air that was
being heated or cooled (depending
on the time of year) – and ultimately
wasted because of stack effect or losses
Because air is now brought directly from
outside into the living space, the suite door
can be completely sealed from the corridor –
the opposite of what was done in the past.
Luxury design with energy and space efficiency.

in the corridors and envelope – was no longer required.
Heating or cooling a huge volume of air that nobody
would use just did not make sense.
“The ventilation efficiency was very low because
there’s no guarantee that every suite in the building
would receive the appropriate or the required amount
of outside air with the central system,” he says.
Tridel’s strategy was to recover part of the energy in
the air that was being exhausted by the washroom fan
and to supply only the required ventilation air volume
directly into the suites – reducing the fan power
required and the electrical consumption of the central
makeup air fans.
The company began installing ERVs into the
next generation of buildings, and now because air is
brought directly from outside into the living space,
they’re able to completely seal the suite door from the
corridor – the opposite of what was done in the past.
The makeup unit has been reduced to a third of its
previous size, because now they only need to supply
enough outside air to meet the Fire Code requirements,
and the amount of energy used on heating or cooling

and distributing the air has been
reduced by almost two-thirds.
Once this ERV unit was perfected
and the industry started using it, the
newly-formed Tower Labs (launched
in 2010) realized that it would make
more sense to integrate the ERV into
the vertical fan coil instead of having
an extra piece of equipment in each
suite.
With funding from SDTC (Sus
tainable Development Technology
Canada), Tower Labs partnered with
dPoint Technologies Inc., which
had developed an innovative ERV
membrane, and two of the province’s
leading fan coil unit manufacturers
(Unilux and EnerZone) to develop
a product in which the ERV became
part of the fan coil unit.
While this new integrated unit
won’t reduce the cost of the suite, it
will contribute to the reduction of
energy costs and perhaps common
elements fees, Alsayed says.
The product also solved another
problem: bulkhead space. When they
used standalone ERVs, they needed to
add an additional set of ducts, so that
added more bulkheads in the condo,
but with the integrated fan coil unit,
those are reduced.
“Everybody likes fewer bulkheads
in their suite because everybody wants
higher ceilings,” he says.
Before testing was even complete,
the market started jumping on this
technology, and it’s now become
virtually ubiquitous in Ontario, with
an estimated market share of 60 to 80
per cent.
While Tower Labs is currently
working on a few other projects,
Alsayed prefers to keep most of them
under wraps until they are ready to
launch. However, he did mention that
they’re developing “the next generation
fan coil unit with an economizer cycle”
with funding from NRCan.
The concept involves bringing
in outside air during the shoulder
seasons (spring and fall) to offset
the mechanical heating and cooling
processes. Traditionally in high rises,
there is a seasonal switch over for
heating and cooling, with heating
generally being available until the
Victoria Day weekend.
However, the recent trend of milder
springs has created times when it
becomes unseasonably warm for
a week or so before cooler weather
returns and it simply isn’t feasible to
switch to cooling for that brief period.
The solution currently being
tested by Tower Labs (and expected
to be launched within the next year)
Above: The integrated heating and fresh air system allows for in-suite ventilation. Right:
The system balances supply and exhaust air in individual condo units and saves energy.
“Everybody likes
fewer bulkheads in
their suite because
everybody wants
higher ceilings.”

involves bringing in during the
shoulder seasons higher volumes
of outside air than what’s required
for ventilation and bypassing the
mechanical heating and cooling to
use that air to reduce the temperature
in the suite.
This isn’t a new concept; it’s used
in rooftop units in commercial plazas,
but this will be the first time it’s been
used in high-rise condos, he says.
Another initiative is NetZed, net
zero energy dwelling, where Tower
Labs is attempting to develop condo
suites that can produce as much
energy as they need – all powered
by renewable energy in the form of
dedicated solar panels. In time, the
company hopes to scale that up to an
entire floor and ultimately an entire
building.
The advantage of Tower Labs
(co-founded with MaRS) as a non-
profit is that it allows it to work with
federal and municipal agencies,
work with academia (such as George
Brown College and U of T) and
combine research and working with
manufacturers and technology
partners.
“So as a non-profit, you have that
flexibility to do that kind of work, “
Alsayed says.
That flexibility has bred an environ
ment of innovation and has benefited
the industry as a whole as all these
publicly-funded projects are available
for the rest of the market to use. BB
Rob Blackstien is
a Toronto-based
freelance writer.
Pen-Ultimate.ca
The central air handler with ERV (Energy Recovery
Ventilator) is monitored for recovery efficiency.
The ERV core is integrated into the air handler.

sitespecific / ALEX NEWMAN
When builders first contact
Martino HVAC, they meet with
both the sales and design teams
(but not at same time). After going
over the blueprints, designers help
to determine where to locate the
heating and cooling systems so that
they don’t impede the design of
the home itself, says David Fisher,
Estimation and Design Department
Manager for Martino HVAC.
Homeowners want open space, he
explains, but locating the mechanical
system sometimes gets lost in that.
Conversely, he adds, mechanical
systems can intrude on the architec
tural integrity of a home’s interior.
“Purchasers are still concerned
more with esthetics than with energy
efficiency,” Fisher says. “We can help
the builder design both efficiently and
esthetically.”
With the Building Code changes
in January 2015, a major emphasis
was on the right sizing of equipment,
Fisher says. “The goal of proper home
assessment is to help you design a
system that uses effective R-values
and is the right size for your home.”
Fisher has created a Microsoft
Excel program to do the calculations.
He also knows AutoCAD and
when it comes to blueprints, he
uses the architect’s drawings and
superimposes the heating system on
top of them.
“You want the drawings to look
professional so others will understand
them. If it goes to the municipality
and they can’t read the drawings, that
delays the permit process. My goal is
to not receive a single complaint from
the municipality so the builder doesn’t
have a problem with the process.”
Designers then communicate with
the installers to help them clearly
understand the design and make their
job as easy as possible. Fisher says they
keep communication and discussion
very open between mechanical
contractor, installers and builder.
“We also coordinate everyone so the
builder doesn’t have to deal with all
these different subcontractors.”
This aspect of the business has
grown so much that Fisher now
oversees two full-time designers.
David Fisher
Designing HVAC
Systems That Meet
Builders’ Needs
G
ood design, good communication, and having everything under one roof
are key elements to the Martino HVAC success story.
Working primarily with new homebuilders, the company designs,
installs, services and even manufactures parts for heating systems for new
housing projects.

Company history
The company has been through a few
iterations since Mike Martino started
it in Barrie, Ontario almost 30 years
ago – taking on partners, buying
partners out, moving from Barrie to
Toronto. He’s added divisions and
departments as needed: the service
department which Fisher ran for
awhile; the design division; another
location that specializes radiant
in-floor and boiler installations;
and manufacturing parts like ducts,
rectangular trunks and fittings.
Everything is geared to making it
easier and faster to install and service.
Even hiring Fisher was a deliberate
step to improving delivery of systems.
He and Martino met when he
spent summers with the Martino
kids – their Bala, Ontario cottages
were a stone’s throw from each other.
After Fisher finished university in the
US, he returned to Canada to study
architectural technology at Humber
College.
Martino approached him about a
design division he had in mind, and
he asked Fisher to learn more about
right-sizing a home’s heating system,
and calculating heat loss and gain.
The learning didn’t stop there,
though – Fisher now attends almost
every available course on net zero
construction, air quality, how to
measure HERS ratings. He likes to
keep up with what’s current so he can
understand how builders aim to make
their homes better in the future.
He has also learned the business
from the ground up. Even with all
his school background, Martino had
him work virtually every department
of the company – sales, service,
installation, design. “I’d be installing
furnace vents, going through as
many as 25 houses a day, and
seeing how one builder’s homes were
different from another’s, the different
applications of their heating systems. I
ended up asking a lot of questions.”
Builders and HVAC
Builders must comply with Ontario
Building Code energy efficiency
requirements. Although a house today
is still so much more efficient than a
house built in 2010, Fisher says some
builders will strive to go above and
beyond the Building Code, aiming for
greater functionality and interior air
comfort. Every five years, the Building
Code renews HVAC requirements, with
specific enactment dates built in to
that term.
It’s not Fisher’s job, however, to
tell builders to take one product over
another, only to advise within Code,
and for right-sizing of the system as
a whole. “The builder really lays out
what they want for homeowners and
we provide based on what they want.”
But Fisher is finding that more and
more builders are taking a further step
toward energy efficiency. One of them
recently gave a workshop presentation
to 10 of their purchasers. Fisher,
Martino and John Godden led the
seminar, explaining what an upgraded
heating system could do, and asking
if they would change their furnace to
an upgraded model. Once the benefits
were clearly explained, nine of the 10
couples opted for the upgrade.
Company upgrades
Martino HVAC also builds in upgrades
of its own, like its patented air box
that comes with every new home.
Every new furnace has its air filtration
system, with filters that are usually an
inch thick. Four- or five-inch filters are
better, Fisher says, but to improve most
existing filtration systems to accept
them would require taking apart the
ductwork and installing a new air box.
“Mike said he was tired of forcing
homeowners to pay extra,” Fisher
recalls. “So we created a Martino air
guard, which still has a one-inch sec
tion inside the air box, but also incor
porates a separate section to install a
four- or five-inch upgraded air filter.”
Martino also offers free home visits
when homeowners take possession.
“They call us and we send out a service
technician to explain exactly how and
why the system performs the way it
does. Technology is more complicated,
especially the high-cost thermostats,
and it’s easier if someone is there to
show you how it all works.” BB
Alex Newman is a writer, editor and
researcher at www.alexnewmanwriter.com.
“I’d be installing furnace vents, going through as
many as 25 houses a day, and seeing how one
builder’s homes were different from another’s,
the different applications of their heating
systems. I ended up asking a lot of questions.”

buildernews / BETTER BUILDER STAFF
“Vision is about being able to see
an idea before it exists. It requires
thinking outside the box, which
can be difficult in our industry,
dominated by conservative practices
and strict regulations.
“We are directed by the OBC, but
that is a minimum standard that
government legislates. That doesn’t
mean that it’s necessarily the only
way or the best way. It takes vision to
see beyond that to what is possible.
This award encompasses true vision,
the ability to see a better way of doing
things through new processes or
materials.
“It can often be a very lonely
undertaking, since they’re often
travelling against the current. Through
tireless efforts, passion, clear and
concise messages and determination,
this individual has inspired many
people in our industry. He has not
only shown us how to develop new
solutions to improve our customers’
lives, but has presented them from a
business perspective that allows us
to deliver more while protecting our
bottom line. His organization has
been instrumental in training our
trade partners and our staff members
on the merits of transformation, and
made them advocates for building
better performing, efficient, quality
homes. As he often says, ‘It’s the
triple bottom line,’ doing what’s best
for the customer, for business and
for the environment. Please join me
in congratulating our Vision Award
winner John Godden.” BB
John Godden Receives
LIV Communities Vision Award
A
nthony Martelli, Chief Operating Officer for LIV Communities presented the Vision Award at LIV’s June 8, 2016
luncheon and awards event. Anthony’s award presentation speech follows.
“It’s the triple bottom line: do what’s best for the
customer, for business and for the environment.”
John Godden with LIV Communities (from L to R) Anthony Martelli, Kevin Watt, Aaron Roque and Dorian Grah.
McCABEPHOTOGRAPHY

fromthegroundup / DOUG TARRY
I
recently attended the Building
Science Spring Training Camp in
Huntsville, a great opportunity
for leading industry experts to get
together and exchange what we’ve
learned over the last year and beyond.
This event is a must-attend date on
my calendar.
The event organizers, Gord Cooke,
John Straub and Tex McLeod put on
another fantastic session and I was
honoured to be asked to provide an
update on our work and how it relates
to home comfort and energy efficiency.
Over the last several years, I have
been very fortunate to work with
industry experts (building scientists,
manufacturers, educational partners
and government) on Code research
projects that will enable builders to
create the next generation of high-
performance housing.
These experiences have given me
two key lessons:
1. I’ve done complicated. It’s
COMPLICATED. You might want
to avoid that.
2. For every action (that you take),
there is an equal and opposite
reaction (that you have to figure
out). As my friend Andy Oding
said recently, “We can’t live long
enough to make all the mistakes
ourselves.” So I’d like to share my
experiences to help others avoid
some of our “lessons.”
For example, during one project,
in order to reduce the chances of
condensation and mold, we decided
to foam our rim joist. An added bonus
was that the air leakage reduced from
an average of 1.9 ACH to an average
of 1.1 ACH. (We are now down to an
average of 0.76 ACH). That reduced our
total heating load on our homes to the
point where any furnace we could find
was oversized for the home’s needs,
which introduced new challenges.
We tried combo systems only
to be thwarted by the P9-11 testing
requirements. (I felt the requirements
were rolled out before industry capacity
had been built up.) Also, it turns out it’s
not the best idea to us a combo system
in a home with hard water. Who knew?
By now, most readers are aware
that the Ontario Building Code (OBC)
is set to improve performance by a
15% reduction in energy consumption
starting in January 2017. What you
may not know is that the ENERGY
STAR program in Ontario will likely
require builders to meet a reduction
approximately 20% less than these new
OBC requirements.
The 35% total reduction is about
the same level of performance that
we currently build at Doug Tarry
Homes. From a planning and design
perspective, this creates an interesting
dilemma for us, as this level of
efficiency is closer to Net Zero Ready
than it is to the current OBC. The
question we faced was, do we stay put,
or do we move up to Net Zero Ready?
The next logical step is a Net Zero
or Net Zero Ready Home, and we have
been exploring the transition towards
this goal.
Our net zero home design
Our Net Zero Ready specifications
feature the same Dettson Chinook
furnace and Dettson Alize air
conditioner (Air Source Heat Pump)
as our regular homes and we’ve
partnered with Dettson and Fanshawe
College to test and study our Net Zero
Home’s energy performance.
So, what is different from our regular
homes?
• Slightly higher level of insulation
in our walls, basements, basement
slabs and ceilings, but with all the
same materials and details we
normally use
• Dettson Smart Ducting HVAC Sys
tem, for smaller ducting, better air
flow and greater occupant comfort
• Triple-glazed (rather than double-
glazed) North Star windows with
low solar coatings as required
Imagine the Homes
of Tomorrow, Today
The OBC is set to improve performance by a 15%
reduction in energy consumption starting in 2017
… the ENERGY STAR program in Ontario will likely
require builders to meet a reduction approximately
20% less than these new OBC requirements.

• Staying with our usual ERV
manufacturer (VanEE) with
the addition of an ECM motor
(our “fresh air machine”) that is
controlled by easy-to-use “set-it
and forget-it” technology
• High-performance water heater
along with a recirculation system
for instant hot water
• Drain water heat recovery pipe to
capture waste water heat
The addition of solar (PV) panels
that create the amount of energy
the home needs, enabling the home
to be fully Net Zero and able to feed
excess electricity to the grid for net
metering, thus providing credits on
the homeowner’s electricity bill.
What are the customer benefits of
owning a Net Zero Home?
Making the decision to purchase
a Net Zero Energy Home provides
customers with years of increased
comfort: a healthier, safer home
with fewer drafts, more even interior
temperatures, fewer humidity issues
and better indoor air quality.
These homes are also more durable,
and have fewer long-term maintenance
costs, as well as being “future proof”
in regard to rising energy costs. In
fact, when compared to a Code-built
home in Ontario, combined mortgage
and utility costs often make a Net
Zero Home the more affordable choice
overall.
Net Zero Homes are also more
environmentally sustainable, with
lower greenhouse gas emissions
and pollution, they provide a more
responsible use of resources and
reduce the household’s overall
carbon footprint.
But can the customer operate the
home?
We ask our customers to imagine
owning a home that produces as much
energy as it consumes on an annual
basis. That’s what our Net Zero Energy
Homes can do, but it depends on
occupant behaviour. If the homeowner
doesn’t understand and operate it
properly, the home will not perform to
its full potential.
Our goal
As I said at the beginning of this
article, if it’s complicated, it is exactly
that – COMPLICATED. If you can’t
describe to your customer, clearly and
simply, how the mechanical system
works, the odds of that customer
running the home successfully will
be very low.
31
With Net Zero Homes, smaller heating loads mean a smaller furnace. Smaller furnace, smaller smarter ducting.

Action:
You installed a complicated system.
Equal and opposite reaction:
Your warranty staff are going to be
really busy. Been there, done that,
didn’t like the t-shirt.
Key goal for this project:
Keep it simple.
We install a Dettson program
mable thermostat (in all of our homes,
not just our Net Zero Homes). Then
we install the VanEE ERV control right
beside the thermostat. We show the
customer the smart mode setting, and
tell them to “set it and forget it.” The
only requirement of the customer is to
change their furnace filter and clean
the ERV filters regularly.
That’s it!
Two controls that the customers
need not touch. “Set it and forget it.”
It works. It’s simple. It’s not rocket
science.
This is the biggest piece of advice
I have: keep it simple and your
customers will actually enjoy their
high-performance homes. BB
Doug Tarry Jr is director of marketing at
Doug Tarry Homes in St. Thomas, Ontario.
The Dettson Alize air source heat pump and
air conditioner up to 21 SEER performance.

Your reputation is built, or crumbles, long after the keys have been handed over.
That’s why projects like The Edelweiss Home – Canada’s first LEED®
v4 home, and
second in the world to achieve Platinum status – rely on the continuous insulation of
ROXUL®
COMFORTBOARD™
exterior sheathing. Its vapour permeability enables your
wall assembly to dry to the outside, providing your clients with durability and comfort.
See why ROXUL is a better fit for your next project at roxul.com/comfortboard
A BETTER WAY TO BUILD YOUR HOMES –
AND YOUR REPUTATION.
CAVITYROCK
®
and COMFORTBOARD
TM
.
For a better way to build.
COMFORTBOARD™
.
For the better way to build.LEED®
is a registered trademark of United States Green Building Council.

The demand for energy efficient homes is increasing and building codes will be changing in 2017. Enbridge
can help. Our Savings by Design (SBD) program offers free access to design and technical experts, plus up to
$300,000inincentives.* It’s the support you need to construct energy efficient, healthy and sustainable homes beyond
code requirements. Find out how the SBD program helps builders like you at residential.savingsbydesign.ca
Getthesupportyouneedtobuilditright.
*Builders can earn $300,000 in incentives by participating in the program three separate times. To qualify for the program, your project must be located in the Enbridge Gas
Distribution franchise area. Participation is a three-year commitment. During that time, builders are expected to design and construct at least one new construction home based
on resulting recommendations. In order to receive incentive payments, you must agree to all program terms and conditions, must fully participate in all stages of the program
and must meet all program requirements.

Better Builder Magazine Issue 18 Summer 2016

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Better Builder Magazine Issue 18 Summer 2016