Thermal insulation limits heat transfer between a hot and a cold environment. A material’s ability to limit heat transfer is quantified by its R factor. The higher the R factor, the more insulating the material. An R30 wall, for example, means that all the materials used together provide a thermal resistance of R30.
This adventure began in the spring of 2012, when Alain Carle Architectes, the firm responsible for designing the building, called on Écohabitations boréales’ expertise in green building construction and alternative energy production technologies. The owners wanted their home to be virtually “self-sufficient” in terms of energy, so the building had to produce a quantity of energy roughly equivalent to its own consumption, and be able to stand on its own in the event of a power failure. We therefore proposed a multi-energy system based on photovoltaic solar panels and a biomass furnace. Needless to say, the architecture of the project had to evolve to incorporate these new features!
That said, the complexity of the project went far beyond the energy issue… Let’s be the judge: the building, with its unusual and complex shapes, was almost 180 feet long and had more than fifty corners, none of them right-angled!
For all these reasons, the preparation of the project required lengthy coordination between the structural engineer, the architect, the ventilation specialist, the window supplier and, of course, the contractor and his subcontractors. This type of unusual project is very demanding for everyone involved and, above all, requires meticulous preparation and flawless coordination.
And it was in June 2013, a year later, that the construction site actually began. An almost surgical blasting job got the ball rolling: examining the photos, we can see that part of the rock connecting the garage and the main house had to be preserved… which required great precision.
The construction of the foundations also represented a major challenge: here again, the margin for error was non-existent. The positioning of the corners, for example, called for highly precise geolocation technologies. In addition, special precautions had to be taken as several concrete walls were an integral part of the architectural design.
Erection of the framework began in November and was completed in January 2014. Insulation and mechanical work on the building followed in parallel with the construction of the flat roof. This work was carried out in the middle of winter, requiring arduous labor and a number of precautions.
The building’s interior and exterior finishes were completed in the summer of 2014. Once again, since nothing is standard in La Héronnière, Écohabitations boréales faced ongoing and stimulating challenges in reconciling the owners’ requirements, the architect’s vision and the imperatives of ecological certification. One example among many: the garage door shared the same horizontal plank cladding with the house, so perfect alignment had to be ensured. This meant repeatedly opening and closing the door, while constantly adjusting these systems to its increasing weight. This is just one small detail among hundreds of others in this magnificent home.
The house was finally delivered to the happy owners in September 2014. It has received both LEED Gold and Novoclimat certification.
This extraordinary project enabled the Écohabitations boréales team to surpass itself on many levels, from construction techniques and expertise in energy production technologies to the management of complex worksites. As we said at the outset… there are some projects that leave a lasting mark on a builder’s career.
Visit the complete project photo gallery.
Photos : Adrien Williams
« For the first time, the title of Builder of the Year has been awarded to a pioneer and leader in the construction of LEED-certified ecological homes. ÉCOHABITATIONS BORÉALES is a young company that has distinguished itself in just a few years to become the best in its field. This nomination leads us to believe that our industry has room for younger generations who push the limits in terms of innovation and technical requirements. » Marc Savard, General Manager, APCHQ – Greater Montreal region
Écohabitations boréales also won the Domus for Green Building of the Year with the LEED Platinum-certified Résidence Val-Morin in October 2014. “I’d like to reaffirm tonight that it is possible to build green homes at a competitive price,” says Robin Gauthier- Ouellet, President, Écohabitations boréales.
Launched in Sainte-Adèle in 2008, Écohabitations boréales has become the company that has built the most LEED-certified single-family homes in Quebec. Today, it is still the only company to systematically register all its projects for LEED and Novoclimat certification. This unprecedented journey has demanded a distinctive business model, a bold marketing strategy and a series of considerable efforts to build up new technical expertise, both within the company and in its network of suppliers and partners, specific to the requirements of ecological home construction and certification. In addition to conveying a positive, dynamic and socially responsible image of the construction industry, Écohabitations boréales has helped make the ecological home a concrete commercial reality in Quebec.
This home, located in Val Morin in the Laurentians, achieved this exceptional result with a fairly simple recipe: superior insulation (R-40 walls, R-60 roof), excellent resistance to air infiltration (infiltration rate of 0.8 CAH), an air-to-air heat pump heating system, environmentally-friendly, VOC-free materials and an efficient ventilation system.
Built jointly with the owners, this is also our first home to be certified under the new Novoclimat 2.0 program. A successful team effort!
1. Innovation et processus de conception (coûts additionnels : 0 $)
This category covers the preliminary stages of a project, such as setting performance objectives for the future building, integrating green strategies, and consulting with team members. Without adding direct costs to the project, these stages represent an opportunity to plan the work properly in order to limit errors during construction. This is also the time to integrate simple energy efficiency measures, such as site-optimized passive solar design, which can have a significant influence on the performance of a building and the quality of life of its occupants at no additional cost.
2. Location and connections (additional costs: $0)
This category rewards the building’s proximity to services and transport infrastructures.
It therefore favors projects in urban areas. Although the cost of land is higher in cities than in rural areas, this category adds no additional cost to the building itself. On the other hand, it can have a significant tangible impact on the environmental performance of the building and its occupants.
3. Ecological site development (additional costs: $0)
Achieving LEED Silver certification does not require any extraordinary measures in terms of landscaping. On the contrary, it favors natural landscaping, the use of native plants and ground cover, and water-permeable materials. These strategies limit the costs incurred for earthworks, and in the medium and long term, reduce maintenance costs (e.g. fertilizers, mowing, watering).
4. Water efficiency (additional costs: $0)
The reduction from 25 % to 40 % of water consumption in a home doesn’t add any additional costs, since manufacturers now offer a host of water-efficient faucets, toilets and other equipment at the same price as conventional equipment.
Instead, achieving LEED targets requires a minimum of research and analysis into the performance of plumbing fixtures. In homes equipped with water meters or an artesian well, achieving LEED objectives represents a saving in operating costs rather than an additional expense.
5. Energy and atmosphere (additional costs: $10,500)
This category is the most important in terms of the number of LEED points earned in the certification process. In northern climates, it accounts for most of the additional costs of an energy-efficient home compared to the additional costs of a traditionally built home. The efficiency of a high-performance home depends on two essential elements, that is, increased thermal resistance of the building envelope (R-factor), and greater air tightness. As an example, let’s compare a building aiming for Novoclimat 2.0 certification and capable of achieving an EnerGuide for houses rating of 80 (the minimum required for LEED certification) with a 2,500-square-foot house of the same size built to current building codes.
The following additional costs are to be expected:
6. Materials and resources (additional costs: $1,500)
This category refers to the use of ecological, local and non-toxic materials, as well as the reduction of construction site waste. As with the choice of plumbing fixtures, eco-friendly insulation, structural and finishing materials can be purchased at prices similar to those of materials with a poorer environmental record. Today’s manufacturers offer a host of interesting materials, and to achieve outstanding results in this category, it’s more important to do your research than to invest additional sums. Ask your suppliers questions about the composition, provenance and manufacture of the materials. Today on the internet you’ll find many technical data sheets and a wealth of relevant information to help you make your choices. Depending on your location, you can expect to pay around $500 extra to buy local FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood, and anywhere from zero to $1,000 to ensure proper construction waste management, whether you’re a contractor or a self-builder.
7. Indoor environmental quality (additional costs: $877)
This category focuses on good air quality in the building. In a tightly sealed home, adequate ventilation is essential. The installation of a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) that distributes fresh air to each room and controls humidity levels is beneficial to the health of occupants and promotes the building’s durability by reducing the risk of condensation, which encourages mold growth. With a heat recovery rate of 60% and installed with rigid ducts, such a system represents an additional cost of $377 ($115 installation and $262 materials) for an average-sized home, compared to the installation of a lower-quality HRV required under the new Quebec Construction Code, according to Nicolas Bégin, spokesperson for the Ministry of Natural Resources.
On the other hand, the LEED program requires the installation of a basic system to mitigate the concentration of radon (a carcinogenic gas seeping from the ground) in a house. This involves installing a ventilation duct under the concrete slab and raising it up to 12″ [30 cm] above it, at a cost of no more than $300. If a radon test shows that the concentration exceeds Health Canada’s radon guideline, the duct is connected to an extractor fan to depressurize the air under the slab to reduce radon infiltration.
Finally, combustion appliances must be connected to a fresh air intake to avoid depressurizing the building when in use ($200).
In short, we estimate the extra cost of a 2,500 ft² LEED Silver and Novoclimat 2.0 certified home at around $13,400. Given that the average cost of residential construction today is $140/sq.ft., this represents an additional cost of less than 5% compared to the cost of a home built to the current building code. These costs include excavation, foundation, well, septic system, interior finishing (including garden basement) and exterior finishing.
In the next article, we’ll try to assess the economic profitability of energy-efficient construction, bearing in mind that we build green more for the sake of our health and that of the planet than for financial reasons.
Robin Gauthier-Ouellet is the owner of Écohabitations Boréales. He is the Quebec leader in LEED single-family home construction, with eight certified homes and seven more in the process of certification, as of January 24, 2014.
The Phénix de l’environnement is an annual competition created fifteen years ago through a unique partnership between the public and private sectors. The organization’s primary mandate is to publicize and promote the excellence and know-how of organizations across Quebec in environmental protection and sustainable development. Other finalists in the « buisness » category in 2013 included many of Quebec’s best-known companies, such as Groupe Cascade, Casino de Montréal, Gaz Métro, Olymel and Loblaw Companies Ltd.
The winners in each category will be announced in June at the Salon rouge of the Quebec National Assembly. Until then, the public is invited to vote online for its favorite project in the “Coup de coeur du public” contest at the following address until May 24, 2013 https://www.mddep.gouv.qc.ca/Phenix/concours-coup-coeur/index.htm
Thank you for voting for us!
