Energy Conservation

Edmonton’s first two net zero energy homes

Self-Guided Open Houses

Most Saturdays, 1pm to 4pm

9926 87 Street in the Riverdale neighbourhood (from Jasper Avenue, go south on 95 Street and follow the road next to the river valley for 1 km)

What is it 

• two beautiful new houses that generate all their own heat and electricity for space heating, hot water, lighting and appliances over the year
• one of 12 homes in CMHC’s world-class EQuilibrium Sustainable Housing Initiative, www.cmhc.ca
• EQuilibrium houses are helping Canada’s home building industry meet peoples’ concerns with environmental damage, energy security and utility costs.

Just thought to send you a wee note updating you on the Riverdale NetZero energy house.

1. Lots is happening. We put in 200 cubic metres of cellufibre insulation into the house before Christmas. The drywall is installed, the walls covered up. We are taping the drywall now. NAIT is constructing a model wall for us so that we can show the wall construction details when people come to visit the house. We expect to be turning on the solar power system this week. (We're wanting a nice clear day to commission it.) We're about to be doing the air leakage test rating on the house to see if we got down to our 1/2 air change per hour target -- which would be one of the lowest in Canada. We are about to start plumbing the solar heating system. We are heating the houses at this time with a tiny 1500 watt heater -- this is approx the same size as a toaster, equal to two 2-slice toasters or two hair dryers. We are now developing our monitoring plans.
   
   We are also now working on three more NZE houses in Alberta. Check out www.greenedmonton.ca and www.triciagreen.ca.