Why green? Let’s talk about why it is important to make green building a design and construction standard, and not an “added bonus.” What does “being green” mean to you?

LEED = Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Net Zero Net Positive Passive House Passive Solar R-2000 OBC design standards Part 12 Ecol Operation – McGill Minimum Cost Housing Group

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Credit Categories

Minimize loss Maximize gain

WHAT CAN WE DO? Materials: Select materials that will ultimately result in the reduction of landfill waste, reduce the use of non-renewable resources and create a sustainable supply of raw materials to the housing industry. Indicate what materials you will use in the construction of the residence and how they will further the aims of sustainable practices for example: use wood products grown using approved forestry stewardship practices. Energy: The objective in this category is to reduce energy consumption and energy wastage. Indicate which methods will be employed in addition to the assumed mandatory minimum strategies of the use of low energy fixtures and equipment, provision of an HRV and proper window placement. Water: The objective in this category is to reduce water consumption and reduce waste water discharge. Indicate what methods you intend to employ in addition to the mandatory use of low flow plumbing fixtures. Landscaping: Reduce the consumption of water for irrigation, reduce storm water runoff hence and municipal water treatment load, re-charge the water table, preserve local plant species, provide habitat (birds etc), use climate hardy species. Indicate what sustainable strategies will be employed in your landscape design and how they will be integrated.

Select one idea from each of the four categories. Perform research about products, requirements, savings, application, installation requirements. Explain how these ideas will be integrated into your design. Explain how these ideas affect your house design, operation, layout. Find a way to illustrate these ideas in your major project design presentation in week 7.

Category Possible Implementation strategies to research Materials recycled content end of life cycle re-usability low energy of production low energy of transportation (ie local) low waste during production use materials whose production uses waste from another process as a raw material Energy incorporate solar mass, use super insulated assemblies, select very efficient windows solar panels ((PV, hot water, solar space heating) geo-thermal heating/cooling reduced ACH’s (indicate target and how this will be achieved) Water rain water collection system residential grey water system Landscaping use of permeable surfaces (green parking) incorporation of a green roof drought resistant planting use indigenous (local) plant materials

Resources: Canadian Passive House Institute (sign up for the newsletter) http://www.passivehouse.ca/ Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) http://www.cagbc.org/ Sweets Canada Building Product Source (Online Catalogue) http://sweets.construction.com/