Alex Wilson is the founder of the journalEnvironmental Building News,Green Building,GreenSpecand recently theResilient Design Institute.

The following is a brief description of his vision, and the steps our team took as designers, builders and homeowners to meet that criteria for the Kenogami House.

The acronym:

E - Energy efficient -a high performance home must comprise efficient energy systems and an energy efficient building envelope

N - Non-toxic -creating a healthy interior living environment, safe from harmful contaminants

D - Durable -a home built to last spreads its ecological footprint over a longer period of time

U - User friendly -a building must be affordable to own, operate and maintain

R - Resilient -designing to withstand the normal and extreme stresses a building will face in its lifetime (temperature, precipitation, wind, seismic events, UV exposure, etc.)

E -接合-we only maintain things we like, so a building must be designed for quality of life, taking care to ensure comfort, atmosphere and aesthetics

Energy efficient:

由于供暖和制冷通常是建筑总能耗的最大组成部分，建筑的节能程度在很大程度上取决于建筑围护结构。它控制热量损失，漏风和水分的运动。

What is often omitted from the equation that determines the overall efficiency of a building is the embodied energy of the materials that make up its components. The embodied energy of a material comprises all the energy required for extraction, transportation and manufacturing.

The reason for building a more efficient house is to either save money, save energy, or both. If the construction of that house requires a significantly larger investment of money and embodied energy, then despite your best intentions you could really be no further ahead than if you stuck to conventional building standards.

In the design of our building envelope and house components we were careful to factor the ecological costs of our material choices as well.

Features:

  • LED lighting
  • Energy star appliances
  • High performance fiberglass windows
  • 0.5 ACH (Air changes per hour) at 50 PA
  • Energy Recovery Ventilator rated at 94% efficiency
  • 225 kg per sq.ft. of thermal mass to store heat and balance interior temperatures
  • Alvia exterior automated blinds

Non-toxic environment:

It has been estimated that in North America the average person will spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, so it only makes sense that we work to ensure healthy indoor air quality. Many building materials contain chemicals that are extremely harmful when inhaled and can lead to severe respiratory illnesses.

Along with the health impacts for home occupants, chemical manufacturing can put production workers at risk, and results in environmental pollution of our air, land and waterways. When we limit the use of such chemicals at the point of consumption, we limit their production as well.

Features:

  • Zero VOC Paints and sealants (Volatile Organic Compounds)
  • Radon venting
  • Merv 11 air filters
  • Formaldehyde-free cabinetry
  • Co² detectors
  • No PVC
  • Coal and UV water filtration
  • Automated moisture control
  • Automated ventilation of hydrogen emissions from PV system batteries

Durable:

一个更可持续和耐用的建筑会持续更长的时间，所以它的能量被拉长了更长的时间，有效地使它在这方面更有效率。

Sustainability is a fundamental cornerstone for buildings with high energy efficiency. The ratio between the energy consumed during the operation of a building and its embodied energy is affected not only by how energy efficient it is, but also by how long the building will stand.

In other words, the downside of some high performance homes is that they can require more embodied energy to build. The sustainability goal is to ensure that savings in energy during operation and a longer lifespan outweigh the additional embodied energy consumed through materials and construction.

Features:

  • Galvanized steel roofing
  • Stone cladding at the base of exterior walls to prevent moisture damage
  • Envelope designeliminating interstitial condensation
  • Polished concrete floors, stairs, window sills, doors, showers and countertops
  • LED lighting (LED bulbs have an extremely long lifespan as well as being energy efficient)
  • Triple pane fiberglass windows
  • Stainless steel exterior door thresholds
  • Asphalt waterproofing membrane under steel roof covering
  • Foundation anchored in rock

User friendly:

Regardless of sustainability, a building will not stand the true test of time unless it is designed with quality of life for occupants as a priority. A home must be relatively simple and affordable to occupy, operate and maintain.

Features:

  • Ease of access to mechanical components for routine maintenance
  • 为人体舒适和易于使用而设计。
  • Exceptional indoor air quality
  • Natural lighting
  • Covered parking and entrances
  • Materials chosen to ensure minimal maintenance and maximum thermal comfort

Resilience:

Climatic conditions change daily, annually and over the course of a century. A resilient building is one that maintains its performance in the face of internal and external conditions, being designed to withstand temperature fluctuations, UV exposure, water seepage from all sources (rain, condensation, snow and ice) as well as power outages and earthquakes.

Features:

  • Autonomous water (well water and rainwater harvesting)
  • Autonomous energy systems (photovoltaic solar panels - PV)
  • LED lighting powered by PV panels
  • Multiple energy sources
  • Wall assembly resistant to the effects climate change

Engaging:

© Écohabitation

高效、可持续、低环境影响的建筑必须是舒适、友好和温暖的。一个被爱的家会被保存得很好。

Features:

  • Simple and compact architectural design
  • Ergonomic design
  • Universal access
  • Warm and comfortable
  • Naturally lit living room with lake view
  • Vertical hydroponic garden