REEP House Design Goals
Energy Efficiency
REEP House's ultimate goal was to raise our EnerGuide score from 44 to 89. The renovations aim to achieve reductions of 90 per cent energy use, 63 per cent CO2 emissions, and 80 per cent utilities cost.
Water Efficiency
Our water use reduction goal of 60 per cent will be reached using grey water (with rain water as a back up) for flushing our 3L toilet, and by installing low flow fixtures. We will capture 80 per cent of roof runoff in rain barrels fitted with ground moisture sensors, timers and pumps, demonstrating the technology and capacity to effortlessly water a large suburban lawn without City water. Our xeriscaping and permeable paving will ensure that no rain water falling on the property will be diverted into the City storm system, and includes three wells to monitor water quality under the paving.
Waste Reduction
Our process of applying for LEED Platinum certification is guiding our waste management system, which is diverting over 75 per cent of construction waste from landfill. This is supported by the extensive re-use of existing structure, including the foundations, double brick walls, roof framing, sheathing, porch and trim. Reclaimed materials are used throughout the home, including framing, flooring, fixtures and furniture. Preference is given to locally-sourced materials with a high recycled content that are themselves recyclable, following cradle to cradle principles, guided by advanced framing, detailed framing drawings and waste factor reductions.
Transportation
REEP House is located in an established urban area, within walking distance of the downtown core, bus terminal and all major amenities. A bicycle trail runs directly behind the property. We have advocated for a reduction to three parking spaces from the 10 originally required by municipal authorities. REEP House will also offer a bike sharing program, with bike-friendly parking and a charging station available for electric vehicles.
Technical Repeatability
Our common sense choices deliberately demonstrate simple local solutions, carried out by local trades, suppliers and manufacturers. As a showroom and educational centre, our software will help homeowners choose the most effective energy reduction strategies with the best track record and quickest payback, and offer direct links to suppliers and contractors. Our message, in a nutshell: seal the envelope, insulate heavily and install high-performance heating.
Environmentally Preferable Building Materials
Materials selected are all run through a comprehensive decision-making matrix, which prioritizes the following attributes:
- locally available
- cradle to cradle manufacturing
- durability
- low to zero toxicity
- sustainably and naturally sourced
- low embodied energy
- energy reduction enabling
- carbon emission reduction
- reasonable payback on investment
- extensive re-use
Whether through the use of exclusively FSC certified lumber, or triple-glazed, locally-manufactured fibreglass windows, each choice is filtered to determine the best available solution to each component.
Affordability
REEP House set out initially to avoid becoming another “million dollar green home.” Our mandate is to provide a “one stop shopping” showroom, so although we have three heating systems, homeowners are encouraged to choose the simplest, most accessible and most cost effective, deep energy retrofit solutions for themselves. Our “20/50” package ($20,000 spent on a 50 per cent energy use reduction), represents an average five to 12 per cent home equity re-investment, with a payback of four years and an annual return on investment of 5 per cent.
Technical Innovation
The true technical innovation at REEP House is to keep things simple and use green decision making to achieve an intelligent design. For instance, because we chose high insulation and air sealing values, we only need a small wood burning appliance to heat REEP House. (However, we will offer the most efficient model available in Canada.)
We are demonstrating solar pre-heat of hydronic condensing boilers and heat pump technology. Our windows showcase top-of-the-line glazing, and each window is chosen for its specific location based on characteristics such as high solar gain or high winter U value (up to R 8.5). All windows will enhance the heritage features of the Century home, and some will incorporate stained glass in triple- or double-glazed units.
REEP House represents the most comprehensive energy retrofit of a hundred-year-old home in Canada -- an early 20th Century home with 21st Century performance and lifespan.
Third-Party Labelling and Energy Modelling
We are pursuing Platinum certification under the LEED Canada for Homes program, as a complete rehabilitation of an existing home. We are also following the ecoENERGY assessment program, using Hot2000 for energy modelling and analysis, and we are providing NRCan and Energy Star data for products whenever available. Our energy performance monitoring will be reported to the Ontario Power Authority using International Protocol on Measuring and Verification and captured in a CMHC funded case study for their Equilibrium Communities research.
Builder's Commitment to "Green"
Ball Construction is a community-based, nationally-recognized builder with extensive experience in green building, including several successful LEED certified projects. Specialized expertise includes advanced waste management, IAQ site management, and an extensive network of green suppliers and sub contractors.
Designer's Commitment to "Green"
Whiting Design is a sustainable design firm, working exclusively on projects which advance the practice of green building and achieve substantially-improved energy and carbon reduction targets. Our work radius is limited to 100km, with commuting and job site travel preferentially by foot, bicycle, bus or scooter. We offer a green benefit package to all employees, are Bullfrog powered, use 100 per cent recycled paper and all staff are LEED-accredited professionals. Our house design was enhanced with the expertise of a University of Waterloo-based design team, led by professor John Straube.
Social Engagement
REEP House is in partnership with The City of Kitchener, The Region of Waterloo, the Trillium Foundation, The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation, our three local hydro utilities and the Ontario Power Authority. The house has been built with the help of a growing community of local businesses and non-profit organizations, and will continue to expand in the same way. Our outreach program aims to draw tens of thousands of people into tours of the house, becoming the primary source for residents of Waterloo Region to find answers to their sustainability questions and connect with local solution providers.
Potential Impact on Market Transformation
REEP House is the first environmental show room in Canada to go beyond merely presenting information to the public. The tours of the house are fully integrated into a cutting-edge set of software tools, allowing residents to complete their own Sustainable Home Action Plan, which models the energy savings, investment potential, comfort and health benefits and payback of everything from adding a vacancy sensor light switch, to finishing a basement, to installing 2kw of roof-mounted solar PV. The software also provides direct links to local suppliers and contractors.
REEP’s expertise was developed by performing over 10,000 home evaluations, achieving thousands of tonnes of annual CO2 emission reductions. The purpose of REEP House is to stimulate more retrofits than the 2,000 per year we are currently involved with, and to increase their effectiveness from the current average of 28 per cent improvement on older homes to 50 per cent and beyond.
