project profile: inspiration: the minto ecohome—ottawa ... · pdf filecanada mortgage...

Key Features

n Highly insulated building envelope

n Extensive use of local, recycled and

renewable materials

n Predicted net-zero energy

consumption

n Hydronic air-handling space-heating

and ventilation system

n 75 per cent waste diversion from

landfill

Project Profile:Inspiration: The Minto ecohome—Ottawa, Ontario

Figure 1—Photo of Inspiration

This Project Profile highlights Inspiration–The Minto ecohome, one of the winning entries in the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) EQuilibriumTM Sustainable Housing DemonstrationInitiative – a national initiative to design, build and demonstrate sustainable homes throughout Canada.1

1 For more information on this initiative and the various EQuilibriumTM projects, visit the CMHC website (www.cmhc.ca) and type the search keyword “EQuilibrium”.

Project Description Inspiration–The Minto ecohome is anew, two-storey, 218.5 m2 (2,352 sq. ft.)detached home located in theManotick area of Ottawa. It is part ofa planned community that will includehousing, schools, small commercialestablishments, parks and a significant woodlot.

The goal of the builder–developer,Minto Group Inc., is an affordable,sustainable house that, on an annualbasis, will produce as much energy asit consumes—a net-zero energy home.The household energy requirementsare estimated to be only 26 per cent of the requirements for the averageCanadian home. On-site renewable

energy production is from passive solardesign, active solar space and waterheating, and a photovoltaic (PV) array.

The design is a simple, open conceptwith living and dining room areas,kitchen, laundry/mud room, powderroom and multiple-use room on themain level. There are three bedroomsand two bathrooms on the second

floor and the undeveloped attic areacould accommodate two additionalbedrooms or serve a variety of otherpurposes. Flex space in the basementallows for future development, such asan additional three rooms. The keyapproach to this sustainable design is astrong, durable structure that canadapt to meet the changing needs ofthe occupants throughout the life ofthe house.

During the first year of occupancy, theenergy generation as well as energy andwater consumption will be monitoredto assess the building’s performance.

Occupant Health andComfor tStarting at the construction stage,a number of strategies wereimplemented to improve indoor airquality and occupant health in thehome. Construction and finishingmaterials were carefully chosen toreduce indoor air contaminants. For example, mix-onsite drywallcompound was used as it has lowervolatile organic compounds (VOC)content than the typical pre-mixedcompound. Renewable bamboo andceramic tile flooring was installed to

decrease potential off-gassing fromflooring products.

Substantial south-facing windowssupply plenty of daylight to the activeliving areas (for example, kitchen,living room), reducing the need forartificial lighting. As a safety feature,operable transom windows on themain floor allow the occupants toventilate with fresh air while offeringthe security associated with having thelarger main level windows closed. Theenergy-efficient building envelope,which includes triple-pane, low-e,argon-filled windows ensures a

2 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

CMHC EQui l ibr iumTM Susta inable Hous ing Demonstr at ion In i t ia t ive : Pro ject Profi le— Insp irat ion: The Minto ecohome

Figure 2—Energy profile: Comparison of Canadian National Average,1 R-2000 Home2 and predictedInspiration–The Minto ecohome (MEH)3 annual residential energy consumption and production

comfortable interior temperature andimproved noise control. A heatrecovery ventilator (HRV) system,which includes a solar air heating uniton the south facade of the house,provides the appropriate level ofventilation air exchange required in anairtight home and ensures that properhumidity levels are continuouslymaintained. A filtration system isinstalled on the incoming well water.

Energy EfficiencyA variety of strategies are used toreduce energy requirements. Thehouse is positioned on a corner lot andoriented to ensure good southernexposure and solar gain. The buildingenvelope employs an airtight, highlyinsulated double-wall constructionthat includes rigid insulationsandwiched between two stud walls,each containing fibreglass battinsulation, as well as strategicallyplaced energy-efficient windows. Theconcrete basement floor andfoundation are insulated with rigidextruded polystyrene. The ceiling isinsulated with a combination of soy-based foam and blown-in cellulose.Energy-efficient ENERGY STAR®

appliances (for example the refrigeratorand clothes washer) and compactfluorescent lighting reduce electricalrequirements in the home.

Renewable EnergyProduction To minimize purchased energy costs,Inspiration–the Minto ecohomeincorporates active solar hydronicspace and water heating and solarphotovoltaic (PV) power generation.Direct-gain, south-facing windowsprovide passive solar space heating.

An active solar heating system is theprimary source for both space andwater heating in the house. The eight-collector, 3.0 m2 (32.3 sq. ft.) roof-mounted solar array is on the south-facing roof at the optimal angle of 45 degrees. Heat from the array isstored in a 454 L (100 U.K. gal.)storage tank in the basement. Asecondary storage tank, also 454 L,will assist in handling winter eveningheating loads. Backup capacity forspace and water heating is provided bya Buderus gas boiler with an AFUErating of 98 per cent.2 The solar-heatedwater is circulated through a hydronicair handler with a high-efficiency,electronically commutated motor(ECM). The hydronic air handlertransfers heat from this hot water toair, which in turn is distributedthroughout the home via ductwork.The HRV is integrated with thehydronic air handler, utilizing thesame ductwork.

The roof also supports a 30-module, 6.2 kW grid-connected PV system thatis predicted to generate 8,166 kWh ofelectricity per year. This is thepredicted equivalent of all of theelectricity requirements of the house onan annual basis. All of the electricitygenerated by the PV system will be feddirectly to the grid, for which the ownerwill receive a credit of $0.42/kWh fromthe utility. This credit will be appliedto electricity purchased from the grid foruse in the home. At this time, the costof electricity for the residential consumeris much lower than $0.42/kWh.

The clustered kitchen, laundry andbathrooms enabled the installation of a Power-PipeTM, a device that capturesheat which would otherwise escapedown the drain and directs thecaptured heat into the hot waterheating system.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation 3


2 The AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency), developed by the U.S. Department of Energy, measures the amount of heat actually delivered to a house by the deviceas a percentage of the total energy consumed by the device. For example, a furnace that has an 80% AFUE rating converts 80% of its fuel supplied to heat—theother 20% is lost.



Figure 3—Main floor plan of Inspiration–The Minto ecohome

DECK

10 985mm [36’]

EATINGSLATE TILE KITCHEN

SLATE TILE

LAUNDRY/MUD ROOM

LINOLEUM TILE

13 7

25m

m

[45’]

GARAGECONCRETE

FLEX ROOMBAMBOO 1

1 7

45m

m

[38’-6 1

/2”]

DOWN

UP

SLATE

TILE

SLATETILE

DE

CK

GREAT ROOMSLATE TILE

ENTRYOPEN TO ABOVE

OPEN TO ABOVE

LOW WALL

HARDWOOD

RAILING

DESK

PANTRY

MW

W D

PORCH

DW



DOWN

OPEN TO BELOW

SLOPEDCEILING

WIC

MASTERBEDROOM

BAMBOO

HALLBAMBOO

RAILING

BEDROOM 3BAMBOO OPEN TO

BELOW

LOW WALL

DESK

SLOPEDCEILING

BEDROOM 2BAMBOO

OPEN TO

BELOW

RA

ILIN

G

10 985mm [36’]

11 6

15m

m

[3

8’-1

”]

ENSUITESLATE TILE

BATHROOMSLATE TILE

Figure 4—Second floor plan of Inspiration–The Minto ecohome

MECHANICAL

ROOM

UNEXCAVATED

FUTURE

BEDROOM

UNEXCAVATED

FUTURE

BEDROOM

STORAGE

FUTURE

BEDROOM

UP

LINOLEUM TILE

WELLEXPANSION

TANK

HRV(Ceiling

Mounted)

SUMPPIT WALL

HUNGBOILER

RAINWATERTANKDRAIN WATER

HEATRECOVERY

HWT2HWT2FURNACE

Figure 5—Basement floor plan of Inspiration—The Minto ecohome

Resource ConservationEffective conservation of naturalresources is an important focus of theInspiration project. Drywall and metalproducts with high recycled contentminimized the amount of new materialused. Rapidly growing bamboo wasused in place of traditional hardwoodflooring, and finger-jointed studs wereused for both non-load bearing andload bearing walls, reducing the impactof wood-frame construction on forests.Local sources for renewable materialswere given preference in construction.

Pre-engineered floor and roof trusseswere used to reduce the amount ofmaterial needed for construction.Strategically located load-bearing wallsallow the home to efficiently adapt as the needs of the occupants changeover time. For example, Inspiration is designed to easily convert from threebedrooms to up to seven bedrooms; toincorporate a live–work layout; or toinclude a secondary suite.

The Inspiration home is predicted

to use only 27 per cent of the water

used in a typical single-family home

due to features such as rainwater

harvesting, low-flow showerheads,

faucets and toilets, and a front-loading

clothes washer. The garden irrigation

system, fed with rainwater, features

“smart” sensors and timers to ensure

that the system operates only when

necessary. Native plant species

minimize watering needs.

Reduced EnvironmentalImpactImplementation of improved buildingpractices, and use of renewable energyhas reduced Inspiration’s environmentalimpact compared to conventionalconstruction. A waste managementplan included 75 per cent diversion ofconstruction materials from landfills.Solid waste was minimized by usingprefabricated roof trusses, allowing theoff-cuts to be reused in the trussfactory or recycled as clean, post-industrial wood chips. If necessary, astormwater management pond will bebuilt into the landscaping to managestormwater at the site. The use ofrenewable energy decreases green housegas (GHG) emissions.

The house is close to day-to-dayamenities, such as banks and stores,and is located on an existing publictransit route.

AffordabilityThe proximity of the Inspiration hometo local amenities and transit routeshas the potential to reducetransportation costs for occupants.Renewable energy sources are predictedto result in net-zero annual energyconsumption, thereby significantlyreducing ongoing operation costs.Ultra-low energy and water-usingappliances will further reduce waterutility costs.





1 For further information on EGH Ratings see www.nrcan.ca and search under 'EGH Rating'. 2 Building design temperatures are based on historic temperature data and are used when designing a building and its heating and cooling systems for a particular

geographic area.

Predicted Annual Energy Consumption (by heated floor area)

Total annual energy use: 66.6 kWh/m2

Space heating: 40.2 kWh/m2

Domestic water heating: 11.3 kWh/m2

Appliances/lighting: 13.3 kWh/m2

Mechanical ventilation: 1.8 kWh/m2

Predicted Annual Energy Production (by heated floor area)Total annual energy production: 68.6 kWh/m2

Passive solar heating: 17.0 kWh/m2

Active solar space and water heating: 21.5 kWh/m2

Solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity: 26.4 kWh/m2

Drainwater heat recovery: 3.7 kWh/m2

Predicted Annual Energy Balance 2.0 kWh/m2

EnerGuide for Houses* (EGH*) Rating1 100Natural Resources Canada's EnerGuide For Houses (EGH) Rating is astandard measure of a conventional home's energy performance, and canrange from 0 to 100.1 A modified rating, termed the EGH* Rating, wasdeveloped specifically for the EQuilibriumTM initiative and is presentedhere. The EGH* Rating allows reductions in electricity and hot waterloads and accounts fot the contribution of renewable energy systems inEQuilibriumTM houses, thereby more accurately reflecting the home'spotential energy performance.

Site CharacteristicsLocation: OttawaSite type: Suburban, new developmentSite area: 370 m2 3,983 ft.2

Elevation: 114 m 374 ft.Latitude: 45.32°NLongitude: 75.67°W

Average Outdoor TemperaturesJanuary: -10.8°C 12.6°FApril: 5.7°C 42.3°FJuly: 20.9°C 69.6°FOctober: 7.8°C 46.0°F

Building Design Temperatures2

January: -22.0°C -7.6°FJuly: 28.5°C 83.3°FHeating degree days (base 18°C [64°F]): 4,602 [8,284]Cooling degree days (base 18°C [64°F]): 244.6 [440]

ClimateAverage daily horizontal solar irradiation: 3.56 kWh/m2

Average daily vertical solar irradiation: 3.02 kWh/m2

Clearness index: 0.42 KtAverage annual precipitation: 943 mm 37 in.Average annual wind speed: 14 km/h 8.7 mph

Building DescriptionType: New, single-detached, 2 storey with basementFloor space: 218.5 m2 2,352 ft.2

Building axis: (building is approximately square)Building footprint: 153 m2 1,647 ft.2

Heated volume: 819 m3 28,955 ft.3

Heated floor area: 309.6 m2 3,332 ft.2

Ceiling area: 117.5 m2 1,265 ft.2

External wall area: 354.8 m2 3,819 ft.2

Window area total: 29.27 m2 315 ft.2

South: 18.72 m2 202 ft.2

North: 6.76 m2 73 ft.2

West: 1.00 m2 11 ft.2

East: 2.79 m2 30 ft.2

Ratio of south glazing area to floor area: 6%

Thermal Characteristics Roof: RSI 11 R-60Main Walls: RSI 7.8 R-44Windows: RSI 1.02 R-5.7Basement walls: RSI 7.0 R-40Basement floor: RSI 2.6 R-15Airtightness Target: 0.65 ACH @ 50 Pa

Electricity 30 module, 6.2 kW grid-connected photovoltaic system predicted togenerate 8,166 kWh of electricity per year.

Space HeatingPassive solar; active solar hydronic system with two super-insulated storagetanks; high efficiency (98% AFUE) gas water heater for additional heatwhen required; hydronic air handler fed from solar hot water storage tanks.ECM motor in air handler; air handler transfers heat from hot water to theductwork system for distribution in the home.

VentilationHigh-efficiency HRV designed with sensible heat recovery of 80% at 0°C. HRV Flow Rates: 65 L/s at high speed; 35 L/s at low speedcontinuous.

Water Heating8 collector, 3.0 m2 (32.3 ft2) roof-mounted solar array. Hot water fromthe array and drainwater heat recovery unit is stored in 2 - 454 L (2 - 100 U.K. gal) tanks. Buderus (98% rated efficiency) gas hot waterheater backup.

Water Consumption (estimated 4 person consumption) Potable water use:

307 L/day 67.6 U.K. gal/day112,055 L/year 24,663 U.K. gal/year

Water re-use (rainwater):154 L/day: 33.8 U.K. gal/day56,000 L/year 12,325 U.K. gal/year

Technical Summary: Inspiration–The Minto ecohome —Ottawa, Ontario


Project TeamBuilder-developer:Minto Group Inc.

Primary contact: Robert [email protected]

For more information about thisproject and other EQuilibriumTM

housing projects, visit the CMHCwebsite at www.cmhc.ca

EQuilibriumTM Sustainable Housing Demonstration InitiativeWhat is EQuilibriumTM Housing?

EQuilibriumTM is a national sustainable housing demonstration initiative, created and led by Canada Mortgageand Housing Corporation (CMHC) that brings the private and public sectors together to develop homes, andeventually communities that address occupant health and comfort, energy efficiency, renewable energy production,resource conservation, reduced environmental impact and affordability.

CMHC’s EQuilibriumTM housing initiative offers builders and developers across the country a powerful newapproach to establish a reputation for building premium quality sustainable homes that will meet the needsof Canadians now and well into the future.

EQuilibriumTM housing combines a wide range of technologies, strategies, products and techniques designed toreduce a home’s environmental impact to an absolute minimum. At the same time, EQuilibriumTM housing alsofeatures commercially available, on-site renewable energy systems to provide clean energy to help reduce annualconsumption and costs.

The ultimate goal is a highly energy-efficient, low-environmental-impact house that provides healthy indoorliving for its occupants and produces as much energy as it consumes on a yearly basis. As part of the initiative, all EQuilibriumTM projects will be open to the public for a minimum time period of six months and thenmonitored for performance with occupants for at least one year.

For more information on this project and on the CMHC EQuilibriumTM Sustainable Housing DemonstrationInitiative, visit www.cmhc.ca

Although this information product reflects housing experts’ current knowledge, it is provided for general information purposes only.Any reliance or action taken based on the information, materials and techniques described are the responsibility of the user. The predictions forbuilding performance are based on computer modelling and current understandings of best construction practices. Actual building performancemay vary. Users are advised to consult appropriate professional resources to determine what is safe and suitable in their particular case. CanadaMortgage and Housing Corporation assumes no responsibility for any consequence arising from use of the information, materials andtechniques described.

©2008, Canada Mortgage and Housing CorporationPrinted in CanadaProduced by CMHC 17-08-10

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