HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE SUN TO HEAT AND COOL YOUR NEW HOMES.
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As with any factory process, it gets more efficient over time. Waste material is more precisely calculated and avoided. Leftover material doesn’t sit in the mud for several weeks. The building itself is exposed to the elements for shorter periods and therefore sustains very little damage during construction that might haunt a builder later. And the neighbours complain less. Leed Platinum The house is extremely energy efficient and Nexterra expects it will be LEED Gold, or possibly LEED Platinum. It will be heated and cooled using a geothermal system of three 300-foot deep wells. It features a white roof, which reduces energy consumption, and it was built to be solar-ready. The factory-made envelope is super-insulated using soybased polyurethane foam insulation. Energy Star® certified fiber-
glass windows and Energy Star® appliances have been installed. Plumbing fixtures are low-flow and much of the lighting is LED. LEED awards four points for off-site fabrication, and the plan scores high for environmentally preferable products and waste management. One of the unique features of this long-life house design is a special rain screen system that permits rainwater to flow between exterior panels and the building wrap, allowing air flow between structure layers for effective drying. This means less rot over time because water penetration is minimized. Not all projects are built on prime ravine lots with premium budgets, but if pre-fabs continue to make a comeback, housebuilding might be able to increase efficiency. Perhaps this will permit more designed-in green and long-life features; in other words home building the way we all know it should be. GB
Lennox® SunSource® is the first and only solar-powered central HVAC in the world. It harnesses power generated from photovoltaic cells and functions at full PV capacity when peak consumption loads match peak solar output. So it keeps your customers comfortable while reducing energy bills and carbon footprints. For more information, visit www.applewoodair.com or call Applewood Air Conditioning at 1-800-219-9130. 3525 Hawkestone Rd., Mississauga, ON L5C 2V1
1-800-219-9130 www.applewoodair.com
41 Years. Four-time Dave Lennox Award Winners.
Green Building & Sustainable Strategies
spring 2012
spring 2012
© 2012 Lennox Industries Inc.
Green Building & Sustainable Strategies