ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Find your Zen in Seton
The next series of energy efficient multi-family homes from Avalon Master Builder is Zen Sequel, soon to break ground in the southeast community of Seton.
It follows Avalon’s first successful Seton project, Zen Urban District, but will be the builder’s first attempt at creating net zero certified townhomes as part of a national pilot program with the Canadian Home Builder’s Association (CHBA).
Avalon has experience with building net zero single-family homes and townhomes that use 30 per cent less energy than required by code. Zen Sequel will be the first stacked townhome building to have units labelled as Net Zero Energy, which means it will produce the same amount of energy that it uses during the course of a year.
“We know we can make a row townhome net zero but when you add two families under the same square footage of roof, then you’ve now got two ovens and two dryers. It creates a lot of challenges,” says Avalon vice-president and general manager, Chris Williams.
Working with the CHBA to establish net zero codes for labelling multi-family buildings, Williams says the 124-unit Sequel project will include eight net zero units and eight net zero-ready units. Each will have a heat pump rather than a natural gas furnace, thicker walls and better windows. The difference between each of pair of eight homes is the net zero units will include solar panels.
“In building a net zero home, you first start by reducing the energy it’s going to use, to the point where you can make up that energy you still need for your fridge, stove — baseload stuff — with solar panels. By reducing your energy, you become net zero ready. Add solar panels and now you’re net zero,” he says.
A net zero labelling program is already in place for single-family homes and now, with Avalon’s input as they move through the project, the CHBA will be able to take that intelligence and create guidelines and best practices for members on net zero multi-family product.
“This program is the best way to prepare the industry and protect the consumer,” Williams notes.
After factoring in energy savings, the net cost of each net zero unit is estimated to be just $30 a month more than Avalon’s traditional energy efficient units.
The project on the south end of Seton will have one and two bedroom single-storey units priced from the $160,000s; two or three bedroom, two-storey townhomes with private fenced backyards from the $270,000s, some with rooftop patios.
There will be seven floor plans, from 515 square feet to 1,742 square feet. The first show homes are expected to open in August with the net zero and net zero ready homes completed in 2021.