Eco-solar tour showcases sustainable living spaces
Featuring net zero homes, office space off the electric grid, and all forms of efficient technology
One couple loved Edmonton’s annual Eco-Solar Home Tour so much that they decided to build their own eco-friendly home.
And this weekend, as part of the tour’s 2018 edition, the Kosowan family is opening the doors to their energy-efficient dream home so others can possibly follow in their footsteps.
“My wife and I have been on the tour multiple times and we’ve been thinking of this for quite a while,” said James Kosowan, in regards to building a self-sufficient home. “We did the tour at least four or five times over the years. We’ve always had an interest in this. The tour was like an affirmation for us: that this is possible and that people are doing these things.”
This year’s tour includes a 4,000-square-foot dream home that offers proof a net zero home — a home that generates as much energy as it consumes in a year — is achievable on a large scale. Plus, in what is being called a first for Edmonton, the tour also features a building that is completely disconnected from the electric grid. Ecosolar home tour attendees will also find out what is possible when using non-traditional building materials like shipping containers.
“This is our biggest ever tour,” said Andrew Mills, president of the Eco- Solar Home Tour. “We have 21 sites this year.”
Of the 21 sites, 15 are homes, three are churches, two are office buildings, and one is a community league. The locations are primarily in Edmonton, with one of the homes located in Morinville. Eleven sites are open on June 2, while 10 sites are available on June 3.
“We’re the show-me tour,” said Mills. “We’re going to show you what is being done — not what could be done — with the resources that are available right now, and that’s always so important. Our goal is to connect the public with the people that are doing this.”
WHAT THE KOSOWANS DID
James Kosowan’s Strathearn home (Site 16, open Sunday, June 3) evolved out of a desire to create a multi-generational living space that would allow for his mother to have her own space, in addition to housing the Kosowans and their two teenage children.
They chose to build on a corner lot to take advantage of solar exposure, and incorporate passive solar heating with large windows on the south exposure. They put 27 solar panels on the roof, and installed low-flush toilets, cork floors and LED lighting to lessen their environmental impact.
What you won’t see is behind the walls, where there is doublewall construction with a foot of insulation in order to bring the Rvalue up to 40 in the walls and 80 in the ceiling. Just as important, was incorporating the motherin-law suite on the main floor of the home. It occupies about 600 square feet of the 1,500-squarefoot main floor, and was specially designed to enhance accessibility and make the space seniorfriendly.
“I’m hoping we’re going to inspire people to take the same path we have,” said Kosowan, adding that they also want to let others know that a self-sufficient home can function for an extended family. “Our goal is to get to net zero, and we’re close to net zero right now.”
OFF THE GRID
One of Edmonton’s custom homebuilders is getting disconnected. Effect Home Builders has purchased the neighbouring apartment building from their current Bonnie Doon location, and will turn an energy guzzler into the first workplace in Edmonton disconnected from the electrical grid.
“This project is very exciting, as it’s much more than a renovation,” say Les Wold, managing partner at Effect Home Builders, regarding Site 10, which is open Saturday, June 2. “It’s considered a deep energy retrofit, because we are incorporating the most environmentally friendly materials and systems into the building to achieve maximum impact and results.”
Effect Home Builders installed an ATCO 1.5kW micro combined heat power (mCHP) unit as part of the building ’s retrofit. The technology is an economical way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, because it produces power while capturing waste heat that can be used to warm the building.
“When using the mCHP unit, carbon dioxide emissions have the potential to be reduced by up to 31 per cent, or three-and-a-half tonnes per year,” said Greg Caldwell, senior manager, research and innovation at ATCO.
Working together with them C HP unit, Sol North Engineering incorporated a 4.9kW PV system designed and installed by local company SkyFire Energy to provide enough power to allow the building to become independent of the electrical grid.
Wold notes that the technology being showcased in this office renovation also works in residential renovations, and said the system would greatly improve the efficiency of older homes.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT
A garden suite stop on the EcoSolar Home Tour will demonstrate what you can do with a little outside-the-box thinking.
After all, how many shipping container buildings do you know of that have an air-tight building envelope, a high-efficiency heat pump, and an integrated heat recovery ventilator (HRV )?
Site 3, viewable on Saturday, June 2, has all that and more. Its water systems are on one side of the building, so water line runs are shorter. There is a low-flush toilet, low-flow shower heads and faucets, and a programmable smart thermostat.
“It’s fascinating,” said Mills. “You can’t tell it’s made out of a shipping container. It’s a really interesting concept.”
While this energy-efficient offering isn’t a net zero home, Mills notes that the builders have designs available that will let them increase it to net zero in the future.
We are incorporating the most environmentally friendly materials and systems ... to achieve maximum impact and results.