Going Greener
Four easy ways to improve energy efficiency at home
1 . Lower your wattage : Compact fluorescent light ( CFL ) bulbs are energysavers , but light-emitting diodes ( Leds ) are even better . They last longer , stay cooler and are mercury free .
2 . Shrink the flow : Add a screw-on aerator to each faucet in your home to save 30-50 percent more water .
3 . Flush frugally : Install low-flush toilets , which use as little as 4 L of water per flush , compared to a conventional toilet that uses up to 13 L .
4 . Air it out : More windows that you can open and close allow for passive ventilation . Combined with good insulation in your walls and roof , you could live comfortably without air conditioning during summer months .
A solar-powered Edmonton infill
WINDOWS
Franchuk ’ s triple-glazed , low-e argon-filled fibreglass windows help maximize heat gain in winter and prevent heat loss . Window size , positioning and purpose are also important . Large windows centered in the middle of her walls let light in , while other windows open to provide ventilation . You might think more smaller windows would be better . But more windows means more frames , which can block light . Franchuk ’ s frames have an r5 rating , whereas the centre of window is better rated at r8 .
Home No . 2 : EfficiEncy SwEEt Spot
“ If we ’ re going to start fresh , we ’ re going to go efficient .” That was the goal Roberta Franchuk and her husband , Dietmar Kennepohl , set when they decided to build their 2,200-square-foot McKernan home . After purchasing an infill lot in 2013 , the couple hired Peter Amerongen of Habitat Studios to design and build a passive solar house , which generates more energy than it consumes .
“ The challenge with building a passive house in a northern climate is that you need a really sunny site for it ,” says Franchuk , noting their lot ’ s sun shortcomings . Undeterred , Amerongen modelled three designs with varying EnerGuide ratings . “ The biggest bang for the buck was to add solar ,” says Franchuk . “ Peter calls it the sweet spot of energy efficiency .”
INSULATION
Cellulose insulation — made from recycled newsprint — is a sustainable choice , rating r40 in Franchuk ’ s walls and r80 in the attic . energy efficiency is further maximized by a heat pump and recovery ventilator that cools the house . In winter , the two work like a refrigerator in reverse . even at – 20 C , the system draws heat from outside and distributes it throughout the home with a fan and duct system .
56 FALL 2016
AMA InsIder