Following is a list of features which we offer for your energy efficient home. Our team of contractors and trades (in the Toronto area) are familiar with our methods of sustainable construction, increased thermal mass and insulation, and with the design of our various heating systems. This familiarity makes the construction process considerably smoother than that where trades need familiarizing with methods which are different to the norm. In areas outside Toronto, however, we are happy to explore relationships with local builders and trades. We are always mindful of streetscape in our urban designs. We provide complete project administration from beginning to end.
1. Our Design Drawings
 We provide a level of detail in our design drawings and documents which are outstanding in the industry. This level of detail has many advantages. Firstly, before a hammer is even lifted on your project, we have worked through every detail of your energy efficient home meticulously with you, addressing every issue and preference, so that you get exactly home you want, with exactly the features which you want. The second advantage to such complete preparation is that it eliminates guess work on the part of the contractor. Everything is outlined in thorough construction notes, thus making the construction process much, much smoother. The third advantage is that our mechanical drawings are leading edge, which means that your home will have the best energy efficiency possible, within your budget. As a matter of course, we include kitchen and bathroom designs, again, well thought through with you, customized for your needs.
2. Heating Systems
Our energy efficient heating systems are based on not only your budget and preferences, but are accurately sized after meticulous heat load calculations on each room. These calculations are influenced by the numbers and kinds of windows, the amount of insulation, and the air-tightness of the building. We do not base the size of the heating system on the square footage of the house. Blower-Door Tests are performed on the completed house to ensure that the air-tightness assumed in the calculations have been achieved. With an air-tight home, our routinely installed whole-house Heat Recovery Ventilator ensures that the freshness of the interior air quality is maintained. The HRV not only provides continuous fresh air, but fresh air which is tempered by the exhausted warm air, minimizing the environmental impact by heating the incoming cold air in the winter, with the reverse holding true in the summer months. We routinely install R50 walls and R70 ceilings with triple glazed, low-E, argon filled fiberglass windows with non-conductive edge spacers. (www.thermotechwindows.com)
Following are some of the heating systems which we install:
- passive or active solar or combinations of the two for space heating, pool heating or domestic hot water heating (www.enersol.com)
- ground source heat pumps aka geothermal
- high efficiency wood burning radiant masonry wood-fired heaters (www.tempcast.com)
- high efficiency wood fireplaces (www.rumford.com)
- high efficiency domestic hot water heaters in combination with:
- radiant heating utilizing heat exchangers (no furnace, no ducts)
- in-floor radiant heating utilizing heat exchangers (no furnace, no ducts)
- forced air over hot water heated fan coil (surprisingly quiet!)
3. Services Provided and Recommended Features
Our recommendations are based on our 30 years of experience and those of our clients.
We provide custom interior design of kitchens and baths as part of our complete set of design drawings.
We employ a unique wall construction which allows for maximum insulation and minimizes the use of natural resources.
We routinely install an insulated basement floor slab in new construction. Uninsulated, it is a great source of heat loss.
We routinely design front and rear door air-lock vestibule/mudroom areas.
We like to suggest second-floor laundry rooms as a labour-saving feature!
We design custom roof trusses when needed.
Our homes do not have icicles in the winter from heat loss through the attic, and the bedrooms are comfortable year-round, attributable to the super insulation. The basements are cozy, usable spaces for the same reason.
We like to recommend permanent wood foundations because not only are they a renewable resource but they offer a cavity for insulation without having to build a second wall. (www.grassroots.ca/homeowner_help_articles/permanent-wood-foundations.php)
We ensure that vapour barriers are carefully wrapped and sealed to ensure a tight building envelope without leaks or opportunity for condensation.
Our trim carpenters can install beautiful trim, fireplace mantles, built-in shelving or storage; in fact, we design and install any customized carpentry you wish, in order to make your house perfect for your needs. We take pride in matching old to new carpentry to maintain original architectural features.
We like to recommend increased interior thermal mass construction with heat retentive materials to maximize heat retention from solar and interior gains, hugely contributing to energy efficiency.
We recommend and install roof gardens where possible to reduce heat loss and energy consumption for heating and air-conditioning as well as for their pleasing aesthetic value and planet-greening attributes.
We recommend rain barrels to divert run-off, providing free, non-chlorinated water for gardens and plants.
We provide careful design and installation of the domestic water distribution system which ensures that water pressure is not affected by multiple users.
We can also provide the design and installation for grey water recovery systems.
We make every effort to recycle building materials and excavated soil.
We can recommend energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable interior finishes for flooring and window coverings. (www.floor4you.com)
We have as part of our team engineering consultants.
We recommend ceiling fans and are mindful of cross-flow ventilation in our designs.
4. Miscellaneous Features Offered
- solar space heating, pool and/or domestic hot water systems (www.enersol.com)
- off-grid solar collectors with battery storage systems
- emergency back up generators
- rough-in for either of the above for future installation
- formaldehyde-free building materials
- rainwater management systems
- gray water recovery systems
- composting toilets
- reverse-osmosis drinking water purifying systems (www.nimbuswater.com)
- rain barrels
- clothes lines!
- salt water swimming pool systems: healthier and huge cost savings (www.enersol.com)
- use of only FSC certified wood (Forest Stewardship Council) (www.fsccanada.org)
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