Category: Uncategorised

Clean Energy and Renewables – By Christian Rinomato and Grace

What if we could live in a world powered by clean energy? The members of the Sustainable Housing Foundation will be hosting a webinar to try and answer this question by understanding the application of Renewable Energy in the home building industry. The virtual webinar will be hosted via Zoom on May 17th, 2023 from 10:30am to 12:00pm. Please join us and register at eventbrite via

 

Topics include:

  • The countries setting targets for a  Net Zero world by 2050, more and more capital is directed at new clean energy projects.
  • The increase globally in the use of renewable energy through sources like solar and wind.
  • Impact of the Ukrainian war making the use of renewable energy a cost effective practice in Europe vs oil and gas
  • The Global renewable electricity capacity forecasted to become equivalent to current global fossil fuel and nuclear electricity capacity by 2026

 

Sustainable Housing Foundation Thought Starter – May

 

 

By Christian Rinomato of RGC Energy

 

What if we could live in a world powered by clean energy?

That reality is not too far off. Globally we have seen an incredible increase in the use of renewable energy through sources like solar and wind. As countries set targets for a Net Zero world by 2050, more and more capital is directed at new clean energy projects. Global events have also set us off in this direction such as the war in Ukrainian which increased the cost of oil and gas to unsustainable levels, making the use of renewable energy a cost-effective practice in Europe. In the United States, Biden introduced an Infrastructure Bill that would see spending in the trillions to encourage the transition to renewable energy.

“By 2026, global renewable electricity capacity is forecast to rise more than 60% from 2020 levels to over 4 800 GW – equivalent to the current total global power capacity of fossil fuels and nuclear combined. Renewables are set to account for almost 95% of the increase in global power capacity through 2026, with solar PV alone providing more than half.” – IEA

The transition to renewable energy is going to take all of us to play its role, both in adoption and acceptance. A world with no carbon-emitting energy sources is possible for a cleaner, more prosperous world.

 

Source:

https://www.iea.org/news/renewable-electricity-growth-is-accelerating-faster-than-ever-worldwide-supporting-the-emergence-of-the-new-global-energy-economy

Sustainable Thought Starter: Understanding the Law of Diminishing Returns: The Best Practice

 

Understanding the Law of Diminishing Returns: The Best Practice

 

“The law of diminishing returns means that even the most beneficial principle will become harmful if carried far enough.” — Thomas Sowell

Energy performance was introduced under SB-12 in 2012, then again at 15% better in 2017 and, very shortly, we are expecting harmonization with the National Building Code (NBC) in March 2024. Currently the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) is proposing to adopt Tier 3 of the NBC (roughly 8% higher than Package A1), and policy makers are targeting net zero by 2030.

An important question is: where does the law of diminishing returns kick in? See graph. Ironically, the most popular programs — like net zero or Passive House — were conceived before we started accounting for embodied carbon. Building components like triple-glazed windows, certain types of insulation and concrete can also negate these emission reductions. Early experiences show that electric NZE houses cost more to operate.

Where is the sweet spot? Is net zero a reasonable goal? Time will tell.  Wood is renewable and, best of all, is a carbon sink. Trees produce oxygen and absorb CO2. Using wood in large building structures replaces concrete and steel and thus reduces the largest sources of embodied carbon in buildings.

Triple-glazed windows could be the last choice depending on a home’s size, orientation and climate. A low solar heat gain coefficient may be a more important value for comfort and efficiency than an extra pane of glass.

It has been said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Using more embodied carbon to save operational carbon is just adding fuel to the fire. With diminishing time and resources in a period of climate change, finding the point of diminishing returns is of utmost importance.

Sustainable Thought Starter

 

 

Hi,

Here are some thoughts that Paul De Berardis would like you to consider when it comes to the residential building sector.

There are always two sides to every story, but the general consensus is that individuals working within the residential new home industry feel they are doing their part to address climate change, whereas external organizations always feel more can and should be done.

 

While there is merit to both sides of the argument, this must also be viewed from the lens that homes are ultimately sold to consumers, who are typically constrained by financial budgets, especially considering the rising trend in mortgage interest rates, so more may not always be better for everyone. There also needs to be consideration for constructability and embodied carbon, as homes become more complex to construct through increasing regulatory requirements, and they take more time and resources to build. Government policies are pushing home builders to ramp up operations and build more homes than ever to address housing affordability, yet there is a declining workforce of skilled trades, and building regulations are only getting more onerous, counterintuitive to say the least.

Please join us for our virtual seminar, “The Low Carbon Builder Coalition” being held on March 22nd 2023 from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm for more information on this. 

Sustainable Housing Foundation ” Diminishing Marginal Returns, CO2 Reductions and Future Fuels

River forest

The members of the Sustainable Housing Foundation held a webinar to “Fill the Gap” in meeting carbon reduction in the home building industry. The virtual webinar was hosted via Zoom on March 22, 2023 from 10:30am to 12:00pm.

 

  • Low carbon definition: both operational and embodied carbon
  • The hybrid house wisely using primary natural gas combo system
  • Measuring CO2 reductions using HERS ratings and ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301-2019
  • GTA low carbon builders taking credit for exceeding current federal government’s mandates
  • Creating realistic definitions for zero rated houses

 

A copy of the presentation is attached below.

John and Frank – Diminishing Marginal Returns and Future Fuels – March 22 2023

 

2023 SHF Green Builder Tournament

golf tournament
June 22, 2023 12 Noon to 5 PM
Flemingdon Golf Course, Toronto

The annual Green Builder Challenge Golf Tournament, hosted  by the Sustainable Housing Foundation’s President John Godden, is happening on Thursday June 22nd in the afternoon and you are invited to attend. Lunch and beverages will be provided before the first T-off time at 1 PM so come early and enjoy a relaxing lunch on the patio and great networking opportunity with your colleagues from the sustainable building industry in Toronto.

The price to play is $150 with all proceeds going toward supporting the educational training that the Foundation undertakes every year.  You can book for just yourself and we will place you in a foursome, or book your own foursome and reward your staff or clients to  a great afternoon of golf and comradery. Space is limited to 40 golfers so please book early. Please note that the game played will be best ball with T-offs scheduled every 10 minutes or so starting at 1 PM. The course is a nine hole course so only takes a couple of hours to play.  No mechanical carts are allowed but you will be provided with a pull handle. Golf clubs can be rented directly from the golf course if pre-arranged with them. Registration details to come. Hope to see you there!

Filling the Gap Think Tank

Sustainable Housing
FILLING THE GAP THINK TANK
Monday December 5th 5 PM to 7 PM Reception and Discussion

Hawthorn Room, The Thornhill Club

Join members of the Sustainable Housing Foundation Board as they share their vision for how to “Fill the Gap” in meeting carbon reduction in the home building industry – and share your own ideas with them. We are hosting a cocktail reception at the Thornhill Club from 5 PM to 7 PM on Monday December 5, 2022.

Help us set the Agenda for our upcoming winter learning sessions as we prioritize ideas such as:

  • Future fuels- including hydrogen;
  • Embodied carbon – what it means for builders;
  • Connected buildings and neighbourhood grids;
  • How to create reasonable targets for carbon reduction;
  • Structural design efficiencies for sustainability and resiliency;
  • Finding the skilled trades needed;
  • Home energy management systems;
  • Global warming products for the construction industry.

Pre-registration is required but there is no cost to attend for invited guests. Help us re-introduce our in-person networking events where builders, designers, energy auditors and product manufacturers can share ideas on how to build more Sustainable Housing.

2022 Annual Green Builder Challenge Golf Tournament

June 23, 2022 12 Noon to 5 PM
Flemingdon Golf Course, Toronto

The annual Green Builder Challenge Golf Tournament, hosted  by the Sustainable Housing Foundation’s President John Godden, is happening on Thursday June 23rd in the afternoon and you are invited to attend. Lunch and beverages will be provided before the first T-off time at 1 PM so come early and enjoy a relaxing lunch on the patio and great networking opportunity with your colleagues from the sustainable building industry in Toronto.

The price to play is $150 with all proceeds going toward supporting the educational training that the Foundation undertakes every year.  You can book for just yourself and we will place you in a foursome, or book your own foursome and reward your staff or clients to  a great afternoon of golf and comradery. Space is limited to 40 golfers so please book early. Please note that the game played will be best ball with T-offs scheduled every 10 minutes or so starting at 1 PM. The course is a nine hole course so only takes a couple of hours to play.  No mechanical carts are allowed but you will be provided with a pull handle. Golf clubs can be rented directly from the golf course if pre-arranged with them.

Marketing Your Sustainable Home Webinar

Marketing a sustainable home
May 19, 2022 10:30 AM to 12 PM

Join us for the final webinar in our 2021-22 series on building more sustainable housing using a Sustainability Checklist of products, technologies and building techniques. Now that your house is ready to sell, how do you market the key features to potential buyers? This webinar will look at some key marketing strategies highlighting some of the, often hidden, benefits of purchasing a sustainable home.  Please join two young builders Christian Rinomato of Country Homes and Tim Campanale of Campanale Homes to survey and discuss their strategies and websites. The event will be moderated by John Godden

This is an online event. Please reserve your spot today, spaces are limited. Login details will be emailed out to registered attendees before the event.

Municipal Overreach Webinar

sub-division under construction
Thursday April 21, 2022 at 10:30 AM to 12 PM

One of the biggest issues and impediments to a more streamlined and predictable development approvals process in Ontario is municipal overreach above and beyond what is called for in the Provincial Building Code. Navigating these independent rules and regulations, especially with Green Initiatives, means Developers need to be savvy of rules in each Municipality they work in. This creates extra time and costs to get projects approved and does not necessarily result in a better, more sustainable home.

This is an online Zoom webinar. Login details will be sent to all registered guests beforehand. There is no charge for this Webinar.