Ottawa Construction News staff writer
Minto Communities Canada has introduced the first Net Zero Energy (NZE) multifamily residential complex in Ontario. The block of four Minto Executive Townhomes are located in its Kanata community Arcadia.
“This project addresses affordability in Net Zero Energy homes, bringing competitively priced NZE homes to the market,” said Susan Murphy, Minto’s vice president of land development. “What was once only available in one off, high performance custom homes is now more accessible to the average consumer.”
Built as part of a Canada wide Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) program, the townhouses are projected to deliver a 65 per cent reduction in total home energy consumption. They complement The Killarney Net Zero show home at Arcadia, which was a finalist for the 2016 Award of Distinction for the ‘most outstanding production built home’ by the Ontario Home Builders’ Association.
The townhouses start at $352,900 with what the company says are “many standard features you would expect in a single family home – spacious 9 ft. ceilings, open concept kitchens with islands, ample closet space, and some with mud rooms and laundry rooms on the second floor.”
“But the Net Zero Energy Townhomes have also been designed with the ability to generate as much energy as a family would consume over a year,” the company says in a news release.
Energy saving features include:
• An Owens Corning air barrier system;
• Two extra inches of exterior insulation;
• Triple pane high performance windows;
• Heat pump technology used for space and water heating;
• Solar (PV) panels for electricity generation;
• LED lighting;
• A drain water heat recovery system;
• High efficiency water fixtures; and
• An advanced energy monitoring system to keep homebuyers informed on their energy consumption.
“Net zero energy homes demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency,” says Kanata-Carleton MP Karen McCrimmon, parliamentary secretary to the minister of Veterans Affairs and associate minister of National Defence, who attended the event. “They are a viable way to create sustainable jobs, protect the environment and advance a clean energy economy. Through sustained commitment and innovation, Minto Communities Canada is making it easier for Canadians to save energy, save money and reduce energy consumption.”
“These are the first townhouses in Canada to be labelled under the CHBA (Canadian Home Builders’ Association) Net Zero Home Program,” said CHBA executive officer Kevin Lee. “They are a great example of Canadian homebuilders delivering quality and value for families across the country.”
