Our move to green construction came from our absolute conviction that there had to be a better way to build a house. After many years of renovations and restorations under our belt, we were eager to build using a ‘whole systems’ approach.
House construction is a complex arrangement of systems which, too often, are simply hooked together with little or no thought as to how they should interrelate. Recognizing that every element is affected by and has an impact on the next, we wanted to insure the thoughtful linking of systems to create a dynamic, well functioning and durable whole.
Our commitment is to create living spaces that are measurably healthful and ecologically sound, that are extremely energy efficient and that embrace accessible design. With careful thought and planning, it is entirely ‘doable’ to build affordable, restorative, earth friendly homes where families will thrive.
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We Build Green Homes that ‘Breathe’
Indoor air quality has a profound effect on our health and productivity. Many buildings tend to be a ‘toxic soup’ of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the building materials, paints, carpets, synthetic fabrics, glues, plastics and foams that surround us. Add to that the amount of fungal growth (mould) now found in vast numbers of buildings and directly related to allergies and illness. High indoor air quality can be achieved by eliminating products which off gas, by improving ventilation and controlling humidity. We have chosen to build primarily with the Durisol wall system in part because of its effectiveness in these areas.
Durisol is an insulated concrete form manufactured in Ontario from recycled waste wood (100% natural lumber) bonded with Portland cement. These blocks are hygroscopic – they ‘breathe’. Vapour permeable, the walls absorb and release moisture quickly, thus regulating the relative humidity or moisture content of a room. No plastic vapour barrier is used in construction so there is nothing to trap moisture. The blocks dry before mould can develop. The quality of indoor air can be very high as these breathable walls aid in the slow out gassing and removal of VOCs and other toxic gases which may be in your home.
Proper ventilation enhances the effectiveness of breathing walls by quickly delivering oxygen to a room and by assisting in the removal of indoor pollutants. However, ventilation systems are costly, need energy to run, can break down and depend entirely on the ability of people to set and adjust them appropriately. The combination of breathing walls, natural ventilation (open windows) and a small mechanical ventilation system is ideal.
Durisol is also fire proof, sound proof, insulating and incredibly durable. Straw bale and straw clay are also very effective ‘breathing’ walls but are not impervious to fire, moisture and insects in the way Durisol is.
Incredible durability – An ICF home left standing after Hurricane Katrina
Green Building is Energy Efficient
Using the thermal (high mass or heavy) wall allows us to apply a variety of energy systems for optimal efficiency. These could include passive solar, ground source, electric (carefully located and planned), masonry oven, and gas. Passive solar is particularly effective and affordable. The thick walls soak up the heat from the sun during the day and slowly release it during the night – natural, seamless, and cost free. During the winter months, the walls capture the heat from the sun and any other heat source (e.g. ground source, wood stove, etc.) and release it gradually into your home as the air cools. During the summer, the concrete in a green building absorbs the heat from the house and cools the internal air.
The top image shows how little heat loss occurs in an ICF (insulated concrete form) home. The bottom image shows the significant heat loss in a conventionally built home.
Integral to each Durisol block is a layer of insulation (rockwool) inserted on the outer side of the hollow core of the block (‘out’sulation!). The remainder of the core is filled with concrete. This strategic placement of the rockwool allows it to insulate the concrete mass from outside temperatures. In conventional construction, typical fiberglass insulation sags over time, significantly reducing its R value. Not so with Durisol. Your home will maintain a R value of 21. (It has been demonstrated that a R14 Durisol wall system performs better than a standard R30 2×6 framed wall.)
Recycled waste-wood bonded with Portland cement, rockwool, and poured concrete. The perfect trio for insulation, breathability, structure, and durability.
Air is an excellent insulator. In the block, air is trapped between the cement encased wood chips. This, combined with the rockwool and with overall wall depth, creates superior insulating form. The practical result is considerable reduction in the size and power of any supplementary heating source you install which, in turn, results in reduced costs and reduced dependency on mechanical systems in your green building.
Striving for Toxin-Free Construction
Being rigourous about the choice of building and finishing materials can significantly reduce toxin build-up in your home. It’s up to our clients to decide their own tolerance levels so we offer everything from conventional products to formaldehyde free drywall to non-toxic glues and zero VOC paints. If you like, we can also introduce you to extremely healthy alternatives such as clay wall surfacing. The range of non-toxic and zero Voc products is expanding daily. At EcoInhabit, we work hard to keep abreast of new green construction developments. We also very much appreciate it when our clients introduce us to their discoveries.
Reducing Man-made Electromagnetic Radiation
There is increasing attention given to the effects of electricity on our bodies. AC current creates both electric and magnetic fields, often referred to as electromagnetic radiation (EMR) – another type of pollution. This is an area of growing concern. While we don’t yet fully understand the health implications, we do know that careful home design and construction can minimize one’s daily exposure to electromagnetic radiation. (Reducing EMR in your bedroom is particularly important.) Pre-planning is key but the actual technical requirements are relatively straight forward. As we continue to study and learn, we will integrate what we discover into our building protocol.
Embracing Universal Design
The term universal design originated with architect Ron Mace who defined it as “the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.” It is about taking into consideration the various stages of life and the various shapes and sizes and abilities of people and coming up with common sense ways of creating spaces that are safe and accessible for everyone.
