PENFIELD DRIVE NET ZERO READY RENOVATION
What Is a Net Zero Ready Renovation?
A Net Zero Ready Renovation uses an Integrated Design process to develop a roadmap towards Net Zero Energy* use. This involves bringing parties together during the design process such as an Energy Advisor, the project designer, contractor, specific tradespeople and others to discuss and evaluate the proposed design using energy modelling, carbon modelling and estimating to work with the homeowner to create a path to Net Zero Energy. The completed renovation is evaluated and certified by a third party organization to ensure it meets the requirements of the CHBA Net Zero Ready labelling program.
*Net Zero Energy is defined as a home that produces as much energy as it consumes over the course of a calendar year.
Why Net Zero Ready?
The Net Zero Ready program is not only about reducing energy consumption but providing optimal comfort to our family by increasing air quality through balanced ventilation, reducing drafts through high performance windows and improved air sealing, and decreasing cold spots throughout the house by improving the insulation. We will also be implementing resiliency measures such as adding additional structural support to reduce damage from a high wind event, installing a sump pump system and installing a backflow preventer.
Ultimately, we enjoy our home, we love our community and wish to spend many years here in the future.
A Net Zero Ready Renovation uses an Integrated Design process to develop a roadmap towards Net Zero Energy* use. This involves bringing parties together during the design process such as an Energy Advisor, the project designer, contractor, specific tradespeople and others to discuss and evaluate the proposed design using energy modelling, carbon modelling and estimating to work with the homeowner to create a path to Net Zero Energy. The completed renovation is evaluated and certified by a third party organization to ensure it meets the requirements of the CHBA Net Zero Ready labelling program.
*Net Zero Energy is defined as a home that produces as much energy as it consumes over the course of a calendar year.
Why Net Zero Ready?
The Net Zero Ready program is not only about reducing energy consumption but providing optimal comfort to our family by increasing air quality through balanced ventilation, reducing drafts through high performance windows and improved air sealing, and decreasing cold spots throughout the house by improving the insulation. We will also be implementing resiliency measures such as adding additional structural support to reduce damage from a high wind event, installing a sump pump system and installing a backflow preventer.
Ultimately, we enjoy our home, we love our community and wish to spend many years here in the future.
The Project:
Our home is a semi-detached located in the Beaverbrook area of Ottawa, Canada. The house is a two-storey 1200 ft2 above grade with a full basement. The home was constructed in 1969 using techniques and methods of the time. We purchased the house in 2017 and performed some minor cosmetic renovations prior to moving in. We replaced the furnace and air conditioner in 2017 and installed a new flat roof in 2022.
Over the years living in the home, we’ve experienced discomfort in various areas around the house, common to houses of the period. In the winter, the upstairs bedrooms would be cold (particularly the room with the largest window) and the basement office would be warm due to the location adjacent to the furnace, and in the summer the opposite experience would occur. We’ve also experienced times of poor air quality where odours and smells seem to be present in different areas of the home and air would seem stuffy and stale. We wanted to address the comfort and air quality issues, but in doing so would also achieve a higher level of energy efficiency. We also wanted to consider sound building science and the house as a system approach in all aspects of the design and the renovation.
Our home is a semi-detached located in the Beaverbrook area of Ottawa, Canada. The house is a two-storey 1200 ft2 above grade with a full basement. The home was constructed in 1969 using techniques and methods of the time. We purchased the house in 2017 and performed some minor cosmetic renovations prior to moving in. We replaced the furnace and air conditioner in 2017 and installed a new flat roof in 2022.
Over the years living in the home, we’ve experienced discomfort in various areas around the house, common to houses of the period. In the winter, the upstairs bedrooms would be cold (particularly the room with the largest window) and the basement office would be warm due to the location adjacent to the furnace, and in the summer the opposite experience would occur. We’ve also experienced times of poor air quality where odours and smells seem to be present in different areas of the home and air would seem stuffy and stale. We wanted to address the comfort and air quality issues, but in doing so would also achieve a higher level of energy efficiency. We also wanted to consider sound building science and the house as a system approach in all aspects of the design and the renovation.
Our Process
During the preliminary design stage, we engaged with trades, product suppliers and consultants. We then held design charettes for building envelope upgrades and mechanical upgrades, a process where a team is assembled to provide analysis and feedback on different design alternatives. We then studied the reduction in energy and carbon using modelling software to come up with a design based on the information and feedback we received. This process was extremely valuable in making the best decisions and implementing products and construction strategies.
We designed with the long term goal of reaching net zero energy using photovoltaic panels, determined the maximum output and worked backwards using energy modelling software to evaluate different energy efficiency upgrades such as insulation, air tightness, windows and mechanical systems to get us to an energy performance that could be offset with solar. We also used carbon modelling software to evaluate the carbon impact of the various materials we considered and engaged a mechanical designer to design a new HVAC system based on the upgraded performance of the house and determine the peak heat loss and heat gain. After we assembled a package to work with our budget and decided where to spend a little extra to get superior products, we developed a phasing which would focus on building envelope upgrades first (insulation, windows, air tightness), then mechanicals over the following year, then solar down the road when feasible.
During the preliminary design stage, we engaged with trades, product suppliers and consultants. We then held design charettes for building envelope upgrades and mechanical upgrades, a process where a team is assembled to provide analysis and feedback on different design alternatives. We then studied the reduction in energy and carbon using modelling software to come up with a design based on the information and feedback we received. This process was extremely valuable in making the best decisions and implementing products and construction strategies.
We designed with the long term goal of reaching net zero energy using photovoltaic panels, determined the maximum output and worked backwards using energy modelling software to evaluate different energy efficiency upgrades such as insulation, air tightness, windows and mechanical systems to get us to an energy performance that could be offset with solar. We also used carbon modelling software to evaluate the carbon impact of the various materials we considered and engaged a mechanical designer to design a new HVAC system based on the upgraded performance of the house and determine the peak heat loss and heat gain. After we assembled a package to work with our budget and decided where to spend a little extra to get superior products, we developed a phasing which would focus on building envelope upgrades first (insulation, windows, air tightness), then mechanicals over the following year, then solar down the road when feasible.