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Through thoughtful, innovative design and construction processes, it is expected that EQuilibrium housing will help to conserve our natural resources. Building size should be optimized for intended use, materials should be specified from local and renewable resources, and construction waste should be reduced and well managed. Additionally, improving the durability of building components can reduce the consumption of resources. Water conservation is also another important element of an EQuilibrium home design.

Sustainable Materials

Maximize the use of healthy, renewable or sustainable materials, while minimizing their transportation factor.

Design the house and use construction practices which maximize use of renewable or sustainable source materials that are readily available, local, affordable and easy to build with.

Strategies:

  • Re-used materials.
  • Salvaged materials.
  • Materials containing recycled content.
  • Wood from third party certified sustainable forests.
  • Rapidly renewable materials.
  • Non-exotic wood species.
  • Appropriate materials selected for intended use.

 Design for Durability

Reduce resource use associated with maintenance, repair and renewal work over the life of the building.

To design building assemblies with longer life expectancies to minimize the use of resources, reduce the need for early disposal and replacement. To balance the costs and benefits of durable designs and improved construction practices with lower repair costs over the lifecycle of the building.

The eventual need for building repair, rehabilitation and renewal should be taken into account at the design and materials specification phase by identifying the predicted life of major building components and by the development of a maintenance schedule, with the goal to optimize the life of building components with minimal environmental impact. Designs should combine the appropriate selection of materials and systems according to intended use, longevity and ease of maintenance.

Strategies:

  • Selection of durable materials and systems according to intended use.
  • Comprehensive design using best practices for moisture and air barrier design to protect materials from damage and decay.
  • Design for ease of maintenance, periodic refurbishment and replacement of building systems.

Material Efficiency

To make efficient use of materials and to reduce consumption of resources through design.

Design and build appropriately sized housing optimized with respect to material use, form, function, and structure.

There is a directly proportionate link between home size and the consumption of materials and energy. Additionally, conventional construction techniques can be optimized to reduce material use through thoughtful design.

Strategies:

  • Optimized house size form, function and structure.
  • ptimized dimensions to minimize construction waste.
  • Optimum Value Engineering (OVE) techniques.
  • Advanced framing techniques.

Water Conservation

Reduce the demand for potable water.

Reduce household potable water consumption while maintaining market acceptability for strategies used.

Strategies:

  • Reduction of water consumption indoors and outdoors.
  • Water re-use and rain water recovery.
  • Reduced site water needs: low-flush toilets, faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads.

Adaptability/Flexibility

Ensure that the project has built-in adaptability / flexibility that can respond to different occupant requirements over the life cycle of the house. To reduce the need for construction of new housing, and reduce the use of construction materials related to renovation.

Build in flexibility and adaptability that can respond to the changing needs of occupants over the life cycle of the house, thus providing savings in overall resource consumption.

Strategies:

  • CMHC FlexHousing approach.
  • Expandable and contractable space.
  • Rentable space.
 


Equilibrium Housing is Environment Friendly
Nalliah Thayabharan Home Inspector Commercial Building Inspector Toronto (Expert Building Inspections Ltd)
Eqilibrium Housing involves site planning and community design that reduces demand for greenfield development, protects wildlife habitat, agriculture and fisheries, promotes resource-efficient native landscaping, and considers broader community…
Equilibrium Housing is affordable
Nalliah Thayabharan Home Inspector Commercial Building Inspector Toronto (Expert Building Inspections Ltd)
Affordability is an essential aspect of sustainable housing. Sustainable developments generally reduce the life cycle costs of their buildings and infrastructure. They are conceived as durable systems with low maintenance and operating costs that…
Equilibrium Housing is Energy Efficient
Nalliah Thayabharan Home Inspector Commercial Building Inspector Toronto (Expert Building Inspections Ltd)
One of the primary objectives of the EQuilibrium Housing initiative is to demonstrate the capacity of housing to drastically reduce the energy load required by a home, and then to produce as much, or more, renewable energy than it consumes on an…
Equilibrium Housing
Nalliah Thayabharan Home Inspector Commercial Building Inspector Toronto (Expert Building Inspections Ltd)
Faced with rising energy costs, a greater concern for the environment and an increased focus on the health of their families, more and more Canadians are looking for housing options that are healthy, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and…
Building Science Fundamentals 2007
Nalliah Thayabharan Home Inspector Commercial Building Inspector Toronto (Expert Building Inspections Ltd)
Building Science Fundamentals 2007 is an advanced two-day seminar about optimizing building performance. That is, designing buildings that perform as they should: efficiently and without assemblies that spall, decay, corrode, peel, blister, mold,…
All Plastic Vent Piping to be certified to ULC S636 Standard
Nalliah Thayabharan Home Inspector Commercial Building Inspector Toronto (Expert Building Inspections Ltd)
Canadian provinces have now notified gas certificate holders on the date they plan to adopt the 2007 Supplement to the national Natural Gas and Propane Installation Code (CSA B149-1S1-07). This supplement will require that all plastic vent piping to…
Windows & Exterior Doors - Repair or Replace?
Nalliah Thayabharan Home Inspector Commercial Building Inspector Toronto (Expert Building Inspections Ltd)
Windows and exterior doors are subject to the wear and tear that comes from constant use and exposure to the weather. Over time, weatherstripping, hardware and the door and frame materials can deteriorate or fail. Homeowners can either repair or…
A-B-C Window Ratings
Nalliah Thayabharan Home Inspector Commercial Building Inspector Toronto (Expert Building Inspections Ltd)
Windows are an important component of a home. In addition to enhancing the esthetic beauty of the house, windows can provide fresh air and ventilation to the home, allow daylighting to brighten interior spaces and keep out harsh outdoor elements..
Non-Synthetic Treatments for Two Common Lawn Pests
Nalliah Thayabharan Home Inspector Commercial Building Inspector Toronto (Expert Building Inspections Ltd)
Chinch bug Causes yellow patches on grass — can cause grass to turn brown and die. Control Methods Big-eyed bug, tiny wasp and praying mantis are natural predators of chinch bugs. Put 30 ml of dishwashing soap in seven litres of water and…
 

Nalliah Thayabharan Home Inspector Commercial Building Inspector Toronto

Markham, ON

More about me…

Expert Building Inspections Ltd

Address: 123 Worthing Avenue, Markham, ON, L3S 4K1

Office Phone: (905) 940-0811

Cell Phone: (416) 727-8336

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