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.