Equilibrium Housing is Energy Efficient

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 annual basis. This will be achieved by matching high-performance, energy-efficient, passive solar house design with commercially available on-site renewable energy systems such as solar water heating, photovoltaics, wind and ground-source heat. Connected to the electricity grid, these homes draw power only as needed — and can feed excess power back into the system. EQuilibrium housing also addresses two other growing concerns: peak electricity demand and lifecycle embodied energy.

Total Net Annual Energy Consumption

Construct highly energy efficient homes that produce as much or more energy than they use on an annual basis, as measured at the property site.

Achieve an EnerGuide for Houses (EGH) Rating of 100 (i.e., Net Zero Energy). Achieving this rating will require the construction of a high performance envelope, a passive solar design, application of integrated renewable energy technologies, and specification of low energy appliances, lighting and equipment.

The EGH rating used in the EQuilibrium houisng initiative is a modification of the standard EGH rating used in the EnerGuide for Houses program. This is because the EGH rating allows for reductions in base load electricity and hot water use, and may include air conditioning energy. An EGH* Rating of 100 can be achieved by designing a house that does not consume energy or produces as much energy as it consumes on an annual basis.

Strategies:

• Optimal solar orientation.
• Smaller housing units.
• Thermal insulation.
• High performance building envelope.
• Low energy HVAC.
• Passive solar heating.
• Heat storage.
• Optimized equipment power requirements.
• Integrated renewable energy technologies.
• Grid interconnection.
• Display of energy use for occupants.

Renewable Energy Strategy

Deploy and demonstrate renewable energy technologies and systems that can meet or exceed household needs in a simple and reliable manner.

Design, specify and install renewable energy systems that are cost effective, environmentally appropriate, robust, reliable and that are builder and occupant friendly.

Strategies:

• Renewable energy technology.
• Grid interconnection.
• Optimized renewable energy contribution within total energy use.
• Simplicity and reliability of approach.
• Viability with respect to ease of design, installation, operation and maintenance.
• User control and information outputs.

Peak Electricity Demand

Minimize peak electricity demand at the utility level.

Reduce electricity use during peak demand periods that usually correspond to times when the most energy is required for space conditioning and other occupant uses.

Peak electrical demand is a problem in some areas during the summer due to air-conditioning loads and limited electrical generation capacity. Winter peaks can occur in areas where electric space heating is common. Peak demands distort the ability to match generating capacity to average demands. The reduction of peak electricity demand can reduce the strain on electricity infrastructure systems, helps to limit the need for electricity imports and limits the need to construct new generation capacity.

Strategies:

• Reduction of local utility peak summer or peak winter electrical demand by low-energy lighting, appliances and equipment.
• Solar optimization.
• Window glazing selection and shading.
• Thermal mass.
• Reduction of heat and air movement through the building envelope.
• Electricity generation from renewable sources.
• Active electricity load shedding.
• Energy storage.
• Timing of demand and renewable energy supply.
• Controls.

Embodied Energy Strategy

Reduce the amount of embodied energy attributed to the construction, maintenance and eventual demolition and disposal of the building.

Select building materials with lower amounts of embodied energy. Design the house to limit energy requirements associated with materials and processes required for maintenance and renewal. Design a house that can be easily dismantled, reused and recycled at the end of its service life.

Embodied energy is the total amount of energy required to extract raw materials, process them into products and transport them to the building site. While the energy embodied in the materials and products used to construct and maintain a building over its lifecycle is small in comparison to the energy consumed to operate the building, embodied energy is an important factor to be assessed when considering the sustainability of building designs.

Strategies:

• Embodied energy reduction.
• Compact and efficient housing design.
• Use of low energy intensity materials.
• Materials with recycled content.
• Durable materials.
• Locally produced materials.