Kamloops Team’s “Green Dream Home” Comes Out On Top
A Winner Of CMHC’s EQuilibrium™ Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative
Moishe Alexander’s Review:
KAMLOOPS, February 13, 2009 — A Kamloops builder and developer team made up of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) Central Interior Chapter, and Thompson Rivers University, has been chosen to build one of three new CMHC EQuilibrium™ Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative homes, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) announced today.
In total, three builder and developer teams, including Kamloops’ CHBA and Thompson Rivers University (TRU) “Green Dream Home” team, have been chosen to build eco-friendly homes as part of the second phase of CMHC’s EQuilibrium™ Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative – a national project leading to the construction of the next generation of sustainable homes in British Columbia and Atlantic Canada.
“The Government of Canada is proud to work with the Kamloops’ builder and developer team to extend the EQuilibrium™ initiative to B.C.,” said MP Cathy McLeod, on behalf of Minister Finley. “As a champion of sustainable housing, the Kamloops builder and developer team, and the other builder teams participating in the EQuilibrium™ initiative, are putting their expertise to work for the benefit of Canadians and providing a blueprint for the next generation of sustainable housing in Canada.”
The “Green Dream Home” will be designed to have minimal environmental impact, aim to produce as much energy as it uses on an annual basis, and be built primarily by TRU students as part of their training program. Once completed, the home will be open for public tours and then raffled-off to raise funds for the local YMCA. When occupied, the home will be monitored for performance for at least one year.
“This was a natural next step for our Training House Committee to pursue,” said Doug Wittal, President of the CHBA Central Interior Chapter. “As an Association, we have been actively demonstrating and promoting green alternatives for housing for the past three years with our Built Green™ BC program. This project takes Built Green™ to a higher level than achieved to date.”
“We are extremely proud that Thompson Rivers University and our Trades and Technology students are part of the team chosen to build the Green Dream Home,” said Dr. Kathleen Scherf, TRU President and Vice-Chancellor. “This project encompasses elements that enable TRU to step forward as the university of choice for environmental sustainability, career success and student engagement.”
In addition to the “Green Dream Home”, the other two winning projects are:
The Harmony House (Burnaby, B.C.): a project by Habitat Design + Consulting and Insightful Healthy Homes Ltd.; and,
The Moncton VISION Home (Moncton, N.B.): a project by AlternaHome Solutions Inc. in partnership with Vision Land Development Ltd.
The EQuilibrium™ housing vision brings together, under one roof, the principles of occupant health and comfort, energy efficiency, renewable energy production, resource conservation, reduced environmental impact and affordability. CMHC originally launched the EQuilibrium™ initiative in May 2006 by inviting Canadian builders and developers to submit their visions for EQuilibrium™ demonstration homes. Six projects have since been completed and opened to the public for viewing. For more information on the EQuilibrium™ initiative and projects, visit www.cmhc.ca.
CMHC has worked closely with many stakeholders to develop and launch EQuilibrium™. In particular, CMHC has collaborated closely with Natural Resources Canada which has contributed substantial research and development expertise and resources to advancing the initiative.
As Canada’s national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable, and affordable homes — homes that will continue to create vibrant and healthy communities and cities across the country.
For more info: http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/corp/nero/nere/2009/2009-02-13-1430b.cfm