The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Choosing an energy efficient house SECTION THE HERALD AprllZT IMS Dun ng balmy days of spn rig and summer the last thing anyone wants to rxremlnded of is the inevitable return of winter the other fan of life in northern hemisphere Many Canadians develop a menial block snow I and howling north em winds a soon as the last down filled jacket is stored in spring However if you are shopping for a new house this spring keep the memory alive it east until you are satisfied tut he dwelling is energy efficient Choosing an Energy Efficient House A buyer guide published by Canada Mortgage Housing Corpo ration answer common energy The aims make en house hunters aware of the elements of energy efficiency and where There are five components thai work together to create the energy efficient home insulation airtight cons controlled ventilation passive solar healing and an efficient healing system When these factors interna prop erly fuel consumption can be up per cent less the conventional house The we 1 1 de signed well built energy efficient house is also draft free with even temperature distribution It will be cooler in the summer warmer in the winter quieter less dusty and maintain a comfortable level of humid ity CMHC guide will steer you clear of the pitfalls of poor construction or design These include higher than necessary construction costs overheat ing spring and fall poor air quality condensation build upon Interior walls and windows and a house that may be more expensive to beat expected Although there arc no guarantees of energy performance Canada building industry is responding to the energy needs of homeowners You can ensure a well built energy efficient home by asking the builder or seller about the five factors of energy efficiency Insulation Pint determine the insulation levels recommended for different areas of house by local building codes these will vary according lo regional ell mate The value various types of Insulation art assigned RSI units which measure the resistance to heat loss Compare recommended levels with those actually used Take a good look at the insulation to Check that It it evenly distributed throughout the house but kept clear of chimneys ven illation features electrical wiring and plumbing penetrations If buying a home with a cathedral Ceiling or flat roof make sure there is enough room for insulation and ventila lion between the insulation and the roof deck normally 300500 mm The energy efficient building will have higher levels of insulation in nor walls dun its conventional counter pan Good construction means the avoid ancc of thermal bridges that is areas where heat con bypass insulation and escape through building materials joists and masonry walls can act as energy conducting thermal In the basement walls should be insulated right to the floor and lion so we II drained to reduce heat loss and prevent frost heave Ideally insulation is applied to the outside as it keeps the wall warm and ground wall area has been covered by a material Floors over unhealed garages or crawl spaces should also be insulated Many builders insulate the basement slab to increase the amount of Me living space available in the house Alnlghtness The energy efficient house does not rely on insulation alone Airtight con struct on kccpingwormairinandcold air out is also a major factor to con In extremely cold or damp climates airtight construction is vital because frost and condensation can build up often causing structural damage to the Normally is performed on to determine how light it is and where leaks are located Before you buy ask the builder if tcsi was corned qui and what the results EXPERIENCE COUNTS At Work trad FREE ESTIMATES VISA 8771314 throughout the house Sometimes de as a large sealed bag stops interior and exterior air from pass ing through the walls and stops water vapour from entering the wall from inside the house A word of caution once construe lion is completed it is impossible if the vapour barrier has been in stalled correctly without tearing apart Because of this it is vital they buyer check Controlled Ventilation In an airtight house a controlled ventilation system is necessary to pro vide a constant supply of fresh air and remove excess humidity odours and indoor contaminants Water vapour produced by day to day activities such as showering cook and even breathing If humidity high forms on the coldest surface available resulting in growth of mildew and wood rot Ventilation will guard against a stuffy home and clear out household smells More important a properly installed system prevents the build up of chemical contaminants be hai ardous occupants of the house Dunng spring and summer ventila is provided simply by opening the window Each room should have a window mat can be opened lo ensure cross ventilation and fire safety the winter open windows arc an energy waste Exhaust fans used in with a fresh air supply system in airtight house provide good flow of air Often devices are installed to recover heat from warm air exhausted to ihe Windows need not be the energy drain they often arc in houses If properly placed they can be a free If not theycan turn your home into a sauna the heat of the summer An energy efficient house has most of the windows facing south lake advantage of solar heal in the winter However morethan7percentsouthem gloss exposure could result in overheat ing if no shade is provided by an over hang from the roof Check for glazing of vertical win Verb windows block the summer sun hanging high in the sky In winter vertical windows let the sun which is lower into the house Most windows in Canada have double or triple gluing which means there is more one layer of gloss an adequate at least mm layer of air between each pane If first four components art working properly the heating system ir an energy efficient house will be smaller the norm In theory it is possible to build a house so efficient it rcouires heat from thf occupants and i SpringInto SiWerSale it HYDRO PUSH MOWERS with year GEORGETOWN LAWN GARDEN EQUIPMENT Armstrong Ave Georgetown However most Canadians art not for ihe expense the construe lion of such a house involves Instead most rely on a conventional heating system like a furnace distribution tern and thermostat Many furnaces on the market today feature energy saving designs although these may cost more than conventional systems If a conventional system has already been installed check that it has an external supply of combustion air The forced air healing system is preferred in the energyefficient house It ensures that air is moved throughout the house and can be designed so that passive solar heat is distributed evenly If the builder tells you heat pump has been installed look forward to a cool summer Those devices extract heat from interior air and transfer il outdoors during the summer In the winter they work in reverse taking heal frdm the outside air and using it to heat air inside ihe houses Heat pumps might be a wise choice in colder areas of the country however The energy efficient home is com fonable live in year round The tips provided in CMHC buyer sguidewill help you compare energy saving fea turesasyouhousehuntthisspnng The guide Choosing an Energy Efficient House costs S3 To order quote name and the number NHA Send cheque or money order to Pub Montreal Road Ottawa K1A0P7 pip PLUMBING SHOWROOM WE CAN ADD COLOUR AND CONVENIENCE TO YOUR KITCHEN EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE KITCHEN SINK