Large Georgian home leaves small enviro footprint

Ottawa’s first LEED Platinum detached house is located in the city’s upscale Rockcliffe Park neighbourhood northeast of downtown. It replaces an older, much modified and energy inefficient home that the owners had occupied for many years.

By Linda Chapman

(more…)

Passive and active measures a model for small scale design

The east elevation and main entrance

Ball’s Falls Conservation Area is part of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority’s Nodal Park System - providing public education and awareness of the Niagara Escarpment. The new Centre for Conservation will serve as a public entry point to the 20 Valley World Biosphere Reserve and the preserved heritage settlement. (more…)

Prefabrication, compact interior quality proposes new way of living

Distinctive cladding consists of corrugated galvanized steel and Prodema wood panels.

In spite of increased urbanization, the average size of single family houses in North America has more than doubled in the last 50 years, while the size of the average family has decreased. Given the intermittent use of most rooms in the home, this represents a highly inefficient use of land, materials and resources. (more…)

State-of-the-art training centre balances active and passive technologies

The East elevation where vehicle bays and bermed earth act as thermal buffers and reduce perimeter wall exposure

When the Greater Toronto Airport Authority [GTAA] chose to pursue LEED™ Silver certification for the first time on its new Fire and Emergency Services Training Institute [FESTI], it signified a new sense of commitment to sustainable building technology and a willingness to be held accountable to the rigorous design guidelines and third-party certification of the LEED™ process. (more…)

Site placement, details and modest technologies deliver bright, energy-efficient interior

The slot window on the south side illuminates a work counter

by Paul Dowling

A 640sf studio, an outbuilding for an existing residence in southern Ontario, opens to an intimate grouping of shaded residential gardens. With limited means, the modest project uses control of natural light, simple details, and off-the-shelf mechanical systems to create a pleasing, efficient work space. (more…)