How Industry Collaboration Achieved Net Zero Cost-Effectively

Owens Corning?is a Gold Sponsor Member of?CHBA’s Net Zero Council. The Council and its sponsors share a commitment to innovation and high‐performance housing solutions, and sponsors bring significant knowledge or capabilities to the Council in specialized areas important to the advancement of Net Zero Energy housing.

Demand for Net Zero Homes is on the rise as individuals become more conscious and seek to reduce their environmental footprint. The Net Zero rating refers to how these homes generate as much energy as they consume—making them an ideal choice for those looking to reduce their utility bills, while doing their part to help protect against climate change.

A key component of Net Zero construction and renovations is an advanced building envelope, which includes the overall airtightness of the home, the insulation of the exterior walls, floors, ceilings, as well as high-performance windows and doors – which all serve to keep the heat in when its cold outside and, conversely, it can also help keep the heat out when it’s hot outside. This is designed to reduce the heating and cooling loads, and the mechanical systems are then “right-sized” to each home, so they perform better. These energy efficient mechanical systems have low operating costs, resulting in long-term energy savings.

Another cost-saving measure used in this project was to use advanced exterior insulation strategies which allowed for a reduction of the amount of interior insulation. This reduced overall labour and material costs associated with installing insulation within wall cavities. Exterior insulation systems are often easier and faster to install, resulting in reduced construction time and costs. Cedarglen Homes, a Calgary-based homebuilder, provides an excellent example of how using advanced insulation strategies played a crucial role in the successful, cost-effective, construction of a CHBA Qualified Net Zero Home.

The team faced some challenges during the project, particularly in aligning with certain trades professionals and selecting materials to meet the advanced Net Zero technical requirements. However, by using high quality materials such as Owens Corning? Thermafiber? RainBarrier? ci High Compressive Plus (110) Mineral Wool Insulation and Owens Corning? FOAMULAR? NGX? C-300 Extruded Polystyrene Rigid Insulation and changing their design processes, the team was able to overcome these obstacles to achieve the highly sought-after EnerGuide rating of 0, and a CHBA Net Zero label for the home.

Thermafiber? RainBarrier? ci High Compressive Plus (110) Mineral Wool Insulation is a high-performance insulation product designed for use in exterior walls that provides excellent thermal and moisture control properties. It is also fire-resistant and does not support combustion, helping to inhibit the spread of fire, providing an additional layer to the home.

FOAMULAR? NGX? C-300 Extruded Polystyrene Rigid Insulation offers superior moisture resistance and high thermal performance, making it a great choice for use in below-grade applications, such as foundation walls and slab-on-grade. It is also resistant to mold and mildew for a long-lasting and durable insulation solution.

The benefits of using Owens Corning? insulation products for net-zero construction and renovations are substantial. Designed to help reduce energy bills*, the use of high-quality insulation products can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. These insulation products are a responsible choice for homebuilders and renovators.

Investing in the additional up-front cost of a Net Zero Home provides a return on investment with savings on energy bills* over the life of the home, and it helps protect homeowners from future increases in energy prices. Over the years, that could be a very big deal. Built to higher standards than conventional new homes, a Net Zero Home is more durable, delivers exceptional comfort all year round, provides exceptional indoor air quality for healthier living, and Net Zero Homes are quieter; outside noise such as traffic, lawnmowers and barking dogs are virtually silenced. All of a Net Zero Home’s features work together to minimize your household’s environmental footprint.

Cedarglen’s project is an excellent example of how insulation plays a crucial role in achieving Net Zero. By prioritizing high-quality materials and processes, the construction team was able to overcome the challenges of building a Net Zero Home and achieve a successful outcome. Proper insulation not only helps to reduce energy consumption and costs but also helps to combat climate change, making it a responsible choice for homeowners looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

For more insight, CHBA members can view the Net Zero webinar “Cost-Effective Net Zero Achieved Through Collaboration: A Success Story,” where Luis Rubio Faria P.Eng PMP C.Mgr CIM , Technical Manager, Western Canada, Building Materials Group at Owens Corning ; Pretum Narang , Purchasing and Estimating Manager at Cedarglen Homes ; Tyler Hermanson , Director of 4 Elements Integrated Design LTD ; and Ben Hildebrandt , Principal Investigator – Building and Material Sciences, Green Building Technologies, Applied Research and Innovation Services (ARIS) at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) discuss the importance of collaboration in achieving Net Zero cost-effectively, and the role played by each partner.

The webinar recording and slide deck can be found at?chba.ca/nzwebinars.

*Savings vary depending on original amount of insulation in your home, climate, house size, air leaks, and personal energy use and living habits.