EchoHaven net-zero home

The challenge

EchoHaven is a 25-home sustainable neighborhood in northwest Calgary, where winter nights can drop into the −20s. The engineer behind this home wanted net-zero energy, all-electric heat and no more cost than a standard house, apart from the extra insulation and solar panels. Gas was ruled out by the community’s CO₂ goals, and his research turned up conflicting claims about electric radiant heat.

The system

A room-by-room heat loss calculation from the house plans sized the system exactly, so no more heat was installed than needed. The answer was radiant ceiling panels hidden behind 5/8-inch drywall. The thick drywall and the concrete floors act as thermal mass, storing passive solar heat during the day and releasing it at night.

With walls at R59, a roof at R108 and a floor at R70, the house needs only 6 watts per square foot. The system includes a whole-house control center, and the installed price came in well below his other quotes.

The result

The house stayed warm at −31°F outside, and visitors on tours were impressed enough that it led to more sales.

“We could never go back to living in a standard house. The extra effort was the best investment we have ever made.”

From the project story on premierenergyusa.com. Read the original post