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Over the last two decades, Canadian homes have become much more energy efficient. EnviroHome projects, built to R-2000 standards, goes a step further and use far less energy than a conventional house built today.

Energy - efficient homes deliver benefits that go beyond low heating bills - benefits like increased comfort, better control over indoor air quality and reduced impact on the natural environment.

EnviroHome builders achieve high levels of energy efficiency in the most cost - effective way. This involves careful balancing of all aspects of the house using HOT - 2000, a computer simulation program that predicts the overall thermal performance of the house design. Some of the more important products that the builder can use in order to meet energy efficiency targets are described below.

Windows - Window technology has changed rapidly during the last few years. Today, the most advanced windows are more energy efficient than a well - isulated wall, if located where they will receive adequate sunlight. Some of the features that reduce heat loss in windows include:

	special heat reflective coatings
	inert gasses, such as argon, in the space between the layers of glass
	insulating spacers between glass layers
	triple glazing in colder areas of the country
	improved frame design and frame materials

Heating Systems - Space heating accounts for almost three quarters of the energy use in a typical Canadian home, so it is important to produce that heat as efficiently as possible. Both natural gas and oil furnaces can now deliver efficiencies above 90%; this is a 50% imoprovement on equipment typically used 10 to 15 years ago. Electric heating offers heat pump systems that can actually deliver more energy than they consume.

Insulation - Today's energy efficient homes are insulated from top to bottom. In each area of the house, specific insulation products with the right performance characteristics are used. There are many types of insulation on the market ranging from rigid - board types and batts, to loose fills and blown - in products. All work well, and the builder will often choose a number of different products for particular applications in each home.

Air Sealing - In older homes, air leakage through small cracks and seams in the house exterior can account for up to half of all heat loss. EnviroHomes are carefully sealed to prevent such uncontrolled air leakage.

Heat Recovery Ventilation - Once air leakage has been stopped, a whole - house ventilation system is added to ensure clean, fresh indoor air. To control energy costs, a heat recovery device "scavenges" the heat in the exhaust air to preheat the incoming fresh air. For HRV Installers in the St. John's area click here.