Better Builder Magazine brings together premium product manufactures and leading builders to create better differentiated homes and buildings that use less energy, save water and reduce our impact on the environment. The magazine is published four times a year.

1. PUBLICATION
NUMBER
42408014 ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
FUTURE
PROOFING
INSIDE
Country Homes’ Low Carbon
Demonstration Home
Occupant Behaviour
Counting Carbon
Energy Smarts at Home
Carbon Reduction Disruption
CHALLENGES IN CO2e REDUCTION

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3. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
16
1
FEATURE STORY
16
Behavioural Studies
New technology may help address the next hurdle
in energy efficiency: occupant behaviour.
by Rob Blackstien
3
ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
Images internally supplied unless otherwise credited. Cover: iStock.
13
9
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
2
Occupant Behaviour:
The Low-hanging Fruit
by John Godden
THE BADA TEST
3
Plant-based Housing or
Low-hanging Fruit?
by Lou Bada
INDUSTRY EXPERT
6
What Counts When
Counting Carbon
by Gord Cooke
INDUSTRY NEWS
9
Futureproofing
Benchmarking Emerging
Technologies with the Super-
Semi Discovery Project
by Paul De Berardis
SITE SPECIFIC
13
Heating Design
The Unsung Hero of
Energy Efficiency
by Alex Newman
INDUSTRY NEWS
20
Saving Energy at Home
It’s Really Up to the Occupant
by Marc Huminilowycz
INDUSTRY EXPERT
22
Wiser Energy
Empowering Homeowners
to be Smarter
by Marc Huminilowycz
INDUSTRY EXPERT
27
Combi Systems
CSA B214:21 Installation
Code for Hydronic Heating
Systems Update
by Brian Jackson
FROM THE GROUND UP
30
Are You Ready for
Industry (Carbon
Reduction) Disruption?
by Doug Tarry

4. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
Occupant Behaviour:
The Low-hanging Fruit
2
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“Nothing ever comes off exactly as intended ... and yet, the fallacy of
overinflated agency has proven to be incredibly resilient.”
— Ivana Milojevic
O
ld habits die hard, and simple thinking is responsible for many of the
problems in the world. When I think about climate issues, the elephant
in the room is that there are too many humans using finite resources in
inappropriate ways. It’s not really a technical issue; it’s a behavioural one.
When I turn my thoughts to housing, I feel the biggest unaddressed issue is
occupant behaviour. 52% of the energy consumed in a new code house is occupant
driven. How does it make sense to cover a roof with carbon-intensive solar panels
when the people inside are consuming too much energy? How does it make sense for
the house to use more carbon operationally than it did to build it?
This issue features the Country Homes Super-Semi Discovery Project (page 16).
The project monitors a high-performance, low-carbon, natural gas house side by side
with a Net Zero-modelled, balanced-energy, electrically heated house. The key to
this comparison is the use of a home energy monitoring system (HEMS) to compare
and monitor the impact of the occupants’ own energy consumption on both houses.
Another objective is to assess the hybrid approach on the low-carbon side, which
uses natural gas wisely with combination hybrid heating. A right-sized tankless
domestic hot water heater (TDHWH) provides primary space and hot water heating,
supplemented with an air source heat pump (ASHP) powered by off-peak electricity.
There are no solar panels, but there are 11 kilowatt hours of off-peak battery storage
that can provide backup during a power failure.
On page 3, Lou Bada provides a pragmatic approach to identifying practical
futureproofing strategies in the place of lofty net zero goals. Meanwhile, Gord Cooke
examines the details of the other carbon-smart approaches and evaluates them
based on carbon counting (page 6). And on page 9, Paul De Berardis shares with us
important government policy to get gasoline cars off the road. He further expands on
the importance of the Super-Semi Discovery Project for finally getting to the bottom
of whether net zero is a worthwhile goal.
Lastly, Doug Tarry provides us with an example of “the fallacy of overinflated
agency” on page 30. He encourages us to be smarter with our window choices. The
old thinking was that we needed the sun to heat our houses only in the winter. Now,
those windows must also help us reduce air conditioning loads in the summer, which
are increasing every year.
Let’s approach the new year with a new mindset that will help us see our
challenges holistically. A hybrid approach, where there is more than one energy
solution, coupled with engaged occupants through homeowner education, can
take us closer to our future goals of minimizing carbon emissions. Monitoring and
measuring is the best way to find the truth about our past assumptions. Please join
me on the journey.
Happy new year! BB
publisher’snote / JOHN GODDEN

5. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
Another question: do we invest in
the production and distribution of
electricity, or do we make the massive
investments needed to mitigate the
effects of climate change? I assume
we do both (lest we forget health care,
education, child care…).
At the moment, I still subscribe to
the economic theory of “the scarcity
of resources.” I know, I know: the sun
has infinite energy. But we still haven’t
completely figured out a way to heat
I
get this sinking feeling in the pit of
my stomach when I hear someone
talking about “zero-carbon
housing.” I mean, conceptually I get it:
eliminate fossil fuel use and use clean
electricity for your home to eliminate
operational carbon and minimize the
embodied carbon to build the home.
Then offset the balance of embodied
carbon with a price on carbon for the
concrete, steel and other materials
that we use to build it – I guess?
Maybe? It’s like me proposing “plant-
based housing” – sounds good, but
how do we make it work?
I am circumspect of the notion
of “zero-carbon housing” without
answers to a lot of questions. My first
question: why not do something we
know actually works now, rather
than strive for something not well
understood? You may say “do both,” but
I believe one distracts from the other.
In our industry, if we propose a
new housing development, we are
required to study the infrastructure
available to support it before we
get approvals (sewers, water, roads,
transit, emergency services, schools,
energy, etc.). Not enough infrastruc-
ture means no approvals. On the
surface, this makes sense (without
getting too deep, we pay huge devel-
opment charges for infrastructure).
In order to have the clean electrifica-
tion of housing and transportation,
we need a massive investment in the
infrastructure for the production,
transmission and storage of clean
electricity. Currently, 28% of Ontario’s
grid-installed energy comes from
natural gas/oil, which is used mostly
for times of peak demand.1
everyone’s home with it on a cold Jan­
uary night while charging our electric
vehicles with renewable energy alone.
If we are going to make inroads into
first reducing energy consump­
tion,
with the hope of having an electrical
system that can eventually support
electrification, we need to be flexible
in our thinking. We have to be less
dogmatic in eliminating natural gas
from home heating until we are much
further along in using renewables.
3
thebadatest / LOU BADA
Plant-based Housing
or Low-hanging Fruit?
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
1
Source: Reliability Outlook, released September 2021, updated quarterly.
If we are going to make inroads into first
reducing energy consump­
tion, with the
hope of having an electrical system that
can eventually support electrification,
we need to be flexible in our thinking.
ISTOCKPHOTO

6. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
They can use less electricity and/or
load shift to off-peak times.
John Godden has described the
power-saving advantages of a hybrid
HRV/ERV for ventilation by decoupling
the ventilator from the furnace fan.
The discovery homes in Milton will
be monitored during occupancy to
document real-world data.
Using some natural gas will
provide a great bridge fuel until we
can solve some of our infrastructure
shortcomings and accommodate the
wave of electric cars coming our way.
As for “plant-based housing,” we
may have to wait just a while longer for
the “impossible home,” but I’m sure
someone’s working on it as we speak.
In the meantime, let’s do what we can
actually do to get us a little closer to
our laudable goals. BB
Lou Bada is vice-
president of low-rise
construction at Starlane
Home Corporation
and on the board of
directors for the Residential Construction
Council of Ontario (RESCON).
The use of combination water and
home heating appliances, coupled with
an electric heat pump, just make sense.
An in-home battery storage system as
an option can do a great job of evening
out peak demand on our electrical grid
and provide some back-up power if
needed.
Addressing occupant behaviour is
important when we consider occupant
loads. Sensors monitoring electrical
consumption make sense. Information
is powerful when it comes to power
consumption. Consumers can make
smart choices when occupying their
home and save some money when the
cost of electricity inevitably increases.
Currently, 52% of a home’s opera­
ting energy comes from occupancy
loads (see chart at right).
I recently visited Country Homes’
two discovery homes in Milton for
two approaches to building a next
generation of homes (great job, by
the way). One was a Canadian Home
Builders’ Association Net-Zero home
(all electric) and the other was a HERS
Index home (a hybrid gas system). To
compare and contrast side-by-side
homes is a great way to assess the
impact of different building methods.
I think the hybrid heating system
makes the most sense at this time,
and it allows us to start the journey
to better solutions by picking the
low-hanging fruit. Some ideas (I stole)
from my visit include:
• Builders could review their
offerings to express them in a
sustainability checklist that could
be used with the municipality.
• Install a combination heating
system for any size house. Studies
and research reveal a 20%
reduction in natural gas usage.
• Help homeowners reduce their
electricity costs by using a home
monitoring system (HEMS) like the
Schneider Wiser Electric system
installed by Country Homes.
• Use off-peak electricity for
supplemental space heating, an
air source heat pump or a battery
storage system.
• Use a hybrid heat recovery
ventilator (HRV)/energy recovery
ventilator (ERV) installation to
reduce electricity required for
ventilation distribution.
4
41%
11%
48%
PACKAGE AI 2017 @ 3.0 ACH
 ENVELOPE AND VENTILATION
HEAT LOSS
 AIR CONDITIONING AND
LIGHTING AND APPLIANCES
 DOMESTIC HOT WATER
OCCUPANT LOADS
ACCOUNT FOR
52% OF ENERGY USE
Sensors monitoring
electrical consumption
make sense. Consumers
can make smart choices
when occupying
their home and save
some money when
the cost of electricity
inevitably increases.

7. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
Learn more at
PanasonicBreatheWell.com
Create spaces for
living, feeling and
breathing well.
Build
with
air in
mind.

8. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
6
industryexpert / GORD COOKE
It would be presumptuous to
imagine this one article could provide
answers to navigate the rough waters
ahead. However, a short primer on
charting carbon, the important new
metric, should help guide builders
and their supply partners start down
the right path.
In the homebuilding industry in
the next decade, the focus will be
on two carbon counts: 1) the carbon
emissions from the production of the
building materials used (sometimes
called the embodied carbon or the
mat­
erial carbon emissions [MCE])
and 2) the carbon emissions from the
operation of a home (the opera­
tional
carbon emissions [OCE]).
Much like the choices in energy
modelling software, there is already a
selection of software carbon calcu­
lators. Each of these calculators relies
on energy modelling predictions,
such as those produced by software
like HOT2000 or HERS software, to
calcu­late the OCE. For the material
emis­
sions, the industry is slowly
building a database for the hundreds
of com­
ponents that are part of the
complex makeup of even simple
houses.
Every industry supply partner’s
2022 “To Do” list must include
calculating and declaring the carbon
emissions for their products. The
Environmental Product Declaration
(EPD) is becoming a must-have for
every manufacturer. For example,
leading insulation manufacturers,
the forest products industry and even
the leading cement manufacturers
already have detailed reporting and
calculators available for the embodied
carbon implications for their products.
For many other products, there are
estimates and defaults available from
the committed carbon researchers who
have developed carbon calculators.
When doing a comprehensive
carbon calculation for a home, it
becomes very clear, very quickly
that the embodied carbon of single-
family homes is dominated by three
or four products or components. First
comes the concrete used for footings,
foundations and slabs. Second is
insulation: both cavity insulation
and continuous insulation in attics,
exterior walls and basements. Third is
windows and the glass within them.
Fourth, drywall and cladding choices
also have a significant impact.
For example, we just completed a
carbon analysis for a client on a 2,770
square foot single-detached home.
The concrete elements for the home –
footings, foundation walls and slabs,
including the garage – accounted
for 14.5 tonnes of embodied carbon,
and this represented 35% of the total
calculated 41.4 tonnes of embodied
carbon for this home. By comparison,
the embodied carbon of a 1,390 square
foot townhome we assessed for another
client was just 23.3 tonnes, and the
concrete elements accounted for 44% of
that embodied carbon. The chart (see
facing page) summarizes the major
carbon contributors associated with
the construction of these two homes.
—
Now turn your attention to the carbon
impacts related to the operation of
these homes built in 2022, year after
year after year. Let’s assume the two
homes above are both built to the
current Ontario Building Code SB-12
energy efficiency requirements and
assume that space and domestic hot
water heating are provided by natural
gas appliances. A common energy
model – such as one produced from
HOT2000 or HERS software – will
predict the annual energy use for a
home. In the table, you can see that
the detached home operational carbon
impact is 3.6 tonnes per year and the
interior townhome unit’s operational
T
here has been no shortage of reminders in the news this year of the three
crises that are affecting society as a whole, but our housing industry
specifically: the pandemic, the housing shortage (resulting in an
affordability crunch) and climate change.
The confluence of these issues in the context of the housing sector presents
challenging dilemmas. For example, a recent report by the Smart Prosperity
Institute and funded in part by the Ontario Home Builders’ Association projects
that one million new homes will need to be built in Ontario over the next decade
to keep up with population growth and movement under current policies.
Contrast that with Canada’s recent commitment at the UN Climate Change
Conference (COP26) to cut carbon emissions by 40% to 45% over that same
next decade and get to zero carbon by 2050. Then, add the material and labour
shortages highlighted by the pandemic that are likely to affect our industry for at
least the near term.
What Counts When
Counting Carbon

9. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
carbon impact is 1.9 tonnes per year.
Notice too that by that important
2030 target, the accumulated opera­
tional carbon for both homes equals
approximately 70% of the initial
embodied carbon.
With the base calculation of both
the embodied and operational carbon
completed, there is now an opportu­
nity to find the most convenient and
cost-effective approach to reducing
the carbon impact of the one million
homes that need to be built over the
next 10 years. Starting with the oper­
ational carbon, it should be no surprise
to builders who are familiar with the
outputs from the energy models used
for permit application that over 50%
of the energy used to operate that
detached home goes to space heating,
provided by a high-efficiency natural
gas furnace. A deeper dive shows
that 24% of that space heating load is
associated with unwanted air leakage
and 28% is lost via conduction through
the exterior walls.
The new emphasis on carbon will
direct you to concentrate first on
airtightness. Improving the airtight­
ness to 1.0 air changes per hour at 50
Pascal will simultaneously:
• reduce operational carbon by 0.6
tonnes per year;
• reduce the design heat loss of the
house by at least 6,000 BTUs per
hour so as to allow a downsizing of
the furnace and heat pump; and
• reduce annual energy bills without
impacting the embodied carbon.
Moreover, new technologies, such
as the AeroBarrier airsealing process,
ensure airtightness can be achieved
without design or process changes.
To be clear, additional exterior wall
insulation will undoubtedly be required
in all houses by 2050. However, in the
next eight to 10 years, it is important to
reduce operational carbon with as little
impact to embodied carbon as possible.
Indeed, let’s think about three easy
and cost-effective strategies that can
be implemented in 2022 – specifically
in Ontario, where the demand for new
homes is still so strong. First, call your
concrete supplier and ask for a mix that
includes 30% to 40% fly-ash or other
supplementary cementitious materials
(SCMs). All major suppliers appear to
be ready to provide this option at no
or very modest additional cost. On the
detached home above, this rather sim­
ple change would reduce the embodied
carbon by as much as 2.5 tonnes.
Next, substitute an air source heat
pump for a traditional air conditioner
and provide your homeowner with
one of the new smart thermostats
that optimizes a dual fuel approach to
heating. Use the natural gas furnace
only during extremely cold periods or
7
SINGLE
DETACHED HOME
(2,770 ft2)
TOWNHOME
(1,390 ft2)
INTERIOR UNIT
TOTAL
EMBODIED
CARBON
41.4 CARBON-
EQUIVALENT
TONNES (CO2e) 23.3 CO2e
CONCRETE 14.5 CO2e 10.3 CO2e
CLADDING 3.5 CO2e — BRICK 0.39 CO2e — SIDING
WINDOWS 3.1 CO2e 1.93 CO2e
INSULATION 4.98 CO2e 2.81 CO2e
DRYWALL 4.22 CO2e 4.07 CO2e
OPERATIONAL
CARBON
PER YEAR
3.6 CO2e 1.92 CO2e
OPERATIONAL
CARBON OVER
EIGHT YEARS
28.8 CO2e 15.36 CO2e
CO2e is a term for describing different greenhouse gases in a common unit. For any quantity
and type of greenhouse gas, CO2e signifies the amount of CO2 which would have the
equivalent global warming impact. The carbon equivalent for a specific product or system
includes the inputs of all materials, manufacturing processes and even transportation and
installation impacts. For the operational carbon, consideration is given to how electricity is
generated and the makeup of the natural gas for each local market. For example, the Ontario
electrical grid is fed from a combination of hydroelectric, nuclear, wind and natural gas-
powered generation. This mix is included in the operational carbon calculation.

10. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
when the price of electricity is at peak
pricing. This can reduce operational
carbon by as much as 1.4 tonnes
without increasing embodied carbon
or operating costs for the homeowner.
Finally, when combined with the
airtightness improvement, the total
operational reduction is 2.0 tonnes
per year.
The table above summarizes the
total impact of these three rather
simple and cost-effective measures:
three phone calls to your concrete
supplier, your HVAC contractor and
the air sealing professionals. The
result is a 42% reduction between
now and 2030, nicely aligned with our
national commitment for a 40% to 45%
reduction by that important target date.
While carbon counting may seem
like a complex process, in fact there
are already resources and strategies
available for immediate action. Do it
now, while it counts. BB
Gord Cooke is
president of Building
Knowledge Canada.
CURRENT
SPECIFICATIONS
FOR THE SINGLE
DETACHED HOME
NEW SPECIFICATIONS:
• CONCRETE WITH FLY-ASH
• ACH50 AIRTIGHTNESS
• HEAT PUMP
EMBODIED CARBON 41.4 CO2e 39 CO2e
OPERATIONAL CARBON
PER YEAR 3.6 CO2e 1.6 CO2e
OPERATIONAL CARBON
OVER EIGHT YEARS 28.8 CO2e 12.8 CO2e
TOTAL CARBON BY 2030 70.2 CO2e 40.8 CO2e
8
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11. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
R
egular readers of Better Builder
may recall my summer 2021
article, where I raised some
concerns with respect to embodied
carbon and the future of high-
performance homebuilding. In the
article, I introduced a project that
RESCON has been following. One
of our builder members, Christian
Rinomato – who is a passionate
sustainability advocate with Country
Homes – has an interesting initiative
underway in Milton.
The Super-Semi Discovery Project
involves two semi-detached homes,
each with their own innovative
building techniques to best support
environmental efficiency and
sustainability. Each home will use its
own energy advisor and receive third-
party verification: one under the
Net Zero program developed by the
Canadian Home Builders’ Association
and the other under the Home Energy
Rating System (HERS) Index Score
to produce a low-carbon and cost-
efficient home. The performance of
both homes will be measured and
compared as families occupy each
semi for one year, with statistics
extrapolated and interpreted for long-
term analysis.
Through this year-long endeavour,
Country Homes hopes to gain impor­
tant insights into how to optimize
homebuilding techniques and build
sustainable homes for the future.
Some of the key highlights and
differences between the two semi-
detached homes are that the Net Zero
home employs a roof-mounted solar
array and uses solely electricity for
the separate heat pump-based space
and hot water heating systems. By
contrast, the other semi with a HERS
score of 38 uses a combination heat
system, where a natural gas-fired
condensing tankless water heater
provides domestic hot water for the
home as well as powers the hydronic
air handler, thereby eliminating the
need for a separate furnace and hot
water heater. The HERS semi is also
equipped with a Panasonic EverVolt
home battery storage solution,
whereby the lithium-ion battery can
be optimized to store power during
the cheapest off-peak time of use
(TOU) to provide peak shaving during
9
Futureproofing
Benchmarking Emerging Technologies
with the Super-Semi Discovery Project
industrynews / PAUL DE BERARDIS
Country Homes’ Christian Rinomato, Head of Sustainability
(left), and Corey McBurney, Managing Director, Sustainability,
at the Super-Semi Discovery Project in Milton.
SO
PH
I
E
R
I
N
O
M
ATO

12. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
10
the highest on-peak TOU rates, while
also providing the added feature
of backup power during outages. A
key differentiator with the Net Zero
home is that it obviously generates
no operational carbon as it relies on
electricity for all space and water
heating, whereas the HERS semi
still uses one gas-fired appliance for
combination heat.
What really makes this
comparison project interesting is
that both homes will be occupied
for one year and the utilities will be
monitored. At the time of writing
this article, the semi-detached
homes were just completed, and
I was able to tour and see these
technologies installed and operating
in these homes. Without getting into
too much pricing detail, the Net Zero
home added approximately $50,000 in
premiums above what a similar Code-
built house would have cost, and the
HERS 38 home came in right about half
of that, at roughly $15,000 in extras.
Most of this cost is the battery storage
system. Obviously, the big-ticket item
which contributed to notable cost diff­
erences between the two semis was the
solar panel array in the Net Zero home.
With construction now complete
and the final costs tabulated, a detailed
payback period and cost-benefit
analysis will be compiled based on
the utility costs over the next year
of occupancy in each home. I look
forward to seeing how this plays out
and what level of greenhouse gas
emission reductions we will see in the
HERS semi versus the utility savings in
the Net Zero home, all benchmarked
against the costs. As part of this
pilot project, Christian will also
What really makes
this comparison
project interesting is
that both homes will
be occupied for one
year and the utilities
will be monitored.

13. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
give his insight into the necessary
collaboration with the energy raters,
designers and trades who all worked
to facilitate this project, highlighting
any challenges or obstacles that had
to be overcome.
The focus of this winter edition of
Better Builder is on futureproofing,
and this happens to be a timely issue
as the Country Homes Super-Semi
Discovery Project was just completed
in Milton. The two different strategies
in the project will provide a lot of
useful information over the next
year to the production homebuilding
industry which constructs housing for
the homebuying masses.
As regulatory requirements and
building codes push housing to
achieve increased levels of energy
efficiency and emissions reductions,
emerging technologies – such as those
employed in the Country Homes
project – will likely become more
mainstream as regulations advance
(most notably electrification of space
and water heating equipment as
well as solar panel systems and/or
battery storage). Depending on when
these types of technologies become
mandatory, a few considerations
come to mind: namely, the supply
chain of these products and
technologies in our marketplace as
well as the ability of the trades to keep
pace with the evolving technology
requirements while still maintaining
construction productivity.
I was happy to see a recent
announcement from our premier
and provincial government, citing a
“driving prosperity” strategy to invest
in and develop battery production in
Ontario, specifically establishing and
supporting an electric battery supply
chain ecosystem in our province. The
idea is to leverage our critical mineral
wealth in Ontario’s north, supporting
a broader supply chain that includes
mining and the refining of those
minerals required for manufacturing
batteries. A key part of that strategy
involves opening up the so-called Ring
of Fire mineral deposit. The Ring of Fire
is rich in its supply of minerals used in
batteries and energy storage systems,
including cobalt, lithium, manganese,
nickel, graphite and copper.
The overarching strategy involves
not only mining and manufacturing
batteries here in Ontario, but also
eventually manufacturing electric
vehicles. It’s no secret that these types
of products are now largely sourced
from producers in overseas countries,
so hopefully having a local supply
chain on a technology like batteries
will eventually make these products
more financially palatable. Not to
mention the industry has become
more sensitive to supply chain logistic
challenges during the pandemic
and the associated soaring shipping
container freight costs driving up
prices for products manufactured
elsewhere in the world.
Figuring out how to best make
homes more environmentally
sustainable from a technical
standpoint is one part of the challenge.
The other is moving forward with a
strategy that can balance affordability
and constructability yet still achieve
increasing energy efficiency.
This ties closely to another top-of-
mind issue for the industry as well as
governments: the cost of buying or
renting a home. The soaring price of
housing in Ontario is poised to become
the next big pre-election issue for the
premier. It comes as home sale prices
in the province are in the midst of a
second straight year of double-digit
annual increases, even beyond the
Greater Toronto Area. The provincial
government announced earlier this
month that it’s creating a task force on
housing affordability. The mandate
will be to provide recommendations
“to make housing more affordable for
Ontario families,” which can consider
matters such as measures to increase
housing supply, how to streamline the
development approvals process and
technical construction practices that
can boost productivity. Therefore,
initiatives such as the Country Homes
Super-Semi Discovery Project are so
important for builders as they pilot
with their trades and suppliers how
to best deliver sustainable housing
offerings in a cost-effective manner.
Keep reading the magazine and
following along as we highlight the
performance attributes and utility
costs of this comparison project. BB
Paul De Berardis
is the director of
building science and
innovation for the
Residential Construction
Council of Ontario (RESCON). Email
him at deberardis@rescon.com
11
Hopefully having a
local supply chain
on a technology
like batteries will
eventually make
these products more
financially palatable.

15. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
H
eating design might not
get much attention as a
huge contributor to energy
efficiency, but Doug McCallum never
let that bother him. His pursuit
of excellence has naturally led to
constantly improving the way heating
systems are designed and delivered.
When he started out in the 1980s,
heating design was very simple. “It
was all about heat loss and duct lay-
out, duct sizing,” he says. “But things
have changed, and the SB-12 stan-
dards we’re designing to now are a
moving target with new compliances,
a constantly changing Building Code.
You really have to keep on top of it.”
In 1983, after graduating from
Humber as a mechanical engineering
technologist and then nine years
working for others in the industry, he
started his own business: McCallum
HVAC Design. He worked out of a
bedroom in his home, drawing designs
in pencil with a program he’d learned.
“In those days,” he says, “if you
installed heating systems, you first
had to provide a drawing for the
builder. It also depended on the
municipality, though. Some expected
a full heating design; others didn’t.”
To further hone his skills and
become certified as a designer, he
continued taking courses in ventila­
tion and commercial design through
the Heating, Refrigeration and Air
Conditioning Institute of Canada
(HRAI). “I wanted to show clients I
knew what I was doing,” he says.
As his skills grew, so did the
business, and he hired a designer
with AutoCAD experience. “Finding
someone with that skill was hard
in the ’90s because it was such a
new technology, and somewhat
complicated.”
Joanne McCallum, Doug’s wife
and the company’s co-owner/
business director, joined McCallum
HVAC Design after nearly 30 years
as a supply chain executive in the
pharmaceuticals industry. To manage
the company’s growth, she conducts
a daily huddle so that everyone is
on the same page and knows what’s
happening each day.
Doug credits intensive training for
the company’s stellar growth. “We want
an educated staff, so everyone gets
HRAI training. Some companies think
if you train your staff, they’ll leave. But
if conditions are good, and they are
treated well, people don’t leave.”
This much training is necessary,
he explains, “because the industry is
changing. There’s geothermal, in-floor
radiant, net zero, and so on. Things
change so frequently, and the changes
are more challenging. Looking back 30
years, it’s like night and day.”
He doesn’t have a problem with the
constant changes, and Joanne agrees.
“Thanks to our training, we are able to
walk builders through programs such
as Savings by Design. We know what
R-values are necessary and how to
adjust for heat loss, which will be lower
when they use Savings by Design or
ENERGY STAR. This in turn affects the
equipment chosen – you can go with
smaller equipment, which uses less
energy and ultimately is kinder to the
wallet,” she says.
Also known as “right sizing,” the
importance of using the right equip­
ment can’t be underestimated, Doug
says. “When we design the right size
13
Heating Design
The Unsung Hero of Energy Efficiency
sitespecific / ALEX NEWMAN
Doug credits
intensive training
for the company’s
stellar growth.
“We want an
educated staff,
so everyone gets
HRAI training.”
Doug McCallum of McCallum HVAC Design
LI
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16. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
14
– and the right type – of equipment for
heat distribution systems, you’re able
to control not just the temperature but
also the relative humidity.”
Designing a home above code
causes a significant drop in heat loss
calculation, Doug says: “Not down all
the way to net zero, but it certainly
allows for smaller equipment. They’ve
been doing a lot of fan coil systems,
especially in smaller townhomes
that have small loads. And builders
are doing way more towns these days
because of the cost of real estate.”
Climate change has changed our
priorities too, Doug says, with heating
now taking a back seat to cooling.
“With summers so much hotter – and
homes being built with more glazing
– the cooling system really needs to be
designed properly with respect to the
home’s size.”
To handle these changes and
increase efficiency, zone systems are
becoming more prevalent, and in-floor
radiant heat is becoming a more
common source of primary heat, Doug
says. He’s finding more clients these
days are keen to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and are doing the
research to learn about how to tackle
environmental concerns.
He’s been getting more clients
interested in whether they have the
right conditions to install geothermal
and whether they could ready their
home for net zero. The company has
done several net zero, or net zero
accordant, homes over the past year.
“It’s really on the upswing.”
“A lot of clients, architects, builders
and homeowners are right into the
discussion on above-code systems,”
Doug says. With the pandemic keeping
people at home, they’ve been research-
ing building science and asking what
to do pre-emptively. “I call it optimiza-
tion – that sweet spot between the cost
of the system and energy savings.”
Doug is seeing more homes built
with a glass-to-wall ratio of over 22%
– over 100 in the past year alone – and
that’s when he calls in energy advisors
like John Godden. They go over the
architectural drawings to computer
model and come back with R-values
and specifications.
The business continues to grow.
Now, half his clients are custom one-
off residences, and the rest are builders
of large tract developments. By the
end of this year, he will have designed
the heating systems for 750 custom
homes and countless developments.
Currently, he employs eight heating
designers. And he’s finally moved the
office out of his home. BB
Alex Newman is a writer,
editor and researcher at
alexnewmanwriter.com.
519-489-2541
airsealingpros.ca
As energy continues to
become a bigger concern,
North American building
codes and energy programs
are moving towards giving
credit for and/or requiring
Airtightness testing.
AeroBarrier, a new and
innovative envelope
sealing technology, is
transforming the way
residential, multifamily,
and commercial buildings
seal the building envelope.
AeroBarrier can help
builders meet any level
of airtightness required,
in a more consistent
and cost-effective way.
Take the guesswork out
of sealing the envelope
with AeroBarrier’s
proprietary technology.
“A lot of clients, architects, builders and
homeowners are right into the discussion
on above-code systems,” Doug says. With
the pandemic keeping people at home,
they’ve been researching building science
and asking what to do pre-emptively.

17. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021

18. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
16
B
ased on current standards, the
general perception is that, as
an industry, we have pretty
much maxed out how energy efficient
we can make homes, at least from a
technological and envelope tightness
perspective.
The next bastion we tackled was
the amount of embodied carbon we
put in homes, a topic we explored in
great detail with the work Country
Homes was doing with its Super-Semi
Discovery Project (see “No Country
for Old Ways” in the winter 2020
issue). This is an ongoing battle.
Now, in the endless quest to
make homes more energy efficient,
builders are turning their focus
towards the actual people that inhabit
those houses. Given that occupant
loads consume 52% of the energy in
a new home (see pie chart on page 4),
how can we devise strategies to alter
occupant behaviour related to the
consumption of electricity?
This exact dynamic – the potential
savings of reducing occupant-created
loads – will be examined starting in
January 2022 in one of Country Homes’
super semis, thanks to a partnership
between one of the world’s largest
electronic giants and an award-
featurestory / ROB BLACKSTIEN
New technology may help address the next hurdle
in energy efficiency: occupant behaviour.
winning Canadian invention.
Panasonic’s EverVolt battery storage
system, when used in conjunction with
Swidget and its smart control insert,
will allow homeowners to peak shave
– a technique that can make a huge
difference on your energy bill.
It’s actually quite a simple concept:
you charge your home battery storage
system during off-hours, when
electricity from the grid is cheaper,
and then use the system to power
your home during peak hours, when
electricity costs are higher.
Swidget manufactures the control
devices that make this granular level
BEHAVIOURAL
STUDIES

19. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021 17
of control possible. It makes a range
of smart inserts that, when paired
with a specific type of device, provide
homeowners with an unparalleled
level of control of their smart home
through an app.
“Our switch, dimmer, and 15-amp
and 20-amp outlets all have current
sensors built into the device,” says
Justin Arghittu, Swidget’s director of
sales. “When coupled with a control
insert module, the device will report
power wattage accurately and in real-
time within the Swidget app.”
A Jolt for Swidget
Swidget will get a real jolt thanks to a
recent deal with Panasonic that entails
Panasonic’s lines of energy recovery
ventilators (ERVs) and ventilation fan
products becoming the sole distribution
channel in North America for Swidget’s
air quality sensor control insert.
In one of the Country Homes demo
units, both the ERV system and battery
storage solution will be tested with the
Swidget inserts.
Arghittu says that this is a great
way to get the most out of your ERV.
“Adding Swidget smart controls to your
home’s ventilation ecosystem ensures
that you are using your ERV in an
energy-efficient way while providing
the most optimal indoor air quality.”
In this instance, the control insert
modules will wirelessly relay infor­
mation about air quality, temper­
ature,
humidity and occupancy from various
areas of the home back to the ERV so
that it operates on demand based on
real-time data.
Arghittu says this provides several
benefits to homeowners, including
ensuring that they get fresh, optimal
air quality when it’s needed and on
demand; real-time information about
the air quality; the reassurance that
Country Homes is exploring different approaches to state-of-the-art building
systems in their semi-detached Super-Semi Discovery Project (corner lot with solar
panels) in Milton, Ontario. In addition to assessing the impact of contrasting building
methodologies and technologies on carbon and energy costs, they will also track
and analyze occupant behaviours in each home with a view to future applications.
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20. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
18
panels and can be retrofitted fairly
easily; plus, it’s great for new builds as
well. The DC version is solar focused
and is a bit more efficient, he says.
Roughly the size of a dishwasher,
the EverVolt is available in multiple
storage capacity options. The standard
system holds 11 kilowatt hours and can
scale up to 100 kilowatt hours.
In terms of usage, Kraus says
users will want to focus on essential
loads, similar to a backup generator –
fridge, furnace, some lights and a few
outlets. Hooked up to those loads, the
11-kilowatt hours system will provide
anywhere from four to 12 hours of
usage, and the 100-kilowatt system will
offer 40 to 120 hours.
And if you install solar alongside it,
he adds, you can continue powering
your battery forever, and essentially go
off grid.
Kraus explains that other than peak
shaving, you can set the battery system
to be in natural disaster mode, which
involves fully charging it and holding
that charge for a couple of days if you
believe serious weather is coming that
could cause a blackout.
Traditionally, Kraus says, energy
bills only display your usage in the past,
and perhaps you can make changes to
affect that in the future. However, the
EverVolt allows you real-time viewing
of your energy, whether from the grid,
the battery or the solar panel.
Getting Granular
Tack Swidget onto that, and users get a
far more granular perspective of their
energy usage, down to specific outlets.
Armed with this information, they
can discover the real energy-sucking
culprits in their homes and address
the ventilation system is providing
clean, fresh air; and notification when
the filter needs changing.
Scott Kraus, group manager,
energy products for Panasonic
Canada, believes that finding ways
to alter occupant behaviour is a good
approach in the ongoing battle to
reduce our carbon footprint. “We’re
reaching the most efficient we can
build a home, so now we need to look
at other things, and the behaviour
side is a big one.”
Solar Flair
In the Country Homes demo, Pana­
sonic is using its battery-only Ever­
Volt,
but it also offers one with a battery,
inverter and connected solar array.
Kraus says it comes in two flavours:
an AC system and a DC system. The AC
version (no solar) connects to existing
DISCOVERY HOME
HARDWOOD FLOORING
CRAFT HARDWOOD FLOORING
Woodfrom100%sustainablesources.
WHY?
Wecaredeeplyaboutusingwoodfromsustainablesources.
ThisDiscoveryHomesinitiativewillallowustotryanew
supplierandseehowtheirproductstandsup.
8
TO DISCOVER
MORE, SCAN
DISCOVERY HOME
INSULATION
ROCKWOOL R-24 BATT INSULATION
Aninnovativefibreglassalternativethathasalower
carbonfootprint,isfire-andmould-resistant,isproduced
locallyandhasahighrecycledcontent.
WHY?
Overthelifetimeofitsuse,thisinsulationwillsave
100timesthecarbonemittedvs.traditionalinsulation.
2
TO DISCOVER
MORE, SCAN
DISCOVERY HOME
INDOOR AIR QUALITY MONITOR
SWIDGET RECEPTACLES INSERTS
Theabilitytomonitortheindoorenvironmentgiveshomeowners
greatercontroloftheircomfortandenergyuse.Theswappable
insertsintheSwidgetsystemallowusto“futureproof”ourhomes.
WHY?
Thefutureofgreenbuildingincludessmarttechnologies.
Wewanttoseehowthemonitorswillcommunicatewith
thehome’sHVACsysteminoptimizingindoorairquality.
7
TO DISCOVER
MORE, SCAN
Country Homes is testing a range of products
in their Discovery Home. Above, carbon neutral
flooring from CRAFT will be put through its paces.
Antony Zanini shows off the Panasonic
EverVolt battery storage system that uses
peak shaving to store electricity at night.
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21. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
those problem areas accordingly.
Arghittu says Swidget has
control inserts that not only make
devices smart, but can add sensing
functionality. For instance, there’s a
motion sensor which can turn a light
switch on based on someone walking
into the room. More importantly,
they have vacancy detection so it can
turn itself off when no one’s in the
room. And all this functionality is
customizable based on rules users set
up in the app.
This could mean significant
savings when dealing with a big
power consumer, like a space heater
in the home office. Having it turn off
when the Swidget senses vacancy in
the room will really help.
That’s just one way Swidget deals
with power consumption issues.
Another benefit is the alerts, Arghittu
says, “so you can get notified when
you’re consuming power.”
Not that we’re dealing with canine
psyches, but the idea here is almost
Pavlovian: receive that notification
enough times, and you’re likely to alter
your behaviour. “So we can change
some of the habits,” he says.
Arghittu says users can set up
schedules to turn off all non-essential
power and switches during the day,
which is especially helpful with
vampire power – devices that draw
electricity even when they’re not being
used. This includes items like TVs,
gaming consoles, computers, monitors,
digital cable boxes and anything with a
clock on it (like microwave ovens).
Most Are Unaware
All these devices constantly consume
power, yet most people are unaware
of that. “The only reason I know that
is because I have them plugged into a
Swidget device,” he says.
Arghittu estimates that it was
costing him well over $100 in wasted
energy costs annually. So by employing
the various strategies outlined above,
he figures he’s getting about one free
month of hydro per year. That’s a
pretty impressive discount for simply
making some slight tweaks to your
behaviour.
In this instance, perhaps we
can teach an old dog new tricks.
Somewhere, Ivan Pavlov is nodding
approvingly. BB
Rob Blackstien is a
Toronto-based freelance
writer. Pen-Ultimate.ca
19
DISCOVERY HOME
SMART ELECTRICAL PANEL
LEVITON SMART ELECTRICAL PANEL
Thesmartwaytocontrolyourhome’selectricalsystem.
WHY?
Controlsenergyuserightfromthepowersource,
andevenprovidestheopportunitytoshutdown
phantomloadsrightfromtheuser’sphone.
12
TO DISCOVER
MORE, SCAN
DISCOVERY HOME
ERV
PANASONIC 83% ENERGY RECOVERY VENTILATOR (ERV)
Energyrecoveryventilatorsareastandardfeatureinenergy
efficienthomestoensureindoorairquality.
WHY?
ThePanasonicERVisconnectedwiththeSwidget
monitorstoautomaticallyturnonandoffasneeded.
13
TO DISCOVER
MORE, SCAN
Brian Cooke of
AeroBarrier.
The Glow THWH combo system (left) provides primary heating.
Panasonic’s new ERV 200 (right) is exhaust-ducted
to all bathrooms to provide balanced ventilation.
DISCOVERY HOME
AIR BARRIER
AEROBARRIER AIR SEALING TECHNOLOGY
Aninnovativeenvelope-sealingtechnologythatimproves
energyefficiencybyachievingexceptionalair-tightness.
WHY?
Air-tightnesscanbeachallengewhenbuildingproduction
homes.Wewanttotesthowmuchofanimpactair
tightnesscontributestoenergyefficiency.
5
TO DISCOVER
MORE, SCAN
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22. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
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industrynews / MARC HUMINILOW YCZ
A
family buys their first high-
performance, better-than-
Code home. Equipped with
a tight building envelope, efficient
windows and the latest in energy-
saving technology, they are confident
that their new home will save them
money on their energy bills and help
them greatly reduce their carbon
footprint. A few months after moving
in, they realize that their energy bills
are not dropping as much as they had
expected. What could be wrong?
According to Ontario building
scientist Michael Lio, whose company
was the project lead in Natural
Resources Canada’s (NRCan) Net-Zero
Energy Housing Demonstration Project
a couple of years ago, saving energy
really depends on the behaviour of
homeowners. In the ground-breaking
project, five leading builders across
Canada built 26 market-ready net zero
homes that produce at least as much
energy as they consume in a year.
In a media interview regarding the
project, Lio observed, “These houses
are only net zero in simulation. If the
homeowners keep the TV on all night,
or sleep with the windows open,
they won’t work. In reality, there are
no net zero homes – only net zero
occupants.”
The latest government data shows
that buildings, including homes,
account for almost 20% of Canada’s
total greenhouse gas emissions
(factoring in space and water heating,
as well as electricity use for cooling,
lighting and appliances).1
The demand for electricity in
Canada is intensive, according to
NRCan. In 2016, residential electricity
use made up 33% of the country’s total
electricity demand. Energy modelling
of a reference house conducted by
the Ontario Building Code showed
that 41% of electricity use is due to
“occupant loads”: air conditioning,
lighting and appliances.
“We know that electricity demand
is going up, with more of us relying
on digital devices and appliances in
the home,” says Dan Murphy, director
of business development – home
builders with the Canadian division
of Schneider Electric, a global leader
in digital energy management and
automation. “Add to that lighting
not being turned off, fans running
continually, poorly functioning
equipment and ‘phantom power’ –
anything electronic that is constantly
plugged in drawing electricity, such as
computers and TVs.”
On a global scale, Murphy points to
the current trends of decarbonization
and electric vehicle production
and use as contributing factors in
increasing electricity consumption.
On its website, Schneider Electric cites
“megatrends” as provoking a rise in
energy demand:
• Urbanization: an increase of over
2.5 billion people in cities by 2050;
• Digitization: 30 billion connected
things currently; and
• Industrialization: leading to an
increase in energy consumption of
over 50% by 2050.
A chart on the website illustrates
“massive untapped efficiency poten­
tial” – 82% “unrealized” in buildings.
Saving Energy at Home
It’s Really Up to the Occupant
1 https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2021/05/27/making-homes-more-energy-
efficient-reduce-energy-bills-create-jobs.
Wiser’s energy monitor can be installed in 15 minutes
by an electrician on any panel with breakers.

23. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
Energy system, such as an awareness
of lights on in rooms when they are not
being used.
It is somewhat ironic that it
takes a digital solution (powered by
electricity) to help alleviate increasing
electricity use, which is partly due to
the pervasiveness of digital devices
and appliances in the home. But the
fact remains that HEMS devices like
Wiser Energy are an important tool for
energy conservation in the home.
The Wiser monitoring system is
being used to monitor whole-house
electrical consumption in the Country
Homes Super-Semi Discovery Project
(see page 16).
“Consumers of energy monitoring
systems were primarily eco-conscious
people two years ago,” says Murphy.
“Today, with climate change in the
mainstream and top of people’s minds,
the timing is right for our Wiser
product.” BB
Marc Huminilowycz
is a senior writer. He
lives and works in
a low-energy home
built in 2000. As
such, he brings first-hand experience
to his writing on technology and
residential housing and has published
numerous articles on the subject.
Increasingly, occupant behaviour
with energy use in the home is
being recognized as a major factor
in reducing energy consumption,
which can vary by up to 150%
annually between active occupants
(who monitor their electricity use)
and passive occupants. A research
paper from the Delft University of
Technology in the Netherlands (2010)
studied home energy monitoring
systems (HEMS) and their use in
homes, exploring “the extent to
which participants manage to sustain
their initial electricity savings over
time, with a special focus on the
development of habitual energy-
saving behaviour.”
The Netherlands study came
up with the following results and
observations:
Initial savings in energy
consumption were 7.8% after four
months (but could not be sustained in
the medium to long term);
• Certain groups of people seem
more receptive to energy-saving
interventions than others (these
participants quickly develop new
habits and exhibit larger energy
savings);
• For HEMS to be effective, a
deeper understanding is needed
that embraces social science,
contextual factors, usability and
interaction design research.
The concept of HEMS is simple:
if you can see how you, your devices
and your appliances are using
electricity, you can make adjustments
to reduce your home’s energy use.
An advanced HEMS product from
Schneider Electric, the Wiser Energy
system, does exactly that. Installed
by an electrical contractor beside
the electrical panel in as little as 15
minutes, the device monitors critical
electrical equipment in the home,
continually checking appliance and
lighting consumption, and offering
real-time reporting via an app that
displays electricity use by source as
bubbles. The larger the bubble, the
more electricity is being used by the
source.
“Based on the information supplied
by the Wiser app, home occupants can
identify electricity waste and potential
appliance problems, and adjust their
behaviour accordingly,” says Murphy.
“This intelligence gives homeowners
peace of mind because they can
visibly and instantly see which of
their appliances are on. It also helps
them prevent big appliance repairs,
take advantage of cheaper off-peak
electricity, estimate monthly energy
consumption and ultimately save
money on their electricity bills.”
When asked how much energy
homeowners can expect to save by
monitoring their use and adjusting
their behaviour accordingly, Murphy
replied that not much data is available,
but Schneider will be testing with
builders, including real-life monitoring
of occupant behaviours via the Wiser
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24. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
22
industryexpert / MARC HUMINILOW YCZ
L
ights and fans are left on in
unused rooms. A sump pump
seems to be running constantly.
The fridge is gobbling up electricity.
These are only a few of the culprits in
the home that can be stealing energy
and driving up electricity bills. And
they appear as bubbles on a smart
new device called Wiser Energy from
Schneider Electric.
Simply put, Wiser Energy is
a device that monitors critical
electrical equipment in the home.
It continually checks energy
consumption by appliance and
offers real-time reporting so that
home occupants can identify waste
and potential appliance problems
and adjust their usage behaviour
accordingly. The energy use of
appliances, devices and lighting
is displayed as bubbles on an app.
The bigger the bubble, the more
electricity is being used.
With an easy-to-use mobile app,
occupants can easily see what is
turned on and how much energy
it’s using. Wiser Energy can identify
abnormal energy use patterns which
indicate potential problems, such as
a malfunctioning refrigerator that
may, at the least, require a simple
cleaning of refrigerant coils, or an
unusual pattern in the HVAC system.
The device allows homeowners to spot
inefficiencies that increase their bills,
take advantage of cheaper off-peak
electricity and estimate their monthly
energy consumption.
“The Wiser Energy device can be
installed inside the electrical panel
(by an electrical contractor) in as little
as 15 minutes,” says Dan Murphy,
director of business development –
home builders with Schneider Electric
Canada. “Every electrical device in the
home has a unique electrical current
fingerprint. Wiser Energy learns these
signatures and determines all energy
drivers within the home. People get the
information they need to make smart
decisions about their energy use. The
Wiser device makes it easy.”
And “there’s also a safety consider­
ation,” Murphy adds. “The system can
provide notifications about when items
are turned on or off, so that occupants
can be alerted if they leave their garage
door open or an iron turned on.”
Schneider Electric, which offers the
Wiser Energy systems and other home
solutions to homeowners and builders,
was founded over 180 years ago in
France. It is a global leader in the digital
transformation of energy management
and automation. According to the
Schneider website, the company is
“driving digital transformation by
integrating world-leading process and
energy technologies, end-point to cloud
connecting products, software and
services, enabling integrated company
management for homes, buildings, data
centres, infrastructure and industries.”
Schneider believes that access to
energy and digital is a basic human
right. “Our generation is facing a
tectonic shift in energy transition and
industrial revolution catalyzed by
digitization in a more electric world,”
Wiser Energy
Empowering Homeowners to be Smarter
DISCOVERY HOME
ENERGY MONITOR
WISER SMART HOME ENERGY MONITOR
Helpshomeownerskeeptabsontheirenergy
useinrealtimeforamoreefficienthome.
WHY?
Thissystemwillprovideuswithgreaterinsightsinto
energyloadsandtheimpactonoccupantbehaviour.
6
TO DISCOVER
MORE, SCAN
The device allows
homeowners to
spot inefficiencies,
take advantage
of cheaper off-
peak electricity,
and estimate their
monthly energy
consumption.

26. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
24
its company profile states. “Electricity
is the most efficient and best vector
for decarbonization. Schneider’s
purpose is to empower all to make
the most of our energy and resources,
bridging progress and sustainability
for all. We call this ‘Life Is On.’”
In 2021, Corporate Knights,
a Canadian media and research
company that develops rankings and
product ratings based on corporate
sustainability performance, awarded
Schneider Electric the top spot among
the global 100 most sustainable
corporations in the world. Besides
curbing its own CO2 emissions by
250,000 metric tons in 24 months
by shifting to renewable energy, the
company claims that its energy-
efficient technologies and services
saved 120 million metric tons of CO2
on their customers’ behalf in 2020.
Schneider earned 70% of its revenue
from sustainable solutions, while
73% of its investments were directed
towards sustainability.
In 2021, Schneider partnered
with KB Homes, one of the largest
homebuilders in the U.S., to provide
“grid-to-plug” innovation in the
builder’s new ENERGY STAR-certified
community in California. The homes
incorporate the Square D Energy
Centre and connected wiring devices
to offer homeowners great levels
of control, energy efficiency and
resiliency. Schneider is now reaching
out to Canadian builders with an
invitation to partner with them to
create a better, more efficient and
more sustainable living environment
for their clients.
Prior to joining Schneider Electric
Canada, Murphy had been working
with homebuilders for the past five
years. “In Canada, we are actively
connecting with homebuilders,
electricians and electrical distributors
to showcase all of our solutions,”
he says. Besides the Wiser energy
management system, Schneider offers
numerous home solutions such as
load centres, breakers, wiring devices,
wifi-enabled switches, receptacles,
cover plates, whole-house surge
protectors, uninterrupted power
and backup supply systems, and air/
distribution systems.
“In 2023, we will be introducing
the Wiser Energy Centre in Canada. It
is designed to manage the increasing
electricity needs of homes, creating
a hub that allows homeowners to
manage the sources of energy in their
home,” says Murphy. “It will appeal
to people who want to live more
sustainably, as well as those who have
complicated home energy systems
and requirements.”
The Wiser Energy Centre will
prioritize power from solar panels or
storage batteries when it’s available,
automatically switching to renewable
energy, thereby maximizing the use
of solar panels while minimizing the
home’s carbon footprint. It will use
data – including the energy tariff,
the time, the weather and household
energy consumption patterns – to help
manage the system and decide how to
store and use power. The system will
also divide power usage into critical
and non-critical loads, meaning that in
the event of a power cut, stored energy
to non-critical appliances will be cut
off, while the fridge, the freezer and the
home security system stay on.
“Our goal is to help homebuilders
build more attractive, comfortable
and sustainable homes,” says Murphy.
“Builders are driven by codes. Our
products can help them build smarter
– beyond Code. Large builders like
Schneider partner KB Homes in
the U.S. are embracing grid-to-plug
solutions. We want to connect with
Canadian builders to learn what they’re
doing, better understand them and
showcase our solutions to them. We
can help builders, and they can help us.
Why is energy monitoring important?
Because it provides home occupants
the data they need to help them save
energy and money – and improve
safety and resiliency – all without
compromising their comfort.” BB
Marc Huminilowycz
is a senior writer. He
lives and works in
a low-energy home
built in 2000. As
such, he brings first-hand experience
to his writing on technology and
residential housing and has published
numerous articles on the subject.
“Builders are driven
by codes. Our
products can help
them build smarter
– beyond Code.”
Dan Murphy

28. Check out our website at www.gsw-wh.com

29. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021 27
industryexpert / BRIAN JACKSON
These systems have advantages
over a typical forced air gas furnace
and water tank: combi systems can
be easily zoned, are more efficient if
properly selected, have only one fuel-
burning source, can provide better
occupant comfort and will integrate
easily into a dual fuel designed
system. For these reasons they
have become more popular in new
construction and renovation designs.
There are many design approaches
to combi systems, but one in particu-
lar has been more frequently utilized,
primarily due to capital cost consid-
erations: the use of a wall-hung water
heater with a heat source (typically
a hydronic fan coil). I am not an
advocate of this design as a water
heater is purpose-designed and rated
for DHW production (high water-side
temperature rise) and it is perform­
ance rated using a Department of
Energy test procedure to determine a
uniform energy factor (UEF). This test
involves water draws at various flows
but always at 67°F +/- temperature
rise, which is domestic water terri-
tory, and with a supply temperature
of 125°F. These are not space heating
conditions where the supply temper­
ature is higher, the temperature rise
is 15°F to 20°F and the flow is typically
constant. A high UEF is in no way an
indication of a well-performing space
heating source.
When applying this system design,
there are additional considerations
that you should be aware of:
1. You are introducing potable
water into the heating system
and vice versa. You have to
safeguard against legionella and
contaminants when you mix
systems. We’ll discuss this later.
2. A typical DHW heater capacity is
199 MBH with a 10:1 turn down,
which gives you a minimum
firing input rate of 19.9 MBH.
Most attached housing has a heat
loss of under 25,000 BTUH and you
are operating at less than 40% of this
load 90% of the time (CSA P.9-11). So if
the space heating is running below 10
MBH 90% of the time, it will cause the
water heater to cycle. This will make
the equipment horribly inefficient and,
since life cycle is defined in cycles and
not run time, the lifetime of the water
heater will be reduced.
That being said, water heaters are
used quite often, probably due to cost
and naïveté. The updated B214 gives
some clarifications when using potable
water. First off, all components in
contact with the potable water must
be intended for use in a potable water
system. All of the following conditions
must be met when using potable water
as a hydronic heating fluid:
• A maximum of one heat source per
potable water loop.
• The total length of piping shall not
exceed 50 feet.
• The total volume of the system shall
not exceed 13.1 gallons.
• The supply water temperature to
the heat source must not be lower
than 140°F.
• To prevent stagnation, an automatic
means will be provided to flush
the heating system for at least five
minutes over every 24-hour period
(there is a calculation to reduce this
number based on volume and flow).
Designing with water heaters does
present challenges. This standard
states the minimum supply water
temperature can be only 140°F to the
heating device. Most water heater
manufacturers will allow only a
maximum 140°F to 145°F set point on
their equipment to allow the use of PVC
venting. You may be required to set the
appliance at 145°F to allow for piping
losses and ensure 140°F at the fan coil.
In doing this, it is critical to ensure the
Combi Systems
CSA B214:21 Installation
Code for Hydronic Heating
Systems Update
I
n January of this year, CSA Group introduced their updated
standard for the installation of hydronic heating systems.
This standard has some terrific information included and I
would suggest all designers have a copy on hand. One of the
systems covered in the standard is combi systems, which are
hydronic-based mechanical systems that are designed to
provide both domestic hot water (DHW) and space heating.

30. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
28
DHW anti-scald mixing valve is set
correctly to ensure no harm comes to
the occupants.
Just last week, we were asked by a
municipality in the Greater Toronto
Area to select the fan coil size based
on the capacity at 130°F entering
water as this was the number stated
in the 1997 combi guideline. This
request caused us to over-size by
at least one size every fan coil and
consequently over-size the duct work
on the entire site. To comply with
CSA B214, we still had to set the water
temperature to a minimum of 140°F.
A handful of diligent fan coil man-
ufacturers have completed various
CSA P.9-11 tests to benchmark combi
system performance. At present, the
P.9 result is mandatory for ENERGY
STAR for New Homes projects but
will be required as our Building Code
and other special programs evolve.
The format of these tests is rigid and
the tests are expensive, so designers’
choices are limited. I just completed
a quick five-minute review of the first
page of the Natural Resources Canada
P.9 directory to see six test results that
are no longer Code compliant because
they used a water heater and the enter-
ing water temperature is too low to
comply with B214.
Use of a wall-hung combination unit
or boiler negates all these issues and
typically gets you an ASME-certified
unit that requires less service and
has a longer lifespan at a higher space
heating operating efficiency. Be careful
when applying water heaters as part of a
combi system. It can be done, but make
sure your designer is well informed. BB
Brian Jackson, P.Eng. is a consulting
engineer currently working with the
development and testing of Glow
boilers. His experience spans 35 years,
including extensive P9-11 testing.
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Be careful when
applying water
heaters as part of
a combi system.
It can be done,
but make sure
your designer is
well informed.

32. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
30
fromthegroundup / DOUG TARRY
O
ver the years, I’ve engaged
with numerous stakeholders
about how to build a better
home. At times it can be a very
frustrating experience – somewhat
equivalent to rearranging the deck
chairs on the Titanic. I’ve used my
ongoing “discussions” with code
officials and Natural Resources
Canada (NRCan) about low solar
glass. As a high-performance builder,
I find it frustrating that I have to
explain to people why I use windows
that do not meet ENERGY STAR
requirements for the zone they are
in. I wear it as a badge of honour at
this point, as I want stakeholders to
know why selecting the right window
specifications is more important than
worrying about meeting a window
specification requirement that is so
out of touch with the actual needs
of the occupants and the buildings
they live/work/spend time in.
In a nutshell, NRCan has set the
program – specifically, the ENERGY
STAR program for windows – up to
favour windows that gain heat. Now,
imagine a high-performance build-
ing that is designed to be balanced
throughout and use a very low energy
consumption. Then we add in an
uncontrolled high heat gain event that
happens every day – energy that you
have to oversize your mechanical sys-
tems to handle – that results in some
rooms being too hot, with other rooms
being too cold due to the excess cool-
ing for the rooms that are overheating.
The design answer? Oh, let’s go
all out and add in a zoned system for
a bunch more money. Makes sense,
right? It doesn’t if you are thinking
about streamlining, affordability, the
comfort of occupants or the health of
the planet. It’s just dumb. What does
make sense is reducing the effects of
intermittent, uncontrolled heat gain in
a climate that is moving towards being
cooling dominant. Remember when
all those folks died tragically in British
Columbia this past summer due to a
heat dome? They needed air condition-
ing and didn’t have it, and they needed
windows that limited heat gain.
But this article is not about win­
dows, so I will get off that particular
soap box. No, this is something far
more critical that we address now –
before the National Building Code,
followed by the provincial building
codes, go down the wrong path as
they pursue the Energy Step Code.
What I am asking you to consider is
that programs such as ENERGY STAR
and Net Zero, while great aspirational
goals as we learned how to build a
more efficient housing stock, are the
wrong goal when we look at the future
Are You Ready for Industry
(Carbon Reduction) Disruption?
Operational carbon
is a great starting
point, but it’s only the
start … what about
the carbon we put
into our buildings?

33. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
of our planet and the programs we
will need to address climate change.
I believe this is being reflected in the
results coming out of COP26 that
recently concluded in Glasgow, which
included the adoption of the Glasgow
Climate Pact. Here are a few critical
points of agreement:
1. Reaffirms the Paris Agreement
temperature goal of holding the
increase in the global average
temperature to well below 2°C
above pre-industrial levels and
pursuing efforts to limit the
temperature increase to 1.5°C
above pre-industrial levels;
2. Recognizes that the impacts of
climate change will be much
lower at the temperature increase
of 1.5°C compared with 2°C and
resolves to pursue efforts to limit
the temperature increase to 1.5°C;
3. Recognizes that limiting global
warming to 1.5°C requires rapid,
deep and sustained reductions in
global greenhouse gas emissions,
including reducing global carbon
dioxide emissions by 45% by 2030
relative to the 2010 level and to
net zero around mid-century, as
well as deep reductions in other
greenhouse gases;
4. Also recognizes that this requires
accelerated action in this critical
decade, on the basis of the best
available scientific knowledge
and equity, reflecting common
but differentiated responsibilities
and respective capabilities in
the light of different national
ening to know that Step 5 of the
proposed code is pretty much Passive
House. As a Net Zero builder, I am
concerned why this additional cost
burden was selected when there is
minimal performance benefit for
adding significantly more cost to a
home, without considering afford­
ability. And if you aren’t aware, there
is a massive housing crisis happen­
ing at the moment that has blown
affordability out of the water across the
province. We should all be up in arms
at what this means to our communities
and the future of our workforce. It will
force automation upon us, as workers
will be very selective where, and for
whom, they will work.
But here’s where it gets very inter­
esting. That home that exceeds the Net
Zero requirements could ultimately
result in a higher embodied carbon
footprint than a Code-built home,
or one built to Net Zero. Let’s take a
home built with an exterior brick wall.
We have to support the brick. With
thicker insulation, this could result
in more concrete being used for the
foundation. Concrete is the largest
carbon contributor of any product
that we use, so more insulation can
result in a higher carbon footprint for
the insulation and the concrete. You
do that enough times and you can put
more carbon into the building than
you can ever possibly save by solely
looking at the operational carbon in
31
circumstances and in the context
of sustainable development and
efforts to eradicate poverty.
So, what does this have to do with
homebuilding? It means that we, as
builders, are going to have to work
with government to figure out how
to reduce our carbon footprint of the
houses that we build and renovate by
45% below 2010 levels and get to net
zero by mid-century. No problem,
you’re thinking: ENERGY STAR is
already taking us down that path, and
the Net Zero program will help us get
all the way. After all, isn’t that why we
have the Net Zero program?
Not so fast! We’re missing a critical
point, and that is specifically my
argument. These programs focus on
reducing energy consumption, which
results in a reduction of operational
carbon. But what about the carbon
we put into our buildings? All that
concrete, glass and steel came from
somewhere, and it took a lot of energy
to create it. What about transporting
our materials to the jobsite? Do we
know how much energy is consumed
by having that pickup truck idle while
the boys (and, hopefully, a lot more
girls) are having their coffee break?
Operational carbon is a great starting
point, but it’s only the start.
For instance, when we look at
the new proposed step levels of the
National Building Code, it’s disheart­
But here’s where it gets very interesting.
That home that exceeds the Net Zero
requirements could ultimately result in a
higher embodied carbon footprint than a
Code-built home, or one built to Net Zero.

34. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
32
isolation. You don’t have to take my word alone on
this: Chris Magwood at the Endeavour Centre is doing
excellent work leading the way on counting carbon
and how it can be scaled up for production builders to
better understand their impact.
Folks, this is coming, and it’s coming fast. That’s
a big part of why I’ve been trying to finish my book,
From Bleeding Edge to Leading Edge: A Builder’s
Guide to Net Zero Homes. I’m trying to share my
experiences to help the industry prepare for this
massive disruption. We have to get our focus past Net
Zero housing and look at what I consider to be the four
principles of modern design.
What I recommend everyone do is first ensure that
you have a really solid plan for dealing with water
management and airtightness. Then, apply the four
principles:
1. Look at carbon reduction (decar­
bonization) of
your materials.
2. Adopt indoor air quality measures to ensure you
are providing a safe environment.
3. Install climate-resilient construc­tion measures
(you don’t meet your carbon targets if the building
goes to the landfill after a storm).
4. Design for occupant comfort (this is a critical
point that is typically, at best, an afterthought).
If you design and build your housing to meet these
four criteria, the energy consumption part of the
equation is dealt with along the way. The next critical
step is to engage with government and stakeholders at
all levels to try and stop them from baking in bad pol-
icy decisions that impact our collective ability to meet
the COP26 goal of 45% by 2030. Maybe we should
get that on t-shirts. After all, informed thinking and
design have always been at the heart of futureproof-
ing houses. BB
Doug Tarry Jr is director of
marketing at Doug Tarry Homes
in St. Thomas, Ontario.
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35. BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 40 | WINTER 2021
Trailblazer
Matt Risinger
Builder and building
science expert
COMFORTBOARD™
has received ICC-ES validated product acceptance as continuous
insulation for multiple applications. For more information visit rockwool.com/comfortboard
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Trailblazing requires confidence, expertise and a desire
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to help wall assemblies dry to the outside, keeping clients
comfortable inside. It cuts down on heat loss and
improves energy efficiency so that what you build
today positively impacts your business tomorrow.
3773

36. Meet your Enbridge Gas
Residential New Construction Team
—
We recognize the important work done by builders and developers across Ontario. We strive to be your
energy provider of choice and are committed to ensuring that every builder’s experience with Enbridge Gas
adds value. We provide assistance during the new construction process to promote best practices,
innovation, energy-efficiency programs and training opportunities.
Connect with your area representative today.
Enbridge Gas
© 2021 Enbridge Gas Inc. All rights reserved. ENB 501 09/2021
Susan Cudahy
Supervisor Strategic Builder
Relationships, New Construction
and Residential Sales
289-237-0068
susan.cudahy@enbridge.com
Michelle Vestergaard
Sr. Advisor Residential New
Construction, Ontario-based
Developers and Toronto Builders
905-717-6261
michelle.vestergaard@enbridge.com
Don Armitage
Sr. Analyst Residential New
Construction, Ontario-based
Community Expansion;
Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough
the Kawarthas Builders
705-750-7203
don.armitage@enbridge.com
Garrett Fell
343-997-1509
garrett.fell@enbridge.com
Eastern Ontario
Lanark, Leeds/Grenville, Ottawa, Prescott/Russell, Renfrew
and Cornwall
Kain Allicock
437-223-2349
kain.allicock@enbridge.com
GTA East Eastern Ontario (to Frontenac County)
Durham, Frontenac, Hastings, Kingston, Lennox/Addington,
Northumberland, Prince Edward County and York Region
Michelle Nikitin
416-903-4274
michelle.nikitin@enbridge.com
GTA West Northern Ontario
Algoma, Dufferin, Halton, Muskoka, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Peel,
Simcoe and Sudbury
Gina Mancini
519-564-7943
gina.mancini@enbridge.com
Southwestern Ontario
Chatham–Kent, Huron County, Lambton, London, Middlesex, Oxford,
Perth County, St. Thomas, Elgin County and Windsor/Essex
Joanne Van Panhuis
519-209-6345
joanne.vanpanhuis@enbridge.com
Southeastern Ontario
Brant, Bruce County, Grey County, Haldimand, Hamilton,
Niagara Region, Norfolk and Wellington County