CMHC Report
Canadian Renovators’ Committee
CHBA
March 4, 2010
EQuilibrium Update
EQuilibrium Housing Status
 7 projects completed
Riverdale NetZero
Avalon Discovery 3
CHESS
Now House
Inspiration – the Minto ecohome
Abondance
EcoTerra
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION
EQuilibrium Update
EQuilibrium Housing Status
 4 Project Under Construction
Echo Haven, Calgary
Green Dream Home, Kamloops
Urban Ecology, Winnipeg
Alstonvale, Hudson
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION
EQuilibrium Housing InSights
• Five Completed
– Riverdale NetZero Deep
Wall System
– Now House Exterior
Envelope Retrofit
– Riverdale NetZero Active
Solar Thermal System
– Riverdale NetZero Passive
Solar Design
– Avalon Discovery 3
Passive Solar Design
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING
CORPORATION
CMHC Research Projects - Ongoing
Basement Wall Insulation Retrofit Monitoring
• Comparing the performance of typical
basement assemblies to alternatives
• Testing in two sets of five houses in
Saskatchewan
• Basic test set up: In an existing house (not
new), build interior framing/insulation and
finishing system on a south or west basement
wall
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING
CORPORATION
CMHC Research Projects - Ongoing
Basement Wall Insulation Retrofit Monitoring
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING
CORPORATION
CMHC Research Projects - Ongoing
Basement Wall Insulation Retrofit Monitoring
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING
CORPORATION
CMHC Research Projects - Ongoing
Basement Wall Insulation Retrofit Monitoring
Conventional Wall:
•
•
•
•
2X4 stud wall with R-12 fibreglass batts
6 mil poly
Half inch drywall
Vapour barrier paint (to compare to other wall
that also has vapour barrier paint)
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING
CORPORATION
CMHC Research Projects - Ongoing
Basement Wall Insulation Retrofit Monitoring
Alternative Walls:
• Traditional wall with no polyethylene
• R-12 open cell foam, with polyethylene
• R-12 open cell foam, no polyethylene
• 1 inch of expanded polystyrene against the
wall behind 2X3 wall; no poly
• 1 inch extruded polystyrene against the wall
behind 2X3 wall; no poly
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING
CORPORATION
Traditional wall
No poly wall
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING
CORPORATION
CMHC Research Projects - Ongoing
Basement Wall Insulation Retrofit Monitoring
• Some trends so far but we have to wait for all
ten houses to have a year of monitoring (not
until January 2010)
• There is no wall that looks problematic based
on the data provided so far
• There is quite a wide range of interior
conditions from house to house that may make
more difference than the performance of one
wall to another
CMHC Research Projects - Ongoing
Basement Wall Insulation Retrofit Monitoring
• So, are the alternate walls in the Saskatchewan
houses doing better than the standard stud and
poly wall?
• Generally yes, but there are not huge
differences in these first 5 houses
– Wall with no poly has lower moisture content than
wall with poly
– Walls with 1 inch of foam against the wall doing
better than standard walls (except that high
moisture between extruded board and concrete)
CMHC Research Projects - Ongoing
Evaluating the Effect of Energy Related Building Envelope
Retrofit Strategies for Housing on the Wetting and Drying
Potential of the Wall Assembly
Performance Analysis of Residential Hot Water Efficiency
Devices – Instantaneous DHW Savings
Payback Period for Green Building Features in Single
Family Detached Dwellings
Sustainable Building Envelope Retrofits for Existing
Homes
Design and Specification for NZ Building Envelope
Retrofits
Radon Update
Proposed Radon Protection Measures in 2010 NBC
• Assume all areas are susceptible to levels of radon >
200 Bq/m³ (unless otherwise shown)
• Install poly under slab and pipe through floor in all
new houses
• Seal poly to footings or foundation wall
• Seal all penetrations
• Assumption is that homeowner will test for radon in
the first winter of occupation (but this is not part of
the code)
Radon Update
Radon Mitigation Measures for Existing Houses
• Source removal – get rid of the radon
Radon Update
Radon Mitigation Measures for Existing Houses
• Ventilation
Equation is simple: if you double the entry of
fresh air to the basement, for example, you will
cut the radon concentration in half
Obvious costs to increasing ventilation rates for
heating or cooling ventilation air
Radon Update
Radon Mitigation Measures for Existing Houses
• Entry Point Sealing
Radon Update
Radon Mitigation Measures for Existing Houses
• Entry Point Sealing
Radon Update
Radon Mitigation Measures for Existing Houses
• Active soil depressurization systems
•
•
•
•
Block wall suction or depressurization
Sump and drainage suction
Under membrane suction
Subslab suction
Radon Update
Radon Mitigation Measures for Existing Houses
• Active soil depressurization systems
Radon Update
Radon Mitigation Measures for Existing Houses
• Potential for freezing foundation footings
• Potential for icing and blockage of vertical
vents
• Durability of exterior fans in Canadian
climates
• IAQ implications of side wall venting rather
than vertical venting
Radon Update
CMHC Research:
Canadian Radon Mitigation Case Studies
The project will investigate the performance of radon
mitigation systems installed in Canadian houses.
The results of this research will show whether current
Canadian radon strategies, advice to consumers and code
provisions are effective at reducing radon infiltration into
houses
Will assess other implementation and performance
considerations.
Radon Update
External Research Program:
Survey of Characteristics in Homes with Elevated
Radon Levels
To investigate houses in a high radon neighbourhood; to
analyze which housing characteristics (if any) are likely to
produce higher radon levels; to look at the efficacy of floor
drain traps as a remedial measure for these homes.
Radon Update
Health Canada working on Mitigation Guide
based on US model
Should be ready this Spring
Other
•2009 Get it in Writing!
Initiative
CRA and CHBA initially launched the Get it in Writing! Campaign in
1995
In 2008, CMHC was approached to lead a new Get it in Writing!
initiative given the corporation’s consumer marketing experience
Get it in Writing! is consistent with CMHC’s mandate to promote
better quality housing and to provide Canadians with unbiased
information to help them make better housing-related decisions
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING
CORPORATION
Get It In Writing Campaign
Get It In Writing!
– Website Live
– Testimonials
– Printed
Brochures - CRA
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING
CORPORATION
Other
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING
CORPORATION
Other
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING
CORPORATION
Other
Online Brochure
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING
CORPORATION
CMHC Report
CRC
CHBA
March 2010
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING
CORPORATION