Rise | We've Done the Research
A Sustainable Home on Vancouver Island
When Claire Lightfoot decided to build a new home and wanted to explore sustainable home building options, she came across the Passive House standard and quickly became a leader in a new movement of super-efficient homes!
Claire built a lovely 2,100 square foot home in Qualicum Bay, BC, designed by architect Bruce Fleming-Smith of Oceanside Design. The design uses elements of the Passive House design method, the most energy-efficient building standard in the world. We spoke with Claire about her house.
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Here is her sustainable story:
Rise: Why did you decide to pursue Passive House design for your new home?
Claire: When I started to work with an architect who had 'green' building experience, I told him I wanted to include energy efficiency in the design. He asked "How green do you want to go?" and provided options. One option was Passive House, which was a new concept to me, so I had to do some research on it. It really resonated with me, my value system, and the idea of both cost containment and being good to the environment. So we decided to design and build toward Passive House standards. However, along the way, there were some design features included that meant I probably wouldn't get Passive House certification. At that point the design was a priority for me, knowing that I would still have a highly efficient house. I didn't feel the need to go all the way to certification, especially if it meant I couldn't get the design I wanted. I also liked the idea of using 'cutting edge' practices. There was only 1 house on Vancouver Island that had been built to Passive House standards and was certified and one house in the process of being built on Gabriola Island. I could be #3! I hoped that having a progressive concept I could help spread the word about energy efficiency and sustainability.
Rise: Did your contractor have experience with Passive House prior to your project?
Claire: My contractor was Pheasant Hill Homes in Nanaimo, British Columbia. They were building the Passive House on Gabriola Island and their site manager had taken the Passive House courses. They were anxious to get my contract once they saw the potential to have a local example of an architecturally designed Passive House. So it became a win-win situation. Their skill as builders of energy-efficient homes was proven when we had the two blower door tests: mid-construction (Feb. 2016) the result was 0.1859 ACH, and the final result, done a week before completion, was 0.23 ACH.
Sustainable Home Details
- Built: 2016
- Square Footage: 2,125 sqft
- Bedrooms: 2 bedrooms on 2nd floor; 1 den on the main floor that could be a 3rd bedroom
- PV system: 3 kW system to be installed in the spring of 2017
- Battery back-up power system
Why we Love this Sustainable Home
- One of the most airtight homes in Canada with 0.23 ACH (surpasses Passive House standard of 0.6 ACH)
- Super-insulated: Roof: R 68; Walls: R 38; Floor: R 48
- Rainwater collection for hand watering of gardens
- Copper drain water heat recovery pipe
- Wired ready for solar photovoltaics - coming soon!
- Energy supply nearly 100% renewable
Rise
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