This project, affectionately referred to as Belgravia Green, is a collaboration between home owners, local experts and Effect Home Builders. Together they are pushing the envelope to design and build Net Zero Energy homes that produce as much energy throughout the year as they consume.

Net Zero Energy home
Net Zero Energy home © Effect Home Builders

Technology in the Three Belgravia Green Homes:

Advanced wall systems:

  • Different wall systems combined with various technologies are being used to demonstrate diverse methods to achieve Net Zero energy consumption.
  • The showhome and neighbouring home to the West will feature a 12" EnerGard Wall System made with engineered wood and expanded polystyrene which achieve an insulation value of R-42. These walls are structural engineered wood columns coated with Pink Wood, a non-toxic coating which make the columns fire resistant, water resistant, and mould-free.
  • The neighbouring home to the East is being constructed using 16” Double stud wood frame achieving an insulation value of R-56.

Foundations:
All three foundations will be constructed using ICF blocks with an additional interior wall for extra insulation. The result is a foundation with an R-40 insulation value.

Windows:
Triple pane windows containing two coats of low e film, argon gas filled glazing with insulating spacers between panes.

Net Zero Energy home
Net Zero Energy home © Effect Home Builders

Solar Electricity:
Solar-electric systems located on all three homes will generate electricity to supply their own electricity needs, and sell any excess to local utilities.

Passive solar:
South facing windows will allow the sun's warmth to passively heat the structural concrete floor in the showhome.

Insulation:

  • Expanded polystyrene (EPS) will be used under basement concrete slabs.
  • Cellulose will be blown into the double stud wood framed walls and attics. It is densely packed in the walls to avoid settling. Cellulose is made predominantly from post-consumer recycled paper.

Heating:
Each Belgravia Green home will have a completely different heating system.

  • One home will have geothermal heating, which requires a slightly higher initial investment but runs at approximately 250% efficiency.
  • Electric baseboard heaters will heat another home, are 100% efficient and require a low initial investment - though baseboard heaters can be noisy so may need to be fixed .
  • The showhome will be heated with an air source heat pump which is a specially designed heat pump for cold weather climates. Efficiencies range from 100%-400% depending on outdoor temperature.

More details can be found in the Belgravia Green Brochure or emailing questions to [email protected] or calling 780-450-1399.

Net Zero Energy home
Net Zero Energy home © Effect Home Builders