Northern Ontario Business - Building with energy conservation in mind

By Andre Groulx

Sudbury based construction company Taylor Made Homes is looking for its most recent building project to receive the prestigeous EnviroHome designation, making it the third home in Ontario to receive that designation this year.

They are waiting to hear from the Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA) about the acceptance of this designation.

This would be their second EnviroHome. Their first was built in early 2002, on Arnold St. in Sudbury.

Dale Taylor, project manager for Taylor Made Homes said EnviroHomes follows a different set of standards.

He points to the Ontario building code as the minimum requirements you need to build a home.

“The standards we follow are significantly higher than that.”

Some of the features at the Arnold St. building include insulated concrete form wall system, in-floor radiant heating, high-efficiency gas boiler and ceramic and engineered wood flooring throughout.

The EnviroHome Initiative was established in 1994 by the Canadian Home Builders Association along with TD Canada Trust to recognize and support builders committed to offering homes that are “better for you, better for your community and better for the environment.”

To be designated an EnviroHome, the building must first conform to the R-2000 standards by licensed builders.

Every home must operate under a specific energy budget, that is to say, provide 30 per cent more energy efficiency than the standard constructed home.

As well, consumers can choose five to seven items from an environmental features list, which is up to five more than the standard construction options.

Equally important is a whole house ventilation system that supplies fresh outdoor air inside the home.

Gary Sharp, national R-2000 coordinator for the Canadian Home Builders Association added that. “the EnviroHome program is a marketing program for R-2000 home builders.”

Builders open it to the public for a period of time to raise awareness on energy efficient housing. All projects completed by Taylor Made Homes from the ground up are R-2000 certified. He has plans to build up to five new homes this year, in spite of the 10 to 15 per cent increase in cost, over a conventional home.

“It cuts heating costs in half and your lifestyle is much more comfortable.”

Taylor Made Homes' most recent EnviroHome designation is a 3,000 square foot home located on Horseshoe Lake Road in Sudbury. It is owned by Taylor and when designation status is approved, information on viewing times for the public will be made available.