CMHC Report Canadian Renovators Committee CHBA March 4

CMHC Report Canadian Renovators’ Committee CHBA March 4, 2010

EQuilibrium Update EQuilibrium Housing Status § 7 projects completed §Riverdale Net. Zero §Avalon Discovery 3 §CHESS §Now House §Inspiration – the Minto ecohome §Abondance §Eco. Terra

EQuilibrium Update EQuilibrium Housing Status § 4 Project Under Construction §Echo Haven, Calgary §Green Dream Home, Kamloops §Urban Ecology, Winnipeg §Alstonvale, Hudson

EQuilibrium Housing In. Sights • Five Completed – Riverdale Net. Zero Deep Wall System – Now House Exterior Envelope Retrofit – Riverdale Net. Zero Active Solar Thermal System – Riverdale Net. Zero 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 Conventional Wall: • • 2 X 4 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 2 X 3 wall; no poly • 1 inch extruded polystyrene against the wall behind 2 X 3 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 • 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 Online Brochure CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

CMHC Report CRC CHBA March 2010 CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION