Canadian net-zero energy housing technology unveiled in Japan
2009-01-08 - Canada’s residential energy technologies industry achieved a new milestone with the opening of the first net-zero energy house in Sapporo, Japan on September 20, 2008.
Natural Resources Canada, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade have worked for many years with the housing industry to increase international recognition and export of Canadian energy efficient housing innovations through the Super E House Programme . With the introduction of net-zero energy housing exports, Canada has a platform for demonstrating international leadership in the application of leading-edge energy efficient products and clean, renewable technologies.
The Sapporo house will produce as much energy as it consumes, annually. The innovative design and construction techniques applied by K. Ito and Associates Ltd. of Vancouver and Tsuchiya Twoby Home of Japan effectively incorporated superior products to achieve a net zero target. Products supplied by firms based in 5 Canadian provinces included pultruded fibreglass triple pane windows, an energy recovery ventilation system, solar domestic hot water, drain water heat recovery and a geothermal heat pump system. The cornerstone of the design was the application of 21 mm of thin vacuum insulation which produced a 5 fold increase in the insulating value of the walls.
