An Improved Standard for Energy Efficient Housing

By Emmanuelle Brière
July 2012

Homes built to the 2012 R-2000 Standard will be 50% more energy-efficient than homes built to the 2005 standard.

An additional sheathing was installed on the exterior of the 2012 R-2000 model home built by Urbandale Construction, enhancing both the structural and insulating properties of the walls.

R-2000 homes are some of the most energy-efficient homes on the market. They offer better indoor air quality, higher levels of insulation and a more airtight building envelope (the outer layer of the home that separates the living space from the outdoor environment). R‑2000 homes are built to the R-2000 Standard, a voluntary standard for high energy-efficiency in residential housing developed and administered by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).

In order to ensure that R-2000 maintains its place as a leading standard for energy efficiency, NRCan recently released an updated 2012 R-2000 Standard. The new requirements will encourage Canadian builders to reach the next level of energy-efficient new home construction and will result in homes that are 50% more energy-efficient compared to the previous version of the Standard released in 2005.  

Increasing Energy Performance

NRCan collaborated with stakeholders from across Canada to identify the requirements to be updated. The changes are planned to take place in two phases: the first phase involved the release of an updated 2012 R-2000 Standard that featured a significant increase in the required energy performance.

The R-2000 model home included low-emission cabinetry and paint to improve indoor air quality.

The second phase, beginning in 2014, will use an expanded energy target formula that accounts for air conditioning and electrical energy derived from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy. Half of the energy target will need to be met through the performance of the building envelope. The 2014 Standard will also update and expand the pick list of environmentally friendly and resource efficient options.

Rising to the Challenge

Motivated by this new challenge, Urbandale Construction, in collaboration with Carleton University, has completed a model home built to the new standard in Ottawa, Ontario. The partnership used computer modelling to create innovative design concepts and pushed the boundaries of home building technology.

Equipment was selected to meet increased energy efficiency targets. An instantaneous water heater, drain water heat recovery, geothermal heating and cooling system and a heat recovery ventilator were incorporated into the design. Extra insulating material was added, including slabs under the foundation.

Additionally, triple-glazed windows were installed to reduce heating needs in winter and air-conditioning needs in summer. The combination of these innovations enables the house to consume significantly less energy.

“Urbandale is proud to be able to offer our customers homes built to Canada’s highest building standard,” says Matthew Sachs, General Manager of Urbandale Construction.

Energy saving devices such as an instantaneous water heater and a drain water heat recovery system were incorporated into the R-2000.

Applications Abroad

Over the last five years, several Chinese developers have built wood-frame homes to the Super E® standard, which is an adaptation of the R-2000 standard for export markets. Similar successes have been demonstrated in other countries including Japan, Russia, the UK and the United States.

These partnerships, initiated by Natural Resources Canada with other departments such as Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, have led to the sharing of Canadian building practices and the export of goods and services to other countries.

For further information on the 2012 Standard and the R-2000 Initiative, visit the New Housing Web site. The 2012 R-2000 Standard was published in February, and has been mandatory since July 1st for builders who are licensed to build R-2000 homes.

To read about related articles, see Energy Efficiency.

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