the design

Putting the Green in Green Lake

How to achieve Net-Zero in a colder climate.

By; Dillon Morgan

· Summery statement of proposed project

What’s the biggest question’s in the new wave of Green Home Design? How can I obtain Net-zero energy in my house? How much will it cost me? There is a lot of depth in this field and a lot of different ways that this can be accomplished. Since location is a key aspect in design I have chosen Green Lake, BC, Canada. This location best fit my project because Green Lake is a cold climate. So what is Net-zero? Net-zero is a home or building with a zero net consumption of energy annually. So, basically, the home I will design will generate more energy than it uses. During the extent of my research project, I will be analyzing and interpreting data that is in existence and showing the average Joe the basic steps needed in order to achieve Net-zero for their house.
First, in the quest to acquire Net-zero, the most important step is the outer layer. Meaning the insulation, and seal of the building. I will be looking at and choosing the best possible choice for wrapping the home for the specific location that I have chosen. When talking about Green Design a lot of different insulation question’s come up, like “is ICF (insulated concrete forms) the optimum choice for me or is blown in insulation the way to go”? During the project I will also list some good choices for achieving the R-value (resistance value) that you are set out to use.
When designing a Net-zero home the latest and most up to date building and modeling software should be used. I will be using Revit Architecture, a program that is steadily on the rise. Energy modeling plays an important role in knowing what you can achieve with the information that you have been given about the specific project. During the extent of my project I will be creating a complete energy model to ensure that the house gets the most bang for its buck.


· Propose

When people are thinking about joining the Net-zero community one of the biggest questions that come to mind is “what is in it for me”? For the most part there are many things that will make you feel better about your new Net-zero energy home. First, and most popular, lower, or no, energy bills. By creating a net-zero home you will see a significant change in your annual energy consumption and with my design in mind you will also be able to pump up the energy back into the grid that you harvest via PVC panels from the sun, and or wind harvesting. I think this project will help better the northern Canadian community and inform people just how easy and beneficial going green can be.

· Goals

For the main goals of my research project I will be researching and showing how to achieve a net-zero home in a colder climate. I will be listing and discussing all the data and information you need in order to achieve what you have set out to do. My objective is in the end to have a complete net zero design. While using the latest software I will be able to see how the home would function and perform during the most energy demanding months.

· Methodology

I will be attacking this area by a complete home design and energy modeling at the specific site of my work, as well as researching and taking in data about the climate and materials to be used. The most important part of my Research project is the choosing of the specific materials that will be used for the finished product. These will include the correct thermal resistances of the walls as well as floor and roof in order to keep my home under the zero mark. Others will include boilers, heat pumps, air conditioning, hot water systems, insulation, windows, doors, low flow toilets, and any other energy saving technology that comes along the way. During the extent of my research I will be using the energy modeling software HOT2000 which will help me in choosing the correct thermal resistances (R-value) of the walls as well as much more.

· Plans for dissemination

During the extent of my research project I will be creating and updating an online blog. This will help me document my project as it progresses. I will also be presenting my final project at the TRU undergraduate student research conference next year.

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