BILD Low-Rise Forum: High Performance Walls
By Lucas on Nov 28, 2013
At the latest Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) Low-Rise Forum, Gord Cooke of DuPont Tyvek Weatherization Systems appeared courtesy of E.I. du Pont Canada to discuss the importance of building homes with high performance walls.
The main takeaway from the forum was that consumer expectations in the building industry have changed drastically over the last few decades, and if we’re going to continue to meet those needs, it should be in a sustainable manner (environmentally and constructionally).
How have consumer expectations changed? Compared to low-rises built in the ‘60s, consumers now expect bigger, more complex homes with more windows, and features like central air conditioning, HVAC systems, etc. These features affect the homes’ energy consumption and also make them more liable to succumb to moisture damage.
According to Cooke, building with high performance walls can improve the longevity, affordability, and sustainability of low-rise homes.
Cooke said that “80% of construction litigation is associated with moisture problems.” 50% of a home’s energy is spent on heating and 40% of that energy contributes to air leakage. The solution is to build walls that are watertight and airtight, but vapour permeable. Keeping air and water out of the walls will prevent moisture damage, but if some water does get in, it’s important that heat generated by the home can dry it - and that’s why the walls need to be vapour permeable.
Cooke also highlighted the 2030 Challenge. The goal of the 2030 Challenge is to be producing buildings that are carbon-neutral by the year 2030, meaning that they use no fossil fuel greenhouse gas emitting energy to operate. Preventing air leakage would reduce energy consumption, which is one step closer to the goal of the 2030 Challeng
Recently, Natural Resources Canada and Owens Corning Canada selected five Canadian homebuilders, including Minto and Reid’s Heritage Homes, to take part in the ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative, which aims to produce net-zero homes. Net-zero energy homes will feature enhanced energy efficiency design strategies to cost effectively reduce energy needs.
Just the fact that Minto and Reid’s Heritage Homes are working to build net-zero homes on a community scale is a good sign that the building industry is headed in the right direction. Cooke presented a number of ways to build high performance walls and a lot can happen in the next 16 years - we’re excited to watch the designs of homes transform and enhance over the coming decade.
