Apr 2022 Decarb Lunch Podcast: Legendary Airtightness – The Most Airtight Homes of the NearZero Program

ZEBx & BCIT: Tech Demo Series – The Mitsubishi Electric CITY MULTI QAHV
April 21, 2022
Case Study: Park Place
May 6, 2022
ZEBx & BCIT: Tech Demo Series – The Mitsubishi Electric CITY MULTI QAHV
April 21, 2022
Case Study: Park Place
May 6, 2022

Season 2 Episode 4

Recorded at Past Event: Apr 27, 2022 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm




Legendary Airtightness – The Most Airtight Homes of the NearZero Program

Overview

The 2022 BC Building Code is coming! And with it comes a minimum step code requirement for most new buildings. Airtightness is a critical part of this requirement and builders play a central role in making it happen. Of the 40+ high-performance homes in ZEBx’s NearZero Emission Building program, two have achieved an airtightness of less than 0.3 ACH, twice as good as the minimum requirement for Passive House!

ZEBx and BCIT were joined by Econ Group and Kingdom Builders and we learned how they pulled off this feat in a very simple and cost-effective way.


Speakers

Marcel Studer – Principal, Econ Group

Marcel Studer is a principal of Econ Group Ltd. He holds a Masters Degree in Architecture from the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich (Switzerland). Marcel has lived and worked in Canada for the last 18 years in his capacity as a designer and builder and is also an instructor of a variety of courses offered through Passivehouse Canada. Since 2006 Marcel has been involved in various local PH projects covering design and construction while increasing his skills and knowledge in the fields of energy efficiency, building science and construction technology. Marcel also is a board-member of Passivehouse Canada, the not for profit organization promoting the Passive House Standard in Canada.

Paul Lilley – Principal / Owner, Kingdom Builders

Matthew Woodruff is a principal and co-founder of Local Practice and provides leadership for projects in the public

Why did you start Kingdom Builders? What has always been your vision for the company?

We’ve always had a passion for building homes and helping our clients realize their dreams. With backgrounds in residential construction and industrial project management, we knew we could bring to the market a high level of service, with a quality product to match. Our vision has always been to be the most efficient, and sustainable, quality custom home builder in Greater Vancouver. Since we started our business, we are proud of our accomplishments and how far we have come.

Why did you go into this field?

Earlier in my career, I was an industrial engineer and worked on large multi-million dollar projects. While I enjoyed what I did, I had a desire to utilize my skills in a different way. Being a custom builder is gratifying. There is something very special about being given the opportunity to build someone’s home. Knowing that we are somehow contributing to people’s lives and helping them create a place where they can raise their families and build memories, means a lot. There’s no better feeling than completing a project and handing over the keys to the homeowner.

What sets Kingdom Builders apart from the rest?

We care about what we do and take pride in our work. We are also transparent, and always keep the lines of communication open. With a strong commitment to sustainability, our goal is to make a more positive impact on the world around us, one home at a time.

Why is sustainable living so important?

With more and more consumers moving toward “greener” homes, there is increasing demand for builders to incorporate sustainable elements into their projects. We have always been environmentally conscious and it has become standard practice for us to incorporate energy efficient elements into every one of our home builds. As leaders in this area, we consistently look for ways to take sustainable living to a whole new level. Over the past few years, we have utilized our expertise and have built some of the first certified Passive House projects in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.


Hosts

Mary McWilliam – Project Leader, Net Zero Energy Construction, BCIT

Roberto Pecora – Director, ZEBx