CMHC Report

Canadian Renovators’ CommitteeCHBAMarch 4, 2010

EQuilibrium Housing Status

7 projects completedRiverdale NetZeroAvalon Discovery 3CHESSNow HouseInspiration – the Minto ecohomeAbondanceEcoTerra

EQuilibrium Update

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

EQuilibrium Housing Status

4 Project Under ConstructionEcho Haven, CalgaryGreen Dream Home, KamloopsUrban Ecology, WinnipegAlstonvale, Hudson

EQuilibrium Update

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

EQuilibrium Housing InSights

• Five Completed– Riverdale NetZero Deep

Wall System

– Now House Exterior Envelope Retrofit

– Riverdale NetZero Active Solar Thermal System

– Riverdale NetZero Passive Solar Design

– Avalon Discovery 3 Passive Solar Design

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

CMHC Research Projects - Ongoing

Basement Wall Insulation Retrofit Monitoring

• Comparing the performance of typical basement assemblies to alternatives

• Testing in two sets of five houses in Saskatchewan

• Basic test set up: In an existing house (not new), build interior framing/insulation and finishing system on a south or west basement wall

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

CMHC Research Projects - Ongoing

Basement Wall Insulation Retrofit Monitoring

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

CMHC Research Projects - Ongoing

Basement Wall Insulation Retrofit Monitoring

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

CMHC Research Projects - Ongoing

Basement Wall Insulation Retrofit Monitoring

Conventional Wall:

• 2X4 stud wall with R-12 fibreglass batts

• 6 mil poly

• Half inch drywall

• Vapour barrier paint (to compare to other wall that also has vapour barrier paint)

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

CMHC Research Projects - Ongoing

Basement Wall Insulation Retrofit Monitoring

Alternative Walls:

• Traditional wall with no polyethylene

• R-12 open cell foam, with polyethylene

• R-12 open cell foam, no polyethylene

• 1 inch of expanded polystyrene against the wall behind 2X3 wall; no poly

• 1 inch extruded polystyrene against the wall behind 2X3 wall; no poly

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

Traditional wall

No poly wall

• Some trends so far but we have to wait for all ten houses to have a year of monitoring (not until January 2010)

• There is no wall that looks problematic based on the data provided so far

• There is quite a wide range of interior conditions from house to house that may make more difference than the performance of one wall to another

CMHC Research Projects - Ongoing

Basement Wall Insulation Retrofit Monitoring

CMHC Research Projects - Ongoing

Basement Wall Insulation Retrofit Monitoring

• So, are the alternate walls in the Saskatchewan houses doing better than the standard stud and poly wall?

• Generally yes, but there are not huge differences in these first 5 houses– Wall with no poly has lower moisture content than

wall with poly– Walls with 1 inch of foam against the wall doing

better than standard walls (except that high moisture between extruded board and concrete)

CMHC Research Projects - Ongoing

Evaluating the Effect of Energy Related Building Envelope Retrofit Strategies for Housing on the Wetting and Drying Potential of the Wall Assembly

Performance Analysis of Residential Hot Water Efficiency Devices – Instantaneous DHW Savings

Payback Period for Green Building Features in Single Family Detached Dwellings

Sustainable Building Envelope Retrofits for Existing Homes

Design and Specification for NZ Building Envelope Retrofits

Radon Update

Proposed Radon Protection Measures in 2010 NBC

• Assume all areas are susceptible to levels of radon > 200 Bq/m³ (unless otherwise shown)

• Install poly under slab and pipe through floor in all new houses

• Seal poly to footings or foundation wall• Seal all penetrations• Assumption is that homeowner will test for radon in

the first winter of occupation (but this is not part of the code)

Radon Update

Radon Mitigation Measures for Existing Houses

• Source removal – get rid of the radon

Radon Update

Radon Mitigation Measures for Existing Houses

• Ventilation

Equation is simple: if you double the entry of fresh air to the basement, for example, you will cut the radon concentration in half

Obvious costs to increasing ventilation rates for heating or cooling ventilation air

Radon Update

Radon Mitigation Measures for Existing Houses

• Entry Point Sealing

Radon Update

Radon Mitigation Measures for Existing Houses

• Entry Point Sealing

Radon Update

Radon Mitigation Measures for Existing Houses

• Active soil depressurization systems

• Block wall suction or depressurization

• Sump and drainage suction

• Under membrane suction

• Subslab suction

Radon Update

Radon Mitigation Measures for Existing Houses

• Active soil depressurization systems

Radon Update

Radon Mitigation Measures for Existing Houses• Potential for freezing foundation footings

• Potential for icing and blockage of vertical vents

• Durability of exterior fans in Canadian climates

• IAQ implications of side wall venting rather than vertical venting

Radon Update

CMHC Research:

Canadian Radon Mitigation Case Studies

The project will investigate the performance of radon mitigation systems installed in Canadian houses.

The results of this research will show whether current Canadian radon strategies, advice to consumers and code provisions are effective at reducing radon infiltration into houses

Will assess other implementation and performance considerations.

Radon Update

External Research Program:

Survey of Characteristics in Homes with Elevated Radon Levels

To investigate houses in a high radon neighbourhood; to analyze which housing characteristics (if any) are likely to produce higher radon levels; to look at the efficacy of floor drain traps as a remedial measure for these homes.

Radon Update

Health Canada working on Mitigation Guide based on US model

Should be ready this Spring

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

Other

•2009 Get it in Writing!

Initiative

CRA and CHBA initially launched the Get it in Writing! Campaign

in 1995

In 2008, CMHC was approached to lead a new Get it in Writing!

initiative given the corporation’s consumer marketing experience

Get it in Writing! is consistent with CMHC’s mandate to promote

better quality housing and to provide Canadians with unbiased

information to help them make better housing-related decisions

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

Get It In Writing Campaign

Get It In Writing!

– Website Live– Testimonials – Printed

Brochures - CRA

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

Other

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

Other

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

Other

Online Brochure

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

CMHC Report

CRCCHBAMarch 2010