Better Builder, Issue 31 / Fall 2019

PUBLICATIONNUMBER42408014
INSIDE
Back to School with Barbini
Carbon Pricing
A New Take on Air Sealing
Top 11 Renovation Lessons
A Good Energy Rater is Key
Insulating Existing Basements
ISSUE 31 | AUTUMN 2019
Making the Old
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BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 31 | AUTUMN 2019
16
1
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
2
Carbon, Sticks, Carrots
and Climate Change
by John Godden
THE BADA TEST
3
Is Carbon Pricing Actually
a “Tax on Everything”?
by Lou Bada
INDUSTRY EXPERT
5
A New Take on Air Sealing
Existing Homes
by Gord Cooke
INDUSTRY NEWS
9
What’s Good for New Is
Good for Old
by Paul De Berardis
BUILDER NEWS
13
by Rob Blackstien
SITE SPECIFIC
24
Why Having a Good
Energy Rater Is Key for a
Successful Renovation
by Alex Newman
SPECIAL INTEREST
26
Two Smart Ways to Insulate
Existing Basement Walls
by Howard Cohen
BUILDER NEWS
28
Two Goes Into One
by Rob Blackstien
FROM THE GROUND UP
30
In Conversation with CHBA
President Stefanie Coleman
Building Codes, Net Zero
Goals and the Existing
Housing Supply – Where
Do We Go from Here?
by Doug Tarry
FEATURE STORY
16
Back to School
In the HGTV “home porn” era, how much of the responsibility of teaching
home owners what’s truly important in their projects falls to builders?
by Rob Blackstien
30
ISSUE 31 | AUTUMN 2019
On our cover: High Park renovation by Barbini Design Build.
Photographed by John Godden.
Images internally supplied unless otherwise credited.
5
26

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W
hen Ontario’s current Conservative government was elected, one of the
first things it did was scrap the Climate Change Action Plan. As a result,
the federal Liberal government has imposed a carbon tax on Ontarians
and their businesses. This tax (or stick) is supposed to create an awareness around
CO2 emissions.
The upside of this tax is that the CO2-producing fuels, like natural gas and
gasoline, will be taxed. The downside of this tax is that our money will be returned to
us as a credit each year ($307 for a family of four). The idea of a tax credit may sound
good – but does it actually lessen the burden for consumers, or is it just politics? Does
it make sense to give a sin tax back to us for our bad behaviour?
That’s why I’m in favour of a tax credit program with oversight by utilities and
government. Generally, tax credits (or carrots) work to promote good choices or
behaviours. The spending power remains in the consumers’ hands and does not
involve government bureaucracy. This is fundamentally different from rebate or
incentive programs, wherein utilities or governments give us our own money back at
a fraction of what was originally paid. Subsidies like these do not create longer-term
market conditions, whereas tax credits can. (For more on the debate between carrot
or stick solutions, see Lou Bada’s column on page 3.)
The Consumers Council of Canada’s 2017 study, Incenting Energy Efficient Retro
fits: Risks and Opportunities for Consumers, provides vital information for tackling
energy conservation in the existing housing stock. It also highlights the importance
of consumer awareness, which is a key theme that runs through this renovation
issue. On page 16, we learn how Amedeo Barbini took his clients back to school with
a recent renovation, showing them that there’s so much more to a reno than the
hardwood floors and granite countertops shown on TV. Doug Tarry shares a candid
interview with Canadian Home Builders’ Association president Stefanie Coleman on
the importance of consumer education in pushing sustainable change (page 30).
There are lots of tools and solutions to help home owners renovate sustainably.
We’ve identified a couple of great energy-efficient reno opportunities in “Top 11
Renovation Lessons” on page 13, and Gord and Brian Cooke share some promising
air sealing results using AeroBarrier on page 5. And in “Two Goes into One” on page
28, we learn why A.O. Smith’s Polaris combi system is ideal for space and hot water
heating in retrofits.
Energy audits provided by a third party are a powerful tool for educating and
training home owners, renovators and designers. Read Paul De Berardis’s article on
page 9 for more on the importance of energy audits and modelling when undertaking
a reno, and see this issue’s Site Specific column on page 24 to learn why good energy
raters are few and far between.
The word “renovate” means “to restore to good condition; to make new as if new
again or repair.” It’s time to renovate our approach to existing housing stock and
carbon emissions, and start fostering a green economy. BB
Carbon, Sticks, Carrots
and Climate Change
publisher’snote / JOHN GODDEN

In Canada, the traditional approach
of taxing bad behaviour and incentiv
izing good behaviour – the proverbial
“carrot and stick” approach – is littered
with pitfalls (the Ontario government’s
FIT/microFIT Program for solar
installations comes to mind). Also,
I see that through public education
and public relations, there are efforts
underway to change our views on the
environment and climate change.
In theory, taxation, incentives and
education should work – but will they
work in practice? This strategy seems
to have worked in curbing tobacco
use in Canada. I wonder what would
happen in our interconnected world
if we adopted a strong carbon pricing
model but the large emitting countries
of the planet did not.
I am truly struggling with the idea,
and I’m of two minds when it comes to
a tax on carbon – a “tax on everything,”
as some have labelled it. Let’s face it:
no one likes taxes (unless they believe
someone else is paying them).
Many don’t like the concept of a
carbon tax on the fuels that generate
carbon emissions which filter into the
cost of much of everything we con
sume. On the other hand, according
to the federal government’s carbon
pricing plan, 90% of the tax collected
is returned to consumers through
varying income tax credits on income
tax (assuming you have an income)
based on family size and place of
residence. Companies that face foreign
competition from countries with
weaker environmental laws will receive
greater tax breaks to protect them from
an unfair advantage. In carbon tax
theory, even though we will get (our
own) tax money back, we are always
inclined to try and save money – so we
will thus choose less expensive carbon-
intensive products, buy less or take
measures to conserve energy.
Proponents of the tax believe it
is the best and most efficient way of
lowering greenhouse gas emissions,
and they use British Columbia’s carbon
tax as an example. According to the BC
government’s website, provincial real
GDP grew by 19% and net emissions
declined by 3.7% between 2007
and 2016. Although this may sound
promising, it points to a correlation
and not necessarily causation. Broad
statistics rarely tell you the entire story.
The following information was taken
directly from Environment and Climate
Change Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Sources
and Sinks: Executive Summary 2019:
“In 2017, the combined emissions
from Alberta and Ontario, the largest
emitters, represented 60% (38% and 22%,
respectively) of the national total.
In 1990, Ontario’s GHG emissions were
higher than those from the other provinces
because of its large manufacturing industry.
Alberta’s emissions subsequently surpas
sed Ontario’s, with an increase of 58%
since 1990, primarily due to the increase
in the oil and gas industry. Ontario’s
emissions decreased between 1990 and
2017 primarily because of the closure of
coal-fired electricity generation plants.
The provinces of Quebec and British
Columbia, which rely on abundant
hydroelectric resources for their electricity
production, show more stable emission
patterns over time and a decreasing
pattern since 2005. Quebec had a 10%
(8.4 Mt CO2 eq) decrease from its 2005
emissions level; mainly attributable to
decreasing emissions from the residential,
aluminum production and petroleum
refining industries. Over the same period,
emissions from British Columbia had a
decline of 2% (1.0 Mt CO2 eq); essentially
due to decreasing emissions from the
manufacturing industries and fugitive
sources. In contrast to these decreases,
emissions in Saskatchewan increased by
14% (9.8 Mt CO2 eq) between 2005 and
2017, primarily due to increases in activity
from sectors such as transportation, oil
and gas, and mining.”
It seems that most reductions in
Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions
come from a global economic shift away
from manufacturing in Ontario and
Canada. Manufacturing likely moved
to jurisdictions with lower labour costs
and more lenient environmental laws.
Ontario has reduced its emissions
3
Is Carbon Pricing Actually
a “Tax on Everything”?
thebadatest / LOU BADA
INTERPAS/ISTOCKPHOTO
I
recognize the need for everyone on the planet (and in government) to find a way to
conserve energy and move on to a less carbon-intensive economy. However, the
solutions to climate change don’t seem as clear to me.

below 1990 levels (mostly by closing
its coal-fired electricity plants), while
British Columbia’s emissions have not
dropped below 1990 despite its carbon
tax. Also of interest is that, according
to Statistics Canada (Population and
dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces
and territories, from the 2016 and
2011 censuses) and the Ministry of
Natural Resources, British Columbia
has 13.2% of Canada’s population and
produces 9% of Canada’s greenhouse
gas emissions, while Ontario has 38.3%
of Canada’s population (almost three
times that of British Columbia) while
producing 22% of Canada’s emissions.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
is complex, and referring to regional
differences and increases or reductions
in greenhouse gas emissions in isola
tion is not particularly informative.
When it comes to new homes and
renovations, these taxes are straight-up
costs that will eventually be passed
onto consumers. Our industry doesn’t
face foreign competition and won’t likely
receive tax relief under the plan. As far
as I know, we haven’t done any studies
to see exactly what the cost impact of
an escalating price on carbon for new
homes or renovations will be. Hence,
I don’t know if the increased costs of
buying a newer energy-efficient home
or undertaking an energy-efficient
home renovation will be offset by the
cost savings of the improved energy
efficiency. I do know that many building
products used to make homes energy
efficient (think of foamed insulation,
sealants, etc.) and other regular building
products are petroleum based and/
or energy intensive to produce. Lower
carbon-intensive building products
are not readily available. I also know
that we require everything (including
our workforce) to be transported to our
construction sites. I believe there will be
significant increased costs. Housing is a
necessity, not a luxury that we can forgo.
Like many other pieces of govern
ment legislation, the devil is in the
details and implementation. I don’t
believe that the cost of the bureaucracy
to administer the tax will disappear into
thin air either. I believe our industry,
and home owners that choose to do
an energy retrofit, should get a bigger
carrot – not the stick – when it comes to
carbon pricing.
I like creative, targeted solutions,
such as some of those in Europe.
According to the International Council
on Clean Transportation’s 2018 report,
Using Vehicle Taxation Policy to
Lower Transport Emissions, there are
good strategies throughout Europe
– particularly in France and Norway
– where there are dedicated taxes on
gas-powered passenger cars which
directly subsidize incentives, such as no
VAT (value-added tax; similar to HST)
on the purchase of electric vehicles. It
seems more transparent. Aside from
lower operating costs, electric vehicles
are also exempt from road tolls in some
jurisdictions.
It seems that the carbon tax is akin
to a “sin tax” of the sort you see on
cigarettes and alcohol. I just don’t think
it should be a sin to buy a new energy-
efficient home or do an energy-efficient
retrofit on an existing home. BB
Lou Bada is vice-
president of low-rise
construction at Starlane
Home Corporation
and on the board of
directors for the Residential Construction
Council of Ontario (RESCON).
4

Last winter, I wrote about Harold
Orr’s induction into the Order of
Canada for his contributions to the
improvement of Canadian homes
(“The Game Changer in Air Sealing
of Houses” in the winter 2018 issue).
I had the pleasure of meeting him
again in Saskatoon recently as he
reiterated the findings of his research
of over 40 years ago that unwanted
air leakage accounted for at least 30%
and as much as 50% of winter energy
waste in Canadian homes.
In those articles, I encouraged you
– maybe even cajoled you – to do two
things in every renovation project:
(1) include a pre-renovation air test
on every project and (2) set a goal to
improve or reduce the air leakage rate
by at least 20%. Can I ask you if you did
that? If so, I would certainly welcome
stories of your successes or challenges.
Send them to the email address at the
end of this article.
That said, I know it’s not easy. The
many considerations involved – inclu
ding design selections, scheduling,
budgets, trade selections, material
selections and compatibility with the
existing structure, home owner expec
tations and, indeed, the uncertainties
of airtightness results and the chal
lenge to make a dent in those numbers
in an old house – can be daunting.
In the article I wrote last fall, I
reported on our success with the new
AeroBarrier technology in new homes,
but I cautioned that its use in existing
homes may not be worth it, due to the
possible deposition of dried sealant
on horizontal surfaces and thus the
need for extensive protection of those
surfaces. However, we have had very
encouraging experiences with four
or five renovation projects, and I want
to share key lessons from three of
those jobs.
First, as part of our initial training
last summer, Angela in our office was
in the middle of a major renovation of
a 1980s townhouse. Flooring, cabinets
and most plumbing fixtures were out.
We covered stairs, railings, door knobs,
mechanical equipment, and horizontal
surfaces of doors and window trims
that were not being removed. The
project did not include much in
the way of opening up of existing
walls or ceilings, and the attic was
already insulated, so opportunities
for traditional air sealing work were
limited. It will be no surprise that
the original air test – even after spray
foaming basement rim joists, as well
as replacing a few new windows and
5
A New Take on
Air Sealing Existing Homes
industryexpert / GORD COOKE
Air sealing a semi-detached house.
E
xactly two years ago, I wrote an article compelling every renovator on
every renovation project to include comprehensive air sealing measures
(“Air Sealing Existing Homes” in the autumn 2017 issue). I quoted Natural
Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency, which stated in its 2017 Keeping
the Heat In report: “Air leakage control is the single most important retrofit
activity, and it should be considered first in any retrofit strategy. Air leakage
control is essential.”
AUSTINL.TODD/COEFFICIENTBUILDINGSCIENCE

at least one door – was 5.5 ACH50
(air changes per hour at 50 Pascal
pressure). After 90 minutes of sealing
with AeroBarrier, the airtightness was
2.3 ACH50 and, a year later, it is still at
2.65 ACH50.
(You might wonder why we didn’t
go further. Well, although we tried
ventilating and filtering the attached
neighbour’s townhouse, one of the
occupants was house bound and was
getting anxious about possible effects.
Two great lessons: I can’t imagine
another way to reduce the air leakage
of an old house to such an extent
and do a better job of managing the
process of effectively sealing the
demising wall of a townhome.)
The next project was a wonderful
high-end retrofit and renovation of
a 200-year-old farm house in Perth,
Ontario, directed by Michael Glover
of ECOTAY Education Centre and with
Mark Tritton of The Lanark Design/
Build Group as the builder. The goal
was to create as energy efficient a
home as possible while still keeping
the “bones” intact. Before we got
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Brian Cooke is sales
and marketing manager
of Aerobarrier.
Gord Cooke is
president of Building
Knowledge Canada.
Now that we have your attention, Enbridge and AeroBarrier
are offering incentives to new home builders to test drive the
AeroBarrier air sealing approach. Don’t hesitate to contact us
for information at bcooke@aerobarrier.ca or 519-489-2541 (cell).
the call, they had done extensive
(but conventional) air sealing and
insulation work and had gotten the
house down to 2.79 ACH50. This
included spray foaming basement
walls, replacing some (but not
all) windows and installing high-
efficiency mechanical equipment to
eliminate natural draft chimneys.
In an AeroBarrier seal time of 240
minutes, the finished air leakage rate
was down to 1.18 ACH50. I can only
imagine that Harold Orr would be
pleased that we now have the ability
to take 200-year-old houses down to
under R-2000 levels in four hours. By
the way, the seal was done on a balmy
eastern Ontario winter’s day at –10°C.
Finally, I think you will find our
experience during a renovation
of a 1942 semi-detached home
in downtown Toronto by Solares
Architecture of interest as well.
The home was being renovated
into three separate rental suites,
and the goal was to create a Passive
House Canada-level home. Through
conventional air sealing and
insulation practices, the renovator
achieved remarkable results, going
from a starting value of 9.8 ACH50
down to 1.61 ACH50. Moreover, they
had worked with their certified energy
advisor to do multiple air tests to track
the effectiveness of their air sealing
efforts (check out the graph of these
progressive tests over a six-month
period). We were most interested in
hearing that, despite a solid commit
ment to air sealing, they had pretty
much hit a wall on February 7, 2019.
They started the day at 1.62 ACH50
and, after three to four hours of work
by two people, they dropped the air
leakage to just 1.61 ACH50. We were
pleased to be asked to participate at
that point, and after a seal time of 160
minutes (just another 2.5 hours), the
AeroBarrier result was 0.34 ACH50.
However, there is a caveat to that
result. AeroBarrier results are done in a
pressurization mode, with intentional
openings like fans or mechanical vents
taped off to avoid gumming them up
with sealant. The final as-operated
depressurization test advocated by
programs such as Passive House, with
those openings in their operational
state, typically shows higher results. In
this project, that final test still met the
Passive House goal of 0.6 ACH50. These
results are outlined in the chart at left.
Based on these experiences,
I am more bullish about the cost
effectiveness of AeroBarrier in
major renovation projects. If you are
replacing all or most of the flooring,
all or most of the cabinetry, many of
the plumbing fixtures and some of the
trim, then my recommendation is to
do a pre-test, find the big holes and
seal them on your own. Then let the
amazing new AeroBarrier technology
find and seal the rest. There really
is a compelling reason to think we
can finally achieve the airtightness
levels in existing homes that good
old Canadian research has been
advocating for over 40 years. BB
7
SOLARES ARCHITECTURE – ECO-FLATS 2.0 – 550 DUFFERIN ST, TORONTO
09/04
2018
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
9.81 6.14
01/23
2019
02/06
2019
02/06
2019
2.96 2.43
02/07
2019
02/07
2019
1.62 1.61
02/11
2019
0.34
0.0
AIR LEAKAGE RATE (ACH50)
PRE-
RETROFIT
AEROBARRIER
INSTALLED
BLOWER DOOR TEST DATES
CONSTRUCTION PHASE

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BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 31 | AUTUMN 2019 9
industrynews / PAUL DE BERARDIS
More on that example later. For
now, let’s look at the game changer for
Ontario homes: the Ontario Building
Code (OBC). The first provincial
Building Code came into effect in
1975. The Code superseded local
building codes and was part of an
effort to harmonize construction
standards across the province. New
editions of the Code were published in
1983, 1986, 1990, 1997, 2006 and 2012,
with interim amendments to the Code
frequently made between publications
of new editions. With the continually
evolving OBC generally updated
every five to seven years, and with
enhancements in each subsequent
edition, the next generation of housing
stock typically benefits from improved
energy efficiency as well as refinement
of construction practices and
materials. The OBC has transformed
the way Ontario builds its homes.
Although houses are still generally
built in the same fashion and using
the same fundamental building
blocks (such as concrete foundations,
wood-framed structures and
masonry exterior cladding), they
are vastly different. The way we use
these materials, and the abundance
of innovative product offerings,
have enabled new-home builders
to evolve and deliver a superior
product to new-home buyers, our
customers. The quality of new homes
has continued to improve over time,
thanks to advancing technology and
construction practices.
More recently, since the last signi
ficant OBC update to SB-12 upping
the standards for low-rise houses in
2017, Ontario’s Building Code is one of
the most advanced energy efficiency
regulations in North America.
Builders’ ambitions play a big role
in the quality of Ontario’s new homes,
as new-home builders often exceed
minimum OBC standards and deliver
even higher-performing homes to new-
home buyers than what’s mandated.
As the OBC has evolved:
• More energy-efficient building
products and assemblies – ranging
from insulation, windows, furnaces
and water heaters – have been
mandated;
• Mechanically controlled ventilation
has regulated and improved indoor
air quality with the introduction
of heat recovery ventilators (HRVs)
and energy recovery ventilators
(ERVs), while working towards
encouraging improved airtightness;
and
• Advanced air and vapour barrier
systems, as well as the increasing
usage of continuous exterior
insulation, have led to better
performing building envelopes.
As construction quality continues
to improve, there are increasingly
stringent expectations on new homes,
which are an easy target for over-
regulation to continue the trend of
ever-improving energy efficiency and
GHG emission reduction.
However, to be quite frank, new
houses are not the problem when it
comes to governments looking to
reduce GHG emissions, such as the
June 17, 2019 House of Commons
declaration of a national climate
emergency in Canada. As a response,
Canada will commit to meeting its
national emission target under the
Paris Agreement and to making deeper
GHG reductions. Since new housing
stock typically adds less than 1% to the
existing housing stock each year in
Ontario, the more impactful approach
would be to develop a framework
towards improving the existing
housing stock instead of pushing
marginal gains in the already high-
performing new housing sector.
Back to the comparison of a 2019
home and one built in the 1980s. I
happen to be renovating my 35-year-
What’s Good for New
Is Good for Old
I
always laugh on the rare occasion someone tells me “they don’t build houses
like they used to.” You’re right, friend, we don’t – we build them a lot better.
After all, what’s the difference between a new home and an old home?
I’m not even referring to a post-war home; I’m talking about a new home built
in the last few years compared with one built in the 1980s or 1990s. Although a
2019 home and one built in the 1980s have a lot in common, they are worlds apart
in terms of energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) or CO2 emissions.
45
30% BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL
PAULDEBERARDIS,TORONTOON
RatingDateAugust12,2019
2012SB-12REFERENCEHERS60

old Greater Toronto Area home
and will incorporate the best of
my knowledge from the world of
new-home construction to raise its
standards. While many renovations
typically focus on aesthetics – such as
flooring, millwork, trim and paint – it
is also wise to consider what can be
done to improve the performance and
thermal comfort of an existing home
when undertaking a renovation,
should the project scope and budget
permit. This is where the federal
and/or provincial governments can
work to devise a practical program
to meaningfully incentivize home
owners to raise the bar when it comes
to GHG reductions in the existing
housing stock, as opposed to simply
giving out free smart thermostats.
With the vast availability of more
energy-efficient building products
and construction practices, certain
elements of a new home can be
incorporated into a renovation.
Elements such as increased thermal
insulation, right-sized high-efficiency
heating and cooling equipment,
controlled mechanical ventilation,
improved building envelope air sealing
measures and new windows with low
solar heat gain coefficients (SHGC) can
go a long way to transforming an older
home to perform like a new build.
So just how significant can the
impact be when implementing
current Code-compliant construction
practices into an older home to
improve its energy efficiency? The
chart above uses a reference house
as the basis of comparison to model
the performance of a home built to
each successive edition of the OBC,
it becomes apparent that a current
Code-built house has made tremen
dous progress towards reducing
GHG emissions. As an example, the
reference house built to the 1990 OBC
FIGURE 2 : DE BERARDIS RENOVATION VS CURRENT CODE
COMPONENT A/ EXISTING B/ AS BUILT PROPOSED
Ceiling With Attic R40 R60
Ceiling Without Attic R28 – 2x10 Rafters @ 16" R31 – 2x10 Rafters @ 16"
Exposed Floor N/A R31
Walls Above Grade R20 – 2x6 @ 16" R24 + 5 ci Grade 2
Walls Below Grade R12 – 2x4 @ 16" R6 ci + R12 - 2x4 @ 16"
Windows & Sliding Glass Doors R 2.8 SHGC .8 U = 1.53, SHGC = 0.17
Space Heating (AFUE) 80% 96% w/ECM
Ventilation Exhaust only 80CFM 75%
Drain Water Heat Recovery N/A R-3-42 (2 showers)
Domestic Hot Water (EF) 0.56 0.95
Air Tightness 4.50 2.50
Annual Consumption (kWh/year) 64,765 45,062
Consumption Savings (% BTC) N/A 30.42%
FIGURE 1 : GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSION SAVING FROM 1990–2017 FOR SB-12 REFERENCE HOUSE
COMPONENT OBC 1990 OBC 1997 OBC 2006 OBC 2012 OBC 2017
Ceiling With Attic R-31 R-31 R-40 R-50 R-60
Exposed Floor R-25 R-25 R-25 R-31 R-31
Walls Above Grade R-19 R-17 R-19 R-22 R-22
Walls Below Grade R-12 FH R8 to 2' R120 to 2' R12 FH R-20 FH
Windows 2.8 2.2 2 1.8 1.6
Space Heating 90% AFUE 90% AFUE 90% AFUE 94% AFUE 96% AFUE**
Domestic Hot Water 0.55 EF 0.55 EF 0.57 EF 0.67 EF 0.8 EF
Minimum HRV Efficiency 80 CFM @ 0% 80 CFM @ 0% 80 CFM @ 0% 60% 75%
Drain Water Heat Recovery — — — — R3-48 on 2 drains
ACH 6.0 4.55* 3.57 3.1 3
Annual Space Heating Consumption (kWh) 27169 25089 23118 18032 16118
Annual DHWH Consumption (kWh) 7239 7239 6636 5795 3306
Total (kWh) 34408 32328 29754 23827 19424
Annual GHG Emission (Tonnes) 6.57 6.17 5.68 4.55 3.71
Annual GHG Emission Saving — 6.0% 13.5% 30.8% 43.5%
*First Code considering continuous barrier. Ref. 9.25.3 / **Furnace with brushless motor / 1 kg of CO2 = 1 kWh x 0.191

generates 6.57 tonnes of GHG emis
sions annually, compared with the
2017 SB-12 reference house generating
nearly half that (at 3.71 tonnes of
GHG annually). That’s a reduction of
43.5% or 2.86 annual tonnes of GHG
emissions. (See Figure 1.)
For perspective, according to
the United States Environmental
Protection Agency, a typical passenger
vehicle emits about 4.6 tonnes of
carbon dioxide per year (assuming
the average gasoline vehicle has a fuel
economy of about 10.7 L/100 km and
drives around 18,500 km per year).
So, the annual operation of a Code-
built home in Ontario produces less
GHG than the average annual use of a
passenger vehicle.
Considering this information,
doesn’t it seem logical that if the
government is truly interested in
combating the so-called “national
climate emergency in Canada,” it
would behoove them to address the
real problem: how to meaningfully
improve the bulk of the existing
housing stock, which generates
significantly more GHG emissions
than new housing?
So, if you are planning a renovation
to an existing home, consider what
options may be feasible to incorporate
into improving the efficiency of the
home. A key resource to planning is
an energy audit to benchmark the
existing home. Improvements can be
evaluated using computer modelling
programs based on HERS-approved
software (read more about modelling
in Site Specific on page 22. Figure 1
was produced based on this modelling.
Figure 2 is my existing, as-built house
before and after the renovation,
targeting 2.5 ACH@50 Pa for reduced
air leakage. The result will be a 30.42
percent reduction in natural gas con
sumption and CO2 emissions. The best
part is an energy rating label that shows
this if I should ever choose to sell. BB
Paul De Berardis is
RESCON’s director of
building science and
innovation. Email him at
deberardis@rescon.com.
11
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Better Builder, Issue 31 / Fall 2019

buildernews / ROB BLACKSTIEN
1. Arrange an energy audit
This allows you to get an energy
rating, so you can set goals for your
project and specifications for your
design. This is important because
you need to decide upfront if you’re
going to change the mechanical
systems, which Smith advises can
be a wise exercise – she’s saving 36%
off her previous utility costs. See
chart on page 25 comparing energy
consumption. Planning upfront in
this manner also helps reduce “weird
bulkheads all over the place.”
2. Find a good designer
You’ll need help to create plans and
specifications to meet your needs. The
designer will also help you navigate
the various municipal processes,
such as Committee of Adjustments
variances. Smith worked with Bill
Harrison of Fine Line Design, who she
says handled all the correspondence
and meetings with the city. “He speaks
their language; he does this stuff all
the time,” she says, which means he
was able to handle all the challenges
effectively. Visit him on LinkedIn.
3. Alert your neighbours
Once you’ve finalized your plans, you
should speak to your neighbours and
inform them what you have planned –
even if you don’t think the project will
affect them. In this instance, Smith
needed their approval on a party wall.
But more importantly, it’s vital to keep
good relations, so your neighbours won’t
mind helping you by moving their car off
the street when a delivery is expected,
for example. Manage their expectations
by letting them know how long the
project will take and what hours workers
will be there, so they don’t get upset. “We
found the more information we gave
them, the better,” Smith observes. Giving
them a sense of power and a voice in the
process can make all the difference.
4. Find a good general
contractor (GC)
You need someone that can educate
you about all your choices, while
treating your job as a priority. Ask for
testimonials and take the time to speak
to those people about their experiences
working with this contractor. If the GC
is reticent about giving you previous
clients to talk to, that should be a big
red flag. Drive by their clients’ homes
and see what you think of their work.
5. Get three quotes for every
thing while clearly defining
the scope of work and
payment arrangements
This is especially true in instances
when the home owner decides to act
as their own GC – but for those hiring
a GC, ensure you get three quotes. This
is one of the biggest investments you’ll
ever make, and you may be planning
to live in this home for many years, so
you’ve got to get the right partner. Once
you’ve picked a contractor, it’s time to
define the project, which needs to be
done in an extremely clear fashion and
in writing. Explicitly lay out how much
the total cost is, what increments it
needs to be paid in, and what exactly
needs to be completed at each of those
stages. Every detail must be clearly
spelled out in this contract so no one has
a doubt about the scope of the project.
6. Avoid house porn
Many designers may come in with
extravagant ideas that you may not
have the budget for, but this is not a
reality show with an unlimited budget
and 50 workers that will complete an
entire house in a week. This is the real
world. So do some research and focus
on the important features that can
really help you save money – and no,
we don’t mean granite countertops
and hardwood floors. (For more on this
issue, see Back to School on page 16.)
L
ate last year, Wanda Smith sold her condo and bought a townhouse in the
Leaside area of Toronto. Before moving in, however, she underwent a major
renovation on the new home. Based on her experience, Smith shared with us
some nuggets of wisdom in the form of lessons learned.
78
36% BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL
WANDASMITH,TORONTOON
RatingDateAugust15,2019
120140 80 60 40 20100
132
A home owner shares what she learned from her recent renovation
Do some research and
focus on the important
features that can really
help you save money.

7. Do not move in before the
job is substantially complete
Moving in while the project is ongoing
can be a nightmare as you’ll be living
in a mess with dust everywhere,
dealing with the smell of paint fumes
and navigating your way around
supplies, not to mention you and the
workers will be all over each other.
Oh, and good luck having a moment’s
peace with the constant noise.
8. Find a kitchen person
you can work with
In a reno, the kitchen is the room
most likely to undergo design changes
as things progress, so you’ll need a
flexible designer that can roll with it
and who excels at communication.
Smith recommends choosing your
appliances well before the kitchen is
designed and being realistic about
delivery dates because you don’t want
them delivered in the middle of the
project. In Smith’s case, the HVAC
contractor was able to hide 60% of the
duct work inside the kitchen cabinets.
9. Designate a storage area
Once your basement is done, section
off a portion of it and use it as a storage
area, because as you get closer to
moving in, you’ll likely have more of
your own stuff at the house and you
want to keep those things away from
the mess. A storage locker is a great
idea too, as you’ll have a place to tuck
away your furniture if you’re staging an
old property for sale. It also helps when
moving into the new house as you can
bring things over in stages.
10. Be flexible
Smith was dead set on putting a gas
fireplace in her living room, but it’s
not a huge space and the fireplace
supplier told her she’d be blasted out of
the room by the heat. So she opted for
an electric fireplace, “and it’s actually
really beautiful.” Listening to an expert
saved her from making a costly and
uncomfortable mistake.
11. Remember your most
important resource is
your relationship
Death, public speaking and renova
tions. If you’ve never undergone a
reno before, it can be among the most
stressful things you’ll ever endure, and
it will definitely test your patience,
your sanity...and your relationship. Just
remember, you and your significant
other are on the same team, and if you
aspire to live happily ever after in your
gorgeous upgraded home, you’ll need
to find a way to avoid axe murdering
each other during the project. BB
Rob Blackstien is a
Toronto-based freelance
writer. Pen-Ultimate.ca 
The kitchen designer (Lesson 8) and HVAC installer collaborated to hide 60% of the second-floor ductwork behind the cabinets. Here, cabinet
installers skillfully jockey around the ductwork. Far right: Where the kitchen dropped to the living area, the floor installer matched the seams of
engineered hardwood from one level to the next. (Installation by Flooring + Home, page 4.)

P
ink Floyd was rarely, if ever,
wrong. But when it wrote “We
don’t need no education” in
its 1979 classic, “Another Brick in
the Wall, Part II,” it clearly wasn’t
referring to home owners.
Because, let’s face it: Home owners,
left with few options to edify them
selves outside of the home porn that
HGTV serves up, definitely need to be
educated in the ways of energy-efficient
home building and retrofitting.
Worse yet, constructors – who tend
to pay lip service to being green – often
don’t introduce these options to their
clients, either because they worry
about sticker shock or perhaps because
they assume home owners simply
aren’t interested.
We’re left with a disproportionate
desire among home owners for granite
countertops and hardwood flooring as
key elements of a reno, while the true
difference makers – a tight envelope,
energy-efficient building techniques
and systems, and a general approach
designed to reduce the home’s carbon
footprint – are eschewed or ignored.
What HGTV fails to mention is
that you can add that countertop any
featurestory / ROB BLACKSTIEN
In the HGTV “home porn” era,
how much of the responsibility of teaching
home owners what’s truly important
in their projects falls to builders?
Back to School

time, but once the walls are up, good
luck trying to improve the building
envelope. The truth is, in the world
of reality TV renovations, a vapour
barrier can’t hold a candle to the
sexiness of hardwood.
But in the real world, guess what’s
sexy? Saving money on your utility
bills and having a home that’s
extremely comfortable to live in,
not to mention the satisfaction of
knowing you’ve done something to
help save the planet by reducing your
carbon footprint.
This is what makes a recent reno
in High Park by Barbini Design Build
so remarkable: the home owners were
amenable to being schooled in the
art of energy efficiency and are now
reaping the rewards.
The work Amedeo Barbini and
his team did for Katie Flynn and her
husband, Mark, was a total renovation,
including lowering and underpinning
the basement while extending the
house at the back (including the base
ment). Hydronic heating was added
to the ground floor as well. (For more
on the home, see the “Tech Specs)”
sidebar, page 19.)
Barbini said the couple were very
interested in the sustainable energy
conservation and consumption
elements of the project, so naturally
they were very receptive to the idea of
having a home energy consultant come
in, as Clearsphere’s John Godden did.
In fact, they opted to employ virtually
every item on Godden’s checklist of
recommendations.
Flynn says they were very conscious
about sustainability heading into the
project, and actually felt guilty about
the amount of waste the demo portion
generated. “But the house itself was
very inefficient. You would put your
hand on the wall and it would be
freezing,” she says. As a result, she and
Mark welcomed this approach.
“It’s all about what are you going
to put into your home that’s not just
visible countertops, but something
that is going to: first of all, make it a
more comfortable home; second of all,
make it more cost efficient; and third
of all, really have much less carbon
footprint” while providing enhanced
air quality through the home, Barbini
explains of his approach. It’s what he
likes to call “stealth comfort.”
Of course, this type of innovation is
nothing new to him.
Barbini launched his business
in 1975. Over the years, he grew his
business into a full-service design-
build firm, and it wasn’t long before
he needed a bigger boat to fit all his
employees and accolades. Barbini
transcends being a mere home builder/
renovator; he specializes in what he
terms “environment creation.”
17
43
THIS HOME IS 29% BETTER THAN CODE
46KENNEDYPARK,TORONTOON
RatingDateJuly18,2019
PHOTOSCOURTESYBARBINICORP

He’s always offered a home owner
educational component as part of his
offerings, and he believes it’s really
the duty of all builders to do so for
their clients. Unfortunately, in many
cases, the builders themselves need
to go to school, Barbini suggests.
“Builders have to be educated.
Builders have to put a value on this
kind of stuff, and if builders operate
just on a monetary level, they’re not
going to [push this] until they’re
forced by the Building Code.”
His energy-efficient offerings are
like a shopping cart, he says: “people
can put in that cart what they feel they
can afford, what they feel they’d be
interested in, and we offer that as a
component to the renovation.”
Having said that, it’s not always
an easy sell, he adds. “You have to
have a consumer that’s interested in
contributing to a better environment
for their family and a better
environment [for the planet].”
Flynn and her husband fit the bill,
and she recognized how lucky they
were to work with Barbini. “It’s a great
team because they have a good leader.
He gets right in there and I can call
him or text him anytime,” she says.
Flynn lauded his passion and constant
pursuit of new ideas that he could
bring to the table.
Flynn agrees that it’s the builder’s
responsibility to inform their clients
and present these types of options
because she says, even with her
education, “I wouldn’t know about
vapour barriers.”
Her advice to builders is to present
a business case for energy-efficient
Where old meets new
– the existing masonry
and new rear addition.
STEP 1 : Air gap membrane
applied over existing
basement wall and underpin.
STEP 2 : Amvic radiant pex
panel for quick installation of
radiant flooring.
STEP 3 : Rockwool COMFORTBOARD™80
provides a continuous insulation layer
which manages moisture.
STEP 4 : Stand-off wall with
R22 batts gives the basement
wall an R30 rating.

features. Show the consumer what
the initial investment is, discuss the
benefits, present the projected return
on investment in savings and then let
the home owners make an educated
decision.
The amazing thing is, renovating a
house in this manner only adds about
2% to 3% to the total costs, Barbini
says – a pittance when you consider the
return from a savings, environmental
and comfort standpoint. “You’re not
going to see that money anywhere, but
it’s going to be experienced ,” he says.
(Actually, that’s not entirely accurate:
home owners will see a return on that
investment in lower utility costs.)
He believes that Katie and Mark
understand what they received, given
how educational Godden’s meetings
were. “They were very good students,”
Barbini says.
“It’s a different thing,” Flynn adds.
“It’s not like ‘oh, this granite top will
increase your house value because
people will like it’ – it’s more like we
know that we’ll pay less over time.”
What Flynn really appreciated
about working with Barbini – who
had done work previously with her
sister and aunt – was his “open book”
approach. She said he was completely
transparent with them about quotes
and pricing. “I never felt like I was
being sold to; I just felt like I was being
educated and we made the decisions
on which ones we would use,” she adds.
Having gone through the process,
does Flynn see the value of consumers
educating themselves about what’s
inside the walls? “Yes, and I’m
surprised how people are kind of
ignorant about it,” she says.
Flynn’s experience has put her in
19
Tech Specs
Partway through the process, Katie and Mark realized they would require
more space, so a third floor was added, and Barbini had to go back to the
Committee of Adjustment to get approval for this change.
On that top floor, two bedrooms and a bathroom were added, while the
attic space was used for three large closets.
“We basically built a new house inside the masonry walls,” Barbini says.
The basement was completely moisture proofed, and Flynn was thrilled
with the result: “The basement now feels just as fresh as every other part of
the house, with no moisture.”
In the end, the house is 59% better than before, taking it to 29% above
Code with a HERS score of 43.
Among the energy-efficiency features added were:
• a 95% efficient boiler with storage tank to provide space heating and
domestic hot water heating;
• a 16 Seer air conditioner;
• an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) providing 75% efficiency with exhausts
ducted to adjacent bathrooms;
• a Greyter greywater system offering 42% drain water heat recovery on two
showers; a reduction of 20–25% in water use;
• 90% compact fluorescent lights for energy-efficient lighting;
• quiet Panasonic WhisperGreen high-static exhaust fans;
• high-performance, low solar heat gain windows for passive cooling; and
• ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation throughout, including basement
(read about better basement strategies on pages 20 and 26).
Third floor addition during
construction (top) and
finished view from the rear.

a unique position to offer advice to
home owners embarking on a similar
journey: “‘Don’t be afraid to get a John
Godden or that type of a consultant
and encourage your contractor to look
into that and support that, because
it makes sense economically and
environmentally.” She adds: “If the
house is gutted, it’s not that much more
expensive to get the proper materials,
so it really is a no-brainer.”
For her part, she can’t understand
why HGTV doesn’t spend any time
educating consumers about the
benefits of energy-efficient home
building. Could it be that the drama
of doing things wrong is more
entertaining than doing things right?
Delta Membrane: Air gap membrane used as
moisture barrier and drainage layer on inside of
existing foundation wall. Exterior basement wall
is not damp-proofed on the outside and there
are no weeping tiles.
Rockwool COMFORTBOARD™80: Used as
a secondary drainage layer and continuous
insulation layer at R6, reducing thermal bridging
and keeping wood framing high and dry.
R22 Rockwool Insulation: Fills cavity of the
standoff framed wall and provides insulation at
R4 per inch. As it is non-combustible, the base
ment wall could remain without drywall or wiring.
The combination of two layers of Rockwool
insulation gives an effective R-value of 24.
BARBINI’S BEST PRACTICE FOR FINISHING EXISTING BASEMENTS
BARBINI DESIGN BUILD : 46 KENNEDY PARK ROAD ENERGY MATRIX
COMPONENT EXISTING (2300 SQ FT) PACKAGE A1 (3824 SQ FT) DESIGNED (3824 SQ FT)
Ceiling With Attic R20 R60 R60
Ceiling Without Attic R12 R31 R31
Walls Above Grade D.B brick R22 R22+5 ci
Walls Below Grade R4 R20 R22 (2x4)+5ci
Below Grade Slab > 600mm BG — — R10
Below Grade Slab < 600mm BG R10 R10 R10
Insulation Grade III III II
Windows & Glass Doors (U value) < 17% glazing/wall U = 3.7 U = 1.6 U = 1.4
Space Heating 60% AFUE boiler 96% AFUE 95% boiler
ASHP — — HSPF = 8.5
Cooling 13 SEER 13 SEER 16 SEER
Minimum HRV/ERV Efficiency Exhaust Fan 75% 75% ERV
Domestic Hot Water Heater (EF) 0.5 0.8 95% boiler w/ storage tank
Drain Water Heat Recovery None 42% (2 showers) 42% (2 showers, greywater)
Energy Efficient Lighting — — 90% CFL
Solar PV — — —
ACH Modelling 6 3 3.4
HERS Score 144 50 43
Design Heat Loss (Btu/h) 47100 39200 33300
Annual Energy Consumption (kWh) 65788 37756 26761.3 (29% BTC)
% Better Than Existing — 43% 59%
% Better Than Code — — 29%
UNDISTURBED SOIL
2" RAM-SET
NON-SHRINK GROUT
WALL FOOTING
EXISTING WALL
WALL PARGING
CONCRETE RE
UNDERPINNING
2" R10 AMPEX
RADIANT HEAT PANEL
NEW SLAB
R10 BLUE RIGID INSULATION
DELTA MEMBRANE
1-1/2" ROCKWOOL
COMFORTBOARD™80
R22 ROCKWOOL INSULATION
VAPOUR BARRIER
4" GRAVEL
½" DRYWALL
HYDRONIC HEAT TUBING
BASEMENT EXISTING HOUSE UNDERPINNING/LOWERING TYP.SEC.

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Learn more at Panasonic.com

“HGTV and the house renovation
culture media does not prioritize it,
and that’s too bad,” Flynn says. She
thinks the government should offer
tax credits for home owners to help
encourage more people to pursue this
type of renovation.
She might be onto something here.
Because if consumers are insistent
on focusing on sexy things when they
renovate, what could be hotter than the
government making it rain in the form
of money back in people’s pockets?
The fact that they’d be doing right by
the planet is just the cherry on top. BB
Rob Blackstien is a
writer. Pen-Ultimate.ca
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sitespecific / ALEX NEWMAN
W
hat started as a labour of
love for Robert Weatherseed
turned into a vocational
change. When he and his wife started
building their cottage in 2004 on
Georgian Bay, he became fascinated
by building science. A lifelong learner,
he set out to discover everything he
could about energy efficiency.
It wasn’t so far removed from his
day job, either. As head of national
sales for Honda’s motorcycle/ATV/
power equipment division, he was
used to mechanical things. And
Honda’s corporate culture was
always based on a deep and thorough
knowledge of the products. But after
25 years, he felt it was time to do his
own thing.
Given his new interest in building
science, and looking for flexibility in
his schedule, Weatherseed started
at Seneca College’s home inspection
program, but realized halfway through
it wasn’t a good fit. A friend of his was a
certified energy advisor, doing energy
modelling and certifying builder
homes to ENERGY STAR. Intrigued,
Weatherseed decided to “tag along,
carry his bags and ask questions.”
It was so fascinating, Weatherseed
started taking EnerQuality courses
to get certification for energy rating.
He met John Godden of Clearsphere
during one of the courses and followed
up later to ask about doing energy
rating on homes. “He just happened
to need someone at the time, so he
subcontracted me. The knowledge I
gained from him is unbelievable.”
One thing in particular that
Weatherseed learned was the HERS
method of energy rating. After
conducting some research and doing
more training through RESNET
(Residential Energy Services Network),
Weatherseed grew more convinced that
the HERS rating system was superior
to Energuide. He attended RESNET’s
conference in the United States for three
days of workshops (attendance at which
is mandatory for continuing education
credits towards certification).
Weatherseed’s reasons for liking
HERS are many. For one, it offers
an alternative to the EnerGuide
system. Moreover, the focus should
be on building better than code – and
while both ENERGY STAR and HERS
currently do just that, he finds HERS
more flexible in certain categories
and more progressive on water usage
and waste water recycling. Lastly,
Weatherseed likes the software: “I find
it more flexible and generally better for
energy modelling.”
He uses the HERS rating system
on all his homes now, both new and
retrofitted. Recently, in one customer’s
home in north Toronto, the inefficient
old furnace was replaced with a
combination heating system with an
Envirosense hot water tank that heats
both the home and the domestic hot
water (e.g., taps and shower). Windows
were replaced, air leaks were sealed
and the basement was insulated. Those
retrofits increased airtightness by 20%
and reduced energy use by 36%, he
says. Weatherseed modelled this house
and compared HERS to Energuide. The
results are shown in the chart at right.
In fact, the project was an example
of the perfect hit list for creating energy
efficiency in an older home. “The
biggest energy sucks are space heating
and hot water heating, followed by
electrical loads,” Weatherseed says.
“Just replacing an inefficient furnace
and conventional draft hot water tank
can make a big impact.”
The other half of the equation, he
adds, is finding out where the home
loses energy. This is where an energy
audit comes in. “It’s relatively easy to
identify where a house is losing heat.
Air leakage can account for 25% of heat
loss, and it’s not hard to fix – just finicky
work, like spray foam and caulking.”
More expensive (but effective) fixes
include replacing windows – which
can account for 20% of heat loss – and
adding insulation to old homes of
double brick construction.
Enbridge has a great program for
consumers which was rolled out in
2012. The company provides an energy
audit for customers whereby, if they do
two or more recommended upgrades,
the cost of the audit is reimbursed.
Why Having a Good Energy Rater
Is Key for a Successful Renovation
Robert Weatherseed COURTESYROBERTWEATHERSEED

After the improvements are made by customers,
Weatherseed follows up. “When you see that change,
there’s such a sense of satisfaction, especially when
you find out they’ve reduced natural gas consumption
by 30% to 36% – and that’s not unusual.” BB
Alex Newman is a writer, editor and
researcher at alexnewmanwriter.com.
“It’s good to incentivize consumers to lower their
use,” says Weatherseed, who conducts energy audits
for the program. Once complete, he walks customers
through areas for improvement. “A blower door test
shows a lot,” he says. “You can see where you need to
seal the air leaks, and it can have a huge impact on
energy use. The payback is big in reduced utility bills.”
GJ
20
80
100
40
60
HERS CONSUMPTION
(GIGAJOULES)
ENERGUIDE
(GIGAJOULES)
Difference: Energuide uses defaulted occupant base loads.
99.9 GJ
PRE-
AUDIT
63.5 GJ
POST-
AUDIT
107 GJ
PRE-
AUDIT
75 GJ
POST-
AUDIT
–36%
–30%
SILVERBOARD®
ROOF/CEILING:
TAPED AND SEALED
TO ACT AS VAPOR
BARRIER
SILVERBOARD® GRAPHITE
EXTERIOR ABOVE GRADE:
TAPED TO ACT AS A“SECOND
PLANE OF PROTECTION”AND
PROVIDE CONTINUOUS
INSULATION
MASONRY VENEER
SIDING
SILVERBOARD®
UNDERSLAB:
TAPED AND SEALED TO
ACT AS VAPOR BARRIER
SILVERBOARD® GRAPHITE
INTERIOR BELOW GRADE:
DECOUPLE WOOD STUD
WALL FROM CONCRETESILVERBOARD®
EXTERIOR BELOW GRADE:
MAINTAINS CONTINUOUS
INSULATION
HERS vs ENERGUIDE FOR CALCULATING
ANNUAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION

T
he two most important factors
for keeping basements drier
in older homes are proper
grading and drainage. Basements
that don’t exhibit moisture problems
are excellent candidates for interior
insulation. Renovators could take the
lead of basement packages outlined in
SB12. These packages use one or two
inches of foam against the interior
of foundation walls to de-couple the
moisture sensitive wood framing
from the wall. Amvic’s SilveRboard is
available in both vapour permeable
and impermeable versions offering
excellent insulation values as well as
moisture management.
The following wall assemblies
Two Smart Ways to Insulate
Existing Basement Walls
specialinterest / HOWARD COHEN
MOISTURE
STAYS
OUTSIDE
GRADE
EXISTING
FOUNDATION
R4-R6 1" RIGID
INSULATION, VAPOUR
IMPERMEABLE
R22 5.5" MINERAL
WOOL WITH 2x6"
16" O.C. WOOD
STUDS
VAPOUR BARRIER
TAPED AND SEALED
DRYING
POTENTIAL
TO THE
EXTERIOR
2x4" STAND-OFF
WALLS COULD
SAVE MATERIAL STAGE 1 — R5-SilveRboard used as a continuous insulation and moisture
barrier layer against basement wall.
STAGE 2 — 2 x 4 studs comprise a standoff wall (2 inches) to create a cavity
for R22 batts.
METHOD 1
AMVICBUILDINGSYSTEM

1x2" METAL
L-SHAPED BRACKETS
VAPOUR BARRIER
MECHANICALLY
FASTENED TO STUDS,
TAPED AND SEALED
2" ROCKWOOL
COMFORTBOARD™80
(R8)
3-1/8"
ENVIROSHEET 12
(R12)
BOTTOM METAL
TRACK
METAL STUDS
24" O.C.
represent two different approaches
for reducing moisture related issues in
basement renovations:
Method 1 uses conventional wood
framing and cavity insulation with 1"
of rigid foam.
Method 2 eliminates the need for
wood framing which can reduce most
of the concern for mold and mildew
growth.
For basements with water problems,
Barbini’s best practice on page 20
includes and air gap drainage layer
underneath the insulation, which
drains the water to weeping tiles. BB
Howard Cohen is Director,
Diversified Insulation Products.
OPTION 1 — R12 envirosheet against existing
concrete block wall. Can be covered with
COMFORTBOARD™ 80 for thermal protection.
OPTION 2 — R12 envirosheet can be used with metal track for finishing with
drywall over top of fitted COMFORTBOARD™ 80 sheets.
METHOD 2
AMVICBUILDINGSYSTEM

buildernews / ROB BLACKSTIEN
A recent renovation in the
Greektown area of Toronto served as
an ideal example of how to deploy an
energy-efficient solution that was not
only easier to install but is providing
savings to the home owner of nearly
25% on their annual utility costs.
In this instance, the home owner
had a mid-efficiency furnace and a
natural draft water heater. In the pre
vious configuration, both the furnace
and the hot water tank vented through
a chimney liner through the roof.
“Having two different venting
configurations, you need to take that
into consideration when looking
at retrofit options,” explains Dave
Hammond, vice president and general
manager Canada and export markets
for A.O. Smith Enterprises Ltd.
A.O. Smith Corporation was
founded in 1874 and currently
employs 16,100 workers across eight
countries globally, with sales and
distribution in over 60 nations.
The solution in this instance was
his company’s Polaris PR34-100-2NV,
a high-efficiency, high-performance
water heater designed to be employed
for combination domestic water and
space heating.
“The great thing about the Polaris
product is in addition to high-
efficiency, you only need to consider
one vent termination to outdoors,”
he says. “This can overcome complex
exhaust termination requirements.”
While this specific deployment
featured Polaris’ 2017 re-designed
model, this solution has seen its share
of battle testing. In fact, Hammond
says the Polaris is “a time proven
solution” that was originally developed
in the 1980s to provide a high-
efficiency combination heating and
hot water solution.
He explains that the original design
– with the helical heat exchanger
centered within the tank to provide
even heat distribution and lower
operating costs – remained the same
over time, while the unit has been
modernized over the years with tweaks
and added benefits such as advanced
electronic control with diagnostics and
a modulating burner that maintains
high-efficiency operation at lower
input rates. The Polaris is capable of
overcoming many different application
issues, Hammond says.
He likes to call this all in one a
“simple solution to a complex problem.”
Yes, this solution will cost more, but
when you factor in the annual utility
savings, from a total cost of ownership
perspective, it’s a more sensible
approach.
Hammond says among the PR34-
100’s features are quick recovery and
the ability to provide a large dump load
– both attractive benefits for families.
The unit earned its name because of
its 34-gallon tank and 100,000 BTUs
capability.
He says the system uses 444
stainless steel, something that’s rare
within residential products and offers
superior chloride and stress corrosion
resistance without the need for an
anode. And from an environmentally
friendly perspective, Hammond
adds, the Ultra-low NOX burner has
been enhanced to produce lower NOX
emission levels than standard products.
This particular installation paired
an air handler (to circulate hot air
throughout the house) with the Polaris,
but the basic idea is to “use one burner
to do two jobs,” he explains.
While the retrofit market should
definitely consider this option,
Hammond recommends, it’s a particu
larly great solution for townhouses, he
says, because of its quiet power direct
vent design – ideal for the type of
in-suite mechanical closets found
within this housing form factor.
From an efficiency standpoint,
the solution is clearly working. Post-
installation data revealed that the
new system uses 24% fewer cubic
metres per heating degree day, thereby
reducing the home’s carbon footprint
while also offering significant savings
on utility costs. So, the home owner
Two Goes Into One
Polaris™’ combi system is ideal for townhome retrofits.
NORMALIZED GAS CONSUMPTION
YEAR SYSTEM
2016
OLD FURNACE
= 80% AFUE
2018
NEW COMBINATION
HEATING = 90% AFUE
W
hen you’re pouring a good chunk of your hard-earned dollars into a
major renovation, the last thing you want to do is go bargain hunting
when it comes replacing your heating and hot water solutions. That
sweet deal you think you’re getting? It may come back to haunt you on a monthly
basis – each time your utility bill lands in your mailbox.

Rob Blackstien is a
writer. Pen-Ultimate.ca
has essentially reduced gas usage by
about one-quarter annually without
any performance or comfort issues.
See the chart below. BB
Polaris Pro Tips
Dave Hammond offered
up a couple of Polaris
installation best practices:
Plan out your installation
Consider the best, shortest
vent run.
Don’t forget about
the condensate
When converting from non-
condensing to condensing
equipment, you must factor
in condensate drainage.
He advises using hard pipe
condensate piping, sloping
down towards the drain. If you
use flexible tubing, it can create
a condensate flow issue.
Consider the customer
needs and then size
the application
It is important to size the appli
cation correctly. There are many
options to consider, so it is vital
to review the total retrofit with
the customer to ensure they
can get maximum performance
at the best value. Hammond
explains that under sizing or
oversizing the equipment based
on the size and needs of the
home can create performance
issues such as not enough heat
and struggles to meet water
heating requirements. He says
Polaris offers models that will
meet even the most demanding
residential requirements.
29
FOR OLD SYSTEM VERSUS RETROFIT AT 82 ARUNDEL AVENUE
WATER
HEATING
SYSTEM
NATURAL GAS
CONSUMPTION
(M3
)
HEATING
DEGREE
DAYS (HDD)
M3
/HDD IMPROVEMENT
OLD WATER HEATER
= 0.60 EF
3410 3462 0.985 N/A
NEW COMBINATION
HOT WATER = 0.90 EF
2809 3749 0.749 24%
1
HIGH GRADE 444 STAINLESS
STEEL TANK WITH BRASS
CONNECTIONS
2
SUBMERGED COMBUSTION
CHAMBER WITH SPIRAL FLUE
3
ULTRA-LOW NOX
MODULATING GAS BURNER
4
SIDE-MOUNTED HOT AND
COLD RECIRCULATING TAPS
5
INSULATED FOR LOW
HEAT LOSS
6
SERVICE ACCESS FROM
THE FRONT
7
LCD TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY
SMALL (22" DIAMETER)
FOOTPRINT
10-YEAR LIMITED
TANK WARRANTY
1-YEAR WARRANTY
ON PARTS
POLARIS® RESIDENTIAL WATER HEATERS AT A GLANCE
DATACOMPILEDBYSURENBALENDRAN

fromthegroundup / DOUG TARRY
Why are we as a company under
taking this transformational change?
Ontario is experiencing more frequent
and more extreme weather events.
Canada, as a country, is warming at
twice the rate of the global average.
Things are getting weird out there,
folks: Situation Normal is a 100-year
storm occurring as frequently as
every year.
Whether you believe in climate
change or simply feel that the earth
is warming naturally, the outcome
remains the same. From longer, hotter
summer heat waves to wintertime
polar vortex events, the evidence is
growing that our weather is changing,
and our homes need to be able to
withstand these extremes.
Net zero and net zero-ready homes
are a significant improvement over
homes built to the Ontario Building
Code (OBC). These homes are much
tighter and far more energy efficient,
have significantly lower energy usage
(meaning lower utility bills) and
are more resilient than an OBC-built
home. With increased insulation,
more efficient mechanicals and better
windows, these homes are also quieter,
healthier and far more comfortable.
You would think that the next
progression would be to continue to
improve energy performance and
climate resiliency, and establish what
to do with the existing housing supply.
Not so fast. In Ontario, the OBC has
just gone through a recent update
review and the focus was decidedly on
updating standards and harmonizing
with the National Building Code.
While these changes, in many cases,
are of limited impact, they are also
long overdue.
So here’s a quick recap on what’s in,
what’s out and next steps with the OBC:
• Stairs are getting larger treads.
You’ve got until January 2022 to
prepare for this change.
• Drain water heat recovery remains
in the Code. You still have the
option of going performance path
to come up with alternatives.
• The 200-amp electrical service with
dedicated car charger rough-in has
been taken out. This is effective
on all new permits beginning in
January 2020.
• There are no further energy code
changes coming into effect at this
time.
That’s correct: all the previous
changes that were being discussed over
the last few years have been put on the
back burner indefinitely. That includes
the massive changes proposed for the
existing housing supply that would
have seen a significant strain put upon
the building inspection community
if they had been implemented as
previously proposed.
I see this as both good and bad
for our industry and our society.
Simply put, industry was not yet
ready for these changes and needed
implementation time. However, this is
the greatest area of gain for reducing
overall carbon footprint and to create
more resilient homes, and it must
happen sooner rather than later.
Energy-efficient renovations are a good
thing, and when coupled with a home
In Conversation
with CHBA President
Stefanie Coleman
Building Codes, Net Zero Goals
and the Existing Housing Supply
– Where Do We Go from Here?
A
s of January 1, 2019, all new homes built by Doug Tarry Homes are being
built to net zero-ready as the minimum standard. This is the final
outcome of being committed to the goal of sustainability while on the
path of continuous improvement over the last decade. In addition, Doug Tarry
Homes has recently launched a pilot project in partnership with the Institute for
Catastrophic Loss Reduction, to test details and techniques designed to construct
homes able to withstand an EF2 tornado. This pilot is under the supervision of the
Western University engineering department.
TOSTPHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK

renovator tax credit with building
permits and HST being paid, they
have proven to be tax revenue neutral.
From a saving-the-planet
perspective, this is a major setback,
and I am hopeful that the Ontario
government will revisit this issue soon
with some type of effective initiative.
I am more than happy to have a
conversation on what that looks like;
however, I have to admit I have my
doubts now that they have scrapped
the Building Code Conservation
Advisory Council. (It was the first
time in my adult life I’ve ever been
fired – but as an unpaid volunteer
committed to serving, I tell myself the
pay wasn’t that good anyway.)
And I realized I needed a moment
to remind myself what good looks like.
So, I decided I would pay a visit to my
friend, client and colleague Stefanie
Coleman for a sneak peek at her new
net zero-ready home shortly before we
handed over the keys. Stefanie is the
principal of Pretty Smart Homes and
an experienced renovator. Oh, and
she is also the current president of the
Canadian Home Builders’ Association
(CHBA). The recent heat wave had
found Stefanie living in an older rental
home while we completed hers. I asked
for her thoughts and commentary on
taking net zero to renovations.
Here’s what she had to say:
“From personal experience, going from
a 1980s Code-built home with no air
conditioning in the heat of summer
into a brand-new net zero-ready home,
the difference to my well-being, both
physically and emotionally, is amazing.
These homes are not just about saving
energy; they are about greater health,
comfort and a sense of calm. The
discomfort I experienced in the rental
with the extreme heat and humidity
affected my motivation levels.
It was difficult to get things done when
the rental was anywhere from 27°C to
30°C and with humidity levels peaking
at 84%. It’s like the air is thick and has a
smell, a heaviness. Whereas in the net
zero home, the air is clean, light and fresh,
and my energy is much higher.
That [boost] is also due to more, and
better, windows that let in more light, so
[we get] more sunshine and energy. It is
emotionally and spiritually energizing with
the additional light and brightness. And
quiet. You can see the wind in the trees,
but you don’t hear anything.”
That’s great, but what do we do
about the existing housing stock?
“Obviously, we have to address the
existing housing stock – it’s part of the
Pan Canadian Framework [on Clean
Growth and Climate Change] – but how
do we do that without a lot of unintended
consequences? In my opinion, the first
thing we need to do is ensure that each
home has an energy benchmark so we
know where we are at, a position the
CHBA has been championing for many
years. And that is done by way of an
energy evaluation, like the EnerGuide
Rating System that is backed by the
federal government.
Most importantly, [we need] a
professionally trained and recognized
Certified Energy Advisor (CEA) to help
guide the home owner. The CEA can
provide recommendations for a home’s
improvement, inclusive of a pathway
to net zero/net zero-ready that can be
done over time, should the home owner
choose to do so.
Hiring a professional contractor who
provides written estimates and a detailed
outline of the scope of work is critical in
order to deliver the renovation in a manner
that supports the recommendations of
the CEA. As the president of the CHBA, I
would advocate that the home owner hires
a RenoMark contractor.
A key concern is that a home owner
does not know what they don’t know
until they live through it. For example, the
rental unit I stayed in while I was waiting
for my home to be completed [...] is a
good example. In the summer heat, it was
extremely uncomfortable; too much heat,
too much humidity. From past experience,
I knew there was a better choice and
selected my net zero home accordingly.
In renovations, people become
acclimated to a poor-performing home
and don’t even realize there is an
alternative. This can lead to poor health
conditions or even people dying in their
homes (as happened in the Montreal
heat wave of last year, when 66 people
perished from the heat, the vast majority
in their homes). This is an outcome that
we should expect to get worse if we don’t
address the existing housing stock and
extreme weather. We have to find a way
to give these home owners some sensory
experiences so that they understand that
their home can not only be made to be
more efficient, but also more comfortable,
quieter, healthier and all of the other
wonderful additional benefits that come
with a healthier home. It’s not just the
granite countertops.”
31
A home owner does
not know what they
don’t know until they
live through it.

What about labelling programs?
How do we ensure that there is
choice in the market for consumers,
without confusing the message?
“Personally, I am an advocate for the
EnerGuide Rating System as being
the gold standard in Canada. While I
understand that there are options for
rating systems and choice is always
ideal, it’s critical that energy measuring
programs produce consistent results
between them. Much the same way
as food is now labelled with calories
and other important information that
is consistent across all food products,
the labelling of the homes needs to
operate the same way and cannot
become a source of confusion.
Consistent energy rating information
helps avoid marketplace confusion
and [promotes] trust in the information
provided. That’s why I am a firm believer
in measuring gigajoules and using the
EnerGuide Rating System. It is backed
by the government, is tied to many
established programs and provides clear
performance information. In the case
where a home owner is purchasing a
home, this gives them critical ’apples-to-
apples’ information they need in order to
make an informed choice on the largest
investment they will likely make in their
lifetime.” BB
Stefanie Coleman is the principal of
Pretty Smart Homes and is senior project
manager at Building Knowledge Canada.
Doug Tarry Jr is director
of marketing at Doug
Tarry Homes in St.
Thomas, Ontario. 
32
Check out our website at www.gsw-wh.com
While there are options for rating systems and choice
is always ideal, it’s critical that energy measuring
programs produce consistent results between them.

Trailblazer
Matt Risinger
Builder and building
science expert
COMFORTBOARD™
has received ICC-ES validated product acceptance as continuous
insulation for multiple applications. For more information visit rockwool.com/comfortboard
Continuous stone wool insulation that improves thermal performance
Trailblazing requires conﬁdence, expertise and a desire
to do things right. Matt Risinger uses non-combustible,
vapor-permeable and water-repellent COMFORTBOARD™
to help wall assemblies dry to the outside, keeping clients
comfortable inside. It cuts down on heat loss and
improves energy efﬁciency so that what you build
today positively impacts your business tomorrow.
3773

Better Builder, Issue 31 / Fall 2019

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Better Builder, Issue 31 / Fall 2019