The Riverdale NetZero Project is the most northerly of 12 net zero energy residential projects being built this year under CMHC’s EQuilibrium Housing Initiative. The goal is to provide healthy housing with the smallest possible environmental footprint.

A net zero energy building is one that over the course of a year produces on site as much energy as it consumes. This is a considerable challenge here in the frozen north where we can have minus 40C and less than 8 hours of sun that just peaks over the horizon. Achieving net zero energy in this context requires a combination of aggressive conservation and a multi faceted exploitation of solar energy. The necessity of leaving no stone unturned in the search for affordable way to both conserve and collect energy is at once the biggest the challenge and also the greatest value in the Riverdale Net Zero project. Even if the project is not followed by a large number of similar houses it will prove to be a valuable demonstration and test of practical measures that can be implemented in a new generation of environmentally responsible houses.
The presentation will focus on the measures taken achieve to net zero energy use and the materials and techniques used to provide good indoor air quality with the smallest possible impact.



Our Presenter Peter Amerongen
Peter Amerongen, of Habitat Studio & Workshop Ltd, has been designing and building energy efficient houses since the last oil crisis. Over the years he has done much experimentation, borrowed shamelessly, and innovated a bit in an effort to build environmentally responsible houses as economically as possible. Motivated by the wake up call and opportunities resulting from climate change he has joined with a talented group of like-minded housing professionals to design and build an exemplary demonstration house.