CSV Architects supported Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) on an innovative project to address the housing crisis and climate change in our city. This project transformed a 70-year-old townhouse building to Net-Zero Carbon performance using a retrofit strategy that is similar to the famed Energiesprong approach pioneered in Holland.
The OCH townhouse, which once had a brick exterior, has been transformed following a retrofit strategy.
The main characteristics of the retrofit were:
The retrofit was non-intrusive, allowing residents to remain in their homes throughout the renovation.
The roof was covered with photo-voltaic solar panels that will generate the equivalent of the total energy use of the buildings.
The exterior walls, foundations, and roof were covered with panels completed off-site that were already framed, insulated, and finished on the outside.
High-performance triple glazed windows were installed throughout.
The existing heating systems were replaced with high-performance heat pumps and heat recovery on the ventilation air, which added summer cooling for occupant comfort.
Hot water is provided by high performance electrical heat pump.
The project was funded by Natural Resources Canada as a pilot to assist in the adoption of net-zero carbon retrofit more broadly, as a step towards a low-carbon future. The construction techniques developed for this project are intended to be adaptable to larger projects across the country.
This is a ground-breaking initiative implemented by Ottawa Community Housing, who is a leader in energy efficiency and sustainability in affordable housing.
Photo credit: Daniel Dicaire