“Our government is dedicated to meeting the increased demand for student housing across the country” said Ed Holder, Member of Parliament for London West. “We’re helping developers and borrowers access competitive interest rates for the life of the mortgage, benefit from greater financing choices and lower renewal risk. Our government is supporting students and creating jobs in university and college communities across the country.”

The Government of Canada will help finance loans of up to 85 per cent of the lending value for the construction, purchase or refinancing of housing purposely built for students on or off campus through CMHC’s Mortgage Loan Insurance for multi-unit student housing. This initiative supports the housing needs of Canadian publicly funded educational institutions, including universities and colleges.

The demand for student housing is anticipated to continue to increase for an extended period as a result of changing demographics, forecasted enrolment figures and continued growth in international students.

“Today’s announcement is good news and will help developers in Canada respond to the housing needs of students,” said Ray Stanton, President of London Property Corporation.

The Government of Canada has taken additional measures to help Canadian families. As of August 1, 2009, new federal student financial assistance measures — the Canada Student Grants Program and the Repayment Assistance Plan — are helping students and families access postsecondary education and better manage their student loan debt. To find out more about how the Government of Canada is helping students achieve their educational goals, visit CanLearn.ca.

As Canada’s national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable, and affordable homes — homes that will continue to create vibrant and healthy communities and cities across the country.

Your answer to these questions may depend on whether you own or are buying a newly-constructed home versus living in or purchasing an existing, decades-old property.

Conventional water heaters heat litres of stored water which is kept hot 24/7, even when there is no demand. Tankless units are heaters which heat water on demand, then stop.

First of all, don’t get sanctimonious if your tankless water heater was part of the features of the new home you bought or had built. Starting from scratch and incorporating energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly systems during construction is always easier, and usually less expensive, than retrofitting, or adding a modern system to an older home.

The benefits and cost-considerations of tankless water heaters in new homes can make this installation a feasible if not a preferred alternative to conventional tank-style heaters. New home construction standards are normally higher than those that existed for homes built in the last century or earlier. New plumbing, electrical, sound-proofing and other systems favour optimum installation and operation of tankless water heaters and other modern technologies.

If you own or want to buy an existing property, your commitment to reducing “your footprint” and saving energy may not be enough to make tankless water heaters the right way to achieve your environmental and financial goals. You can still have an energy-efficient, green home with a conventional water heater, but you’ll just have to go about it differently.

One of the most important lessons to learn about the current rush toward “green” is that there are just as many inappropriate applications of good ideas and over-sold environmental or energy-efficient solutions as there are “right fits.”

Don Fugler, Senior Researcher in Policy and Research at Canada’s national housing agency, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), is currently managing CMHC’s initial tankless field project designed to determine the actual savings gained when converting from a well-functioning conventional water heater to a tankless unit.

“Basically, what we hear is that tankless water heaters do save energy in a lot of cases, but what is not necessarily established so far, is what people should expect,” said Fugler. “It is probably different from the theoretical savings–that you just calculate based on efficiencies. What house usage is unlikely to get significant savings? The fact [is] that water heater usage or homeowner draws on hot water are a lot different in reality than they are modelled in standards. This makes a difference because the way they are modelled in standards actually benefits tankless water heaters. I don’t think they set it up this way, it just does.”

Tankless water heaters are not a new idea, just relatively new to Canadians. In retrofit situations, they may not always be practical, cost-effective or feasible. Fugler offered a few issues to consider in evaluating whether tankless is right for you:

• Net result may not be a gain “Part of the problem, or part of the solution, is tank heaters lose their heat to the house….So even though a conventional water heater does lose heat, it is seen to be heating your house and that is an asset for two thirds of the year…. In Canada, which is more a heating than a cooling climate, tankless is only going to have a third of the advantage that it may have in a cooling climate.” Fugler explains that expected savings from converting to tankless may not materialize because, while fuel consumption by the water heater may go down, fuel consumption to replace heat to the house may increase. This has been found for shifts to high-efficiency furnace fans and CFL light bulbs.
• Billing disappointment The quoted percent of savings should be applied to the portin of the gas or electric bill represented by the water heater. With all the charges piled confusingly on a gas bill, an absolute savings may not be visible. If you expect to save significant amounts, you may be disappointed.
• Pay back clarity For the two reasons above, the quoted pay back time may be hard to calculate or much longer than stated. Sales representations would normally include best case scenarios. Where hot water bills are high, savings could be more noticeable. With low or conservationist usage, the savings may be small and the pay back much longer.
• Hot water delivery How long does it take hot water to arrive at the tap? Since home designs usually locate heaters in an otherwise unused corner of the basement, second-floor and higher bathrooms may be a long way off. Having to run water as long as 5 minutes to get the hot may result in wasted water. Low-flow shower heads increase delivery time. Anti-scald valves like those required in new homes may also interfere with hot water availability. Recirculation pumps may help this problem, but that’s another cost to consider.
• Heating differential Municipal water may be very cold, requiring considerable fuel to heat it to the desired temperature. Drain water heat recovery installations recycle hot wastewater to heat up incoming cold water to warm by spiralling the wastewater piping around the intake pipe. However, this approach is only practical for those who regularly take long hot showers, not baths.
• Flow limits and use patterns Tankless heaters have minimum flow limits, so they don’t heat water for small draws like rinsing your hands. Some users turn on a second tap to reach the flow threshold for hot water at the tap where they want low flow hot water. It is this type of water-waste pattern and other use changes that are of interest to Fugler in the current research project. To achieve maximum desired flow, particularly to have two or more simultaneous uses with lots of hot water, intake pipes may need to be increased to 3/4 inch from the conventional inch. In large, high-usage homes, more than one unit may be advisable.
• Adequate fuel supply Gas supply input may need increasing to 3/4 inch pipe to achieve desired hot water flow. A comparable cost may be required to upgrade to a larger service panel for an electric tankless unit.
• Venting and noise The exhaust gases and moisture from gas tankless water heaters are vented outside, not into a chimney, in a manner dictated by bylaws and codes. Proximity to neighbours may cause complaints about noise and condensation, or it may make the installation impossible. Decks and patios may also restrict venting choices. More expensive and higher efficiency condensing units may offer more venting flexibility, but installation costs may increase. If venting is not possible, an electric unit may be the only tankless alternative.

Tankless water heaters are expensive to purchase and installation in Canada. Fugler predicts that these and other issues will be resolved through technological advances and government regulation. Tankless water heaters will become the new normal in the decades ahead.

For now, invest in knowledge in advance of a purchase, or regret in hindsight…your choice. Don’t rely on salespeople or installers to make decisions for you. Buyer beware is the law. Buyer be aware is the solution.

http://www.homes101.net/news/n4655

brought by Moishe Alexander, CFC  Canadian Funding Corp CEO

Rob Moore, Member of Parliament for Fundy Royal, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for CMHC, was joined today by Paul Arsenault of AlternaHome Solutions Inc., and Ken McPhee of VISION Land Development Ltd., along with sponsors and supporters, in the groundbreaking of the first demonstration home of its kind in Atlantic Canada.

“The Government of Canada is pleased to work with the private sector to develop such innovative homes. We congratulate AlternaHome Solutions Inc. on its winning design/concept and its commitment to environmental responsibility,” said MP Moore. “The Moncton VISION Home gives people in this region an opportunity to see first-hand how we can create beautiful, healthy homes, conserve energy and resources, and reduce pollutant emissions.”

EQuilibrium™ housing integrates a wide range of innovative technologies and practices to reduce a home’s environmental impact to a minimum. The Moncton VISION Home will integrate optimal solar orientation, energy efficiency and renewable energy systems into its design and construction to reduce energy use. Additional Moncton VISION Home features include extensive natural lighting, an energy management system, natural and mechanical ventilation, and the use of natural materials with low levels of pollutants. Rainwater will be captured to reduce water use.

“We are very pleased to work with CMHC. They, together with each and every member of the Moncton VISION Home team, have been working tirelessly to ensure the success of this project. The Moncton VISION Home has the potential to help people discover new ways of doing things, which in the long run, will help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and consequently reduce our negative impact on the environment. The Moncton VISION Home will lead, teach and inspire people to take charge of their own energy,” said Mr. Arsenault.

The Moncton VISION Home is one of 15 projects that won CMHC’s national EQuilibrium™ sustainable housing competitions since the initiative was launched in 2006. All EQuilibrium™ projects will be open to both the general public and professional audiences for tours, and then monitored for performance by CMHC for one year, once occupied.

CMHC’s EQuilibrium™ Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative provides a new approach to housing in Canada, representing a fundamental change in the way Canadians think about their homes. It strives to balance our housing needs with those of the environment. It brings together — under one roof — the principles of occupant health and comfort, energy efficiency, renewable energy production, resource and water conservation, and reduced environmental impact.

CMHC has worked closely with many stakeholders to develop and deploy EQuilibrium™. In particular, CMHC has collaborated closely with Natural Resources Canada which has contributed substantial research and development expertise and resources to advancing the initiative.

As Canada’s national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable, and affordable homes — homes that will continue to create vibrant, healthy communities and cities across the country.

http://www.cmhc.ca/en/corp/nero/nere/2009/2009-06-25-0900.cfm

brought to you by Moishe Alexander, CFC CEO

Beyond Bruntland and The Natural Step, a strategy for achieving sustainability goals is still needed. We can develop strategies by imagining future success and then take the actions needed to get there.
In the building industry, much preparatory strategy work has been done by the various green building rating systems and energy and environmental assessment methods.
These systems categorize and detail the impacts, actions and indicators required at a building level. LEED® Canada,10 Green Globes, Go Green and other rating systems give us the compass we need as we steer towards sustainability, and as they are refined over time, they will become more effective. And, as we work to refine our building practices, our buildings will also become more sustainable.

The Instrument: Integrated

Design Process as a Tool:
Even with rating systems and energy design tools spelling out the actions needed to proceed, it is still not always clear where to start and what tools to use. IDP is one of the best tools we have to help define the most appropriate design path. It provides the means to apply the design strategies and move society towards sustainability, one project at a time. Reviewed by Moishe Alexander.

That was ahead of the 126,000 annualized rate that economists had forecast.

In April, the seasonally adjusted annualized rate was 117,600.

“This morning’s housing starts data for May from CMHC provided us with the first sign that a bottom might be forming in Canadian homebuilding activity,” said TD Bank economist Pascal Gauthier.

“Nation-wide homebuilding activity recorded its first broadly based increase since October 2008, both in terms of unit types (singles and multiples) and regions of the country,” he said.

The federal government agency said urban single-home starts increased by 11.1 per cent to 46,900 units last month, while urban multiple-units starts, such as condominiums, rose by a similar percentage to 60,900.

May’s seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts increased 22.0 per cent in Ontario, 16.8 per cent in the Prairies, 7.3 per cent in Atlantic Canada, and 3.3 per cent in Quebec. Urban starts declined 5.0 per cent in British Columbia.

Showing how much housing has retreated since last year, the overall seasonally adjusted, annualized rate of construction starts stood at 221,300 units in May 2008.

CMHC said housing starts are expected to improve throughout 2009 and over the next several years “to gradually become more closely aligned to demographic demand, which is currently estimated at about 175,000 units per year.”

Gauthier said starts are expected to remain around 120,000 on average through the remainder of this year.

“The good news part [in that forecast] is that homebuilding activity would cease to be a drag on economic growth and employment heading into next year,” he said.

“The bad news part, assuming our forecast unfolds, is that we do not expect the level of starts to head back above 150,000 units before 2011.” Posted by Thaddeus Warchol

Canadian housing starts rose 9.2 percent in May, slightly better than expected, and was broadly based and encompassed both single and multiple segments, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp (CMHC) said on Monday. New home construction rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 128,400 units in May from 117,600 units units in April, CMHC said.

The number of starts in May beat analysts’ consensus expectations of 125,300 starts.

The seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts rose 11.1 percent to 107,800 units in May. Urban multiple starts rose to 60,900 units, while urban single starts climbed to 46,900 units in May.

The seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts in May rose 22 percent in Ontario, 16.8 percent in the Prairies, 7.3 percent in Atlantic Canada and 3.3 percent in Quebec.

This Month In Real Estate (Canada): April 2009

Urban starts declined 5 percent in British Columbia.

CMHC said housing starts are expected to improve throughout 2009 and over the next several years to “become more closely aligned to demographic demand,” which is currently estimated at about 175,000 units per year.

Ryan Roberts,

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

“Housing is a priority for our government,” said Parliamentary Secretary Komarnicki. “People across Canada, including seniors, persons with disabilities, First Nations, and those living in Canada’s North, will benefit from this investment, which will help to ensure that we continue to offer safe and affordable housing to Canadians.“

Canadian Funding Corp. states that Canada’s Economic Action Plan includes more than $2 billion to build new and renovate existing social housing. Of the $2 billion: $1 billion is for renovations and upgrades; $475 million is for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities; $400 million is for on-reserve communities; and $200 million is for housing in the North.

“Since our government made this announcement in January, we have been making real progress in delivering the funds,” added Parliamentary Secretary Komarnicki.  “The spin-off benefits are tremendous. We’re putting Canada’s economy back on the path to growth and making a real and lasting difference for Canadians coast-to-coast-to coast.”

As Canada’s national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable, and affordable homes — homes that will continue to create vibrant and healthy communities and cities across the country.

The EQuilibrium™ Communities Initiative is a $4.2 million sustainable community demonstration project, led jointly and equally funded by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) ecoENERGY Technology Initiative (ecoETI), a component of the Government of Canada’s ecoACTION initiative.

The EQuilibrium™ Communities Initiative will provide financial, technical and promotional assistance to neighbourhood development projects across the country chosen through a national competition. A call for project submissions will be issued in early summer 2009, inviting developers, with their teams of planners, designers and municipalities, to submit project proposals.

According to Canadian Funding Corporation (CFC) the initiative will provide these leading-edge teams with an opportunity to be at the forefront of bringing to market energy-efficient, sustainable and profitable communities that benefit consumers, the environment and the economy.

Resources will be directed to approximately six winning neighbourhood development projects. The final number of EQuilibrium™ Communities may increase or decrease, based on the quality and suitability of the submissions received and the funding requested.

The EQuilibrium™ Communities Initiative builds on the success of the EQuilibrium™ Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative launched by CMHC in 2006 and supported by the Government of Canada’s CanmetENERGY expertise. Fifteen EQuilibrium™ demonstration homes are currently planned, under construction or completed and on display across Canada. EQuilibrium™ demonstration homes are highly energy-efficient, low-environmental impact homes that provide healthy indoor living for their occupants, and produce as much energy as they consume on an annual basis.

The EQuilibrium™ Communities Initiative extends the EQuilibrium™ principles to the community or neighbourhood scale. EQuilibrium™ Communities project submissions will be evaluated by a panel of industry experts based on the following criteria:

* Energy — an energy-efficient community that balances energy supply and use to minimize greenhouse gas emissions;
* Land Use and Housing — a compact community with a balanced mix of activities, housing choices and commercial, institutional, recreational and industrial land uses;
* Water, Waste Water and Storm Water — a community that will minimize the use and disposal of water and negative impacts on watersheds;
* Transportation — a community that reduces fossil-fuel use from personal vehicle travel and provides opportunities for energy-efficient and healthy alternatives;
* Natural Environment — a community that protects, enhances and restores the natural environment; and
* Financial Viability — a marketable community that, through its design, operation, integration and financing, is economically viable over the long term.

CFC reports that the initiative is funded through CMHC’s housing research program. This includes best practices for neighbourhood design, tools for sustainable community planning and technical information on sustainable, energy efficient, Healthy Housing. NRCan is providing funding through the ecoETI, which supports the development and demonstration of the next-generation clean energy technologies that will make it possible to break through to emissions-free energy production and use.

For more information on the EQuilibrium™ Communities Initiative, visit http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca.

Speaking to delegates at the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada‘s (CHFC) Annual General Meeting, Mr. Ed Komarnicki, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), today highlighted investments under Canada’s Economic Action Plan aimed at the renovation and retrofit of existing social housing.

“Across Canada, social housing helps almost 625,000 households and we know that much of this housing is getting older,” said Mr. Komarnicki. “Our investments will provide money to renovate and energy-retrofit social housing and improve the quality of life for residents of these communities by keeping their homes safe and affordable.”

As part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government announced $1 billion for social housing renovation and retrofit.  Eligible repairs include general improvements, energy-efficiency upgrades or conversions and modifications in support of persons with disabilities.  Overall, Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides $7.8 billion to build quality housing, stimulate construction, encourage home ownership and enhance energy efficiency.

“Our government is taking timely and focused action to invest in housing,” added Mr. Komarnicki. “These investments will not only build quality housing but they will stimulate construction, encourage home ownership and enhance energy efficiency.”

During his remarks, Mr. Komarnicki also presented the CMHC Award for Outstanding Contribution to Co-operative Housing. The award, recognizing the achievements of individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to co-operative housing in Canada, was presented to representatives of the Federal Co-operative Housing Stabilization Fund.

According to the Canadian Funding Corporation, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable, and affordable homes — homes that will continue to create vibrant and healthy communities and cities across the country.

CHF Canada is the national voice of the Canadian co-operative housing movement. Its members include nearly 900 non-profit housing co-operatives and other organizations across Canada. More than a quarter of a million Canadians live in housing co-ops, in every province and territory.

To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca

The negative impacts that can be attributed to air leakage through the building envelope are primarily threefold:

1. damage to the building envelope components;
2. increased heating and cooling loads resulting in excessive energy consumption and a subsequent increase in greenhouse gas emissions; and
3. occupant health and comfort issues caused by drafts, the entry of dust and pollution into residential living quarters, and wetting of materials which can stimulate the growth of mold and mildew.

The growing North American concern in these regards is the driving force behind the development and implementation of more stringent government regulation for air barrier systems in buildings, including those buildings classified within Part 3 of the National Building Code of Canada. As it is only recently that air barrier system technologies have begun being applied on a widespread basis in North American buildings, it can be reasonably expected that flaws would exist in the current ‘process’ of air barrier system design and installation. The prevalence of premature building envelope failures, increasing levels of energy consumption, and health concerns would suggest that the quality of air barrier installation is questionable. While air barrier system failures are most commonly the result of installation deficiencies, there are instances where material and/or design flaws are factors contributing to the system failure.
This article presents a methodology to help both designers and installers deliver an air barrier system that meets the requirements and recommendations of the National Building Code of Canada and any specifications particular to that project. Common design and installation flaws will be identified, and a protocol for the inspection and testing of the system, as it is being installed, will be documented. Reviewed by Marty Lapedus.