Net Zero Energy Healthy Housing in Canada
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's:
Net Zero Energy Healthy Housing (NZEHH)* in Canada
Request for Expressions of Interest
Net Zero Energy homes integrate high-performance, energy-efficient passive solar design and commercially available on-site renewable energy systems such as solar water heating, electricity and ground-source heat. They are designed to produce as much energy annually as they consume. Connected to the electricity grid, these homes draw power only as needed — and can feed excess power back into the system.
Net Zero Energy Healthy Housing incorporates the principles of occupant health and comfort, affordability, resources conservation and reduced environmental impact. These significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and minimize the detrimental environmental impacts of housing on water, land and air.
There is no model for NZEHH but commonly it includes:
- Climate specific design
- Energy and resource-efficient construction
- Passive solar heating and cooling
- Natural daylighting
- Energy-efficient appliances and lighting
- Renewable energy systems such as photovoltaics, solar thermal and ground-source heat
- Water conservation and re-use
- Land and natural habitat conservation
- Sustainable community design and green infrastructure practices
Overall, the goals of Net Zero Energy Healthy Housing are to:
- Develop a clear vision and approach to achieve NZEHH in Canada;
- Build the capacity of Canada's housing and renewable energy industry sectors to create high-quality Net Zero Energy Healthy Housing across the country over the long term;
- Achieve market acceptance of low-impact healthy houses and sustainable communities;
- Enhance Canada's domestic and global leadership in sustainable residential community design and development.
Forging an active partnership between industry and all levels of government, the Net Zero Energy Healthy Housing initiative marks an important step toward addressing the practical challenges of making NZEHH a reality. Initial work will aim to support the integration of net-zero energy healthy home demonstrations within sustainably planned Canadian communities.
The Net Zero Energy Healthy Housing initiative is an important component of our country's clean-energy future. It will help reduce the energy intensity of Canada's housing sector, support our growing renewable energy and sustainable housing industries, help Canada meet its goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting clean air in healthy, sustainable communities, and maintaining a healthy environment for generations to come.
The vision of the Net Zero Energy Healthy Housing initiative is that of an industry-led venture strongly supported by Canada's federal, provincial and municipal governments. Its stakeholders include members of Canada's solar and renewable energy industries, homebuilders, developers, utilities, manufacturers, architects, engineers, academics, integrated design experts and researchers and federal departments such as CMHC, Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and Industry Canada.
The Net Zero Energy Healthy Housing initiative will build on the expertise cultivated by all these various partners in environmentally sound and occupant-friendly design and construction techniques. It will bring together public- and private-sector members of the housing and renewable energy industries through an integrated design development process to create new community solutions for a clean environment and healthy future.
The development of Net Zero Energy Healthy Housing will play a role in reducing Canada's greenhouse gas emissions and will support Canada's success in competitive international markets with the next generation of value-added exports.
* Net Zero Energy Healthy Housing is a mark of CMHC
