What is LEED?

Photo: Contributed

LEED is short for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.  In Canada since 2002, this internationally accepted stamp of excellence in the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings has had over 2,600 projects registered to attain some level of LEED certification. They range from office towers all the way down to single family homes and condos or townhomes.  Basically using a points system, a LEED project can aspire to 4 different levels. Platinum, the highest level, Gold, Silver, and Certified.  Using a holistic approach to sustainability, LEED recognizes performance in five key areas.

• Site development
• Water efficiency
• Energy efficiency
• Materials selection
• Indoor environmental quality

A first for Kelowna

A local Kelowna family led by Matt Johnston and Grace Pontes, have the distinction of building the first LEED certified home in Kelowna. Both have a passion for sustainability and ensuring they do their part to tread with a light foot print.  The project started with a large building lot that was subdivided making 2 lots. On one they built Glasswing, an amazing family home that includes beauty, function, and sustainability.

Photo: Contributed

The original home on the lot was sold on Castanet and removed. The concrete foundation was then re-cycled.  This gave them additional LEED points because they were able to recycle 95% of the former home.  In addition to that part of the site development, landscaping was also considered carefully.

After researching several heating and cooling designs, it all boiled down to budget.  The home has an extremely efficient system that when described, works in reverse of what is considered "normal" technology. This heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system has fresh air entering the home that's conditioned with heat recovered from the air being exhausted. This is done using a heat pump.

Glasswing also has on-demand hot water.  This alone saves energy that is otherwise lost using a typical hot water storage tank.  ENERGY STAR estimates that an average family can save over $100 a year with a tankless water system.  Where an average tankless system can be installed for around $800 it will take approximately 8 years to pay you back on your energy costs.  Unless of course you have teenagers taking half hour showers, in which case you can greatly reduce that time!

Another way they gathered LEED points was using ENERGY STAR fixtures and appliances.  There is also grants and rebates available from FORTIS

I was able to speak with the charismatic Grace Pontes today and asked her what she felt was the most valuable and affordable advice she could give.  She told me that planning is critical, whether doing a renovation or building from scratch.  By choosing a few sustainable items for your home and comparing prices - they did so far and wide - they were able to meet or beat all their budgets.  For instance, they added serious insulation (even in between the ground and the pool liner) and a very efficient heating/cooling system which in turn has paid off substantially in their energy bills. They installed a grey water system that  helps conserve water. Most of all they built a successful LEED home, which they're hoping to have certified Gold soon. This home is not only well laid out, efficient in so many ways, but absolutely stunning inside and out.  Thanks to both Matt and Grace for the time they took to share information about their home.

Photo: Contributed

Upcoming GREEN HOUSING SYMPOSIUM

Watch for details about Cascadia's GREEN HOUSING SYMPOSIUM coming this summer! This is where you'll find people all in one spot to talk to you about GREENING up your Kelowna real estate.

Keep the comments coming! It's so exciting to see and hear from people who are serious about sustainability in their homes.

In the meantime, if you're thinking of buying or selling your home, give me a call on my direct line 250-862-6464 and get an award winning, Kelowna Realtor with over 25 years experience working for you!

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.