A Rather Massive Roof

Well the hip was 'Piddley', and some said it was like a chunk cut out from the roof.  I personally liked it, and the reduction in mass it offered but we were also encouraged to make a simple, single gable.  Here is the result.  Still don't see any connection to the neighbours, as per the recent comment in the last post, but that is a tougher issue, perhaps, and will be worked on soon.

The taller, and more massive gable struck me as elegantly simple, though it gives the building a more serious air, compared to the cuter three-part roof.  One major excitement is the improved solar angle and the now much larger surface for solar PV modules, which are way down in price right now at about $1.73 per watt, with the required Canadian content.  I'd love to have the entire roof covered with panels, but the sizing is not working out qutie yet.  The west facade is rather plain and needs work too.

Last minute change?

We are about to demolish, excavate, and start concrete work.  Wife and Hubby disagree on the roof line!
A:  features the Hip Roof on the West side.  B: Features a gable instead.

A:

B:

What do you think?
Thanks
LT

Disconnection of Services

We've moved out of the house and have started deconstruction.

We are disconnecting services, including gas, electricity, water, etc.

Re. Electrical:
Toronto Hydro wants min. 2 to 3 weeks to perform the meter recovery, as they call it.
Our neighbours are OK with us using some of their electricity, so no temoporary service will be installed.
Re. New connection:  Underground service will require a $1000 fee for 'design' by Toronto Hydro, and up to $7000 to install.  Lead time is 14 to 16 weeks, so it could miss our foundation backfill, which means they'll dig a new trench.   Meter location is not too important now since they are using smart meters, but if the service is an overhead line, they will probably install the meter at the front of the house anyway (right near where the overhead line connects to the house).  Then we underground conduit to the back of the house, where our Utility Room is.  Conduit will be 18" below grade right beside the foundation....so this means a trench inspection, and we'll probably leave the backfilling operation short at the trench areas.
Trying to figure out where they want the damn meter.....
LT

Toronto Zoning Bylaw Repealed

On May 18th, 2011 the city of Toronto repealed its zoning bylaw 1156-2010 (and all subsequent amendments to it), which was passed into law last Aug. 27th.  This means all the little parts of Toronto are back to their old zoning systems until the new bylaw is once again prepared to be enacted - apparently in Jan 2012.  In the meantime, the Planning and Growth Management Committee will continue to consult with residents.
There was a couple of amendments to the repeal motion - They provided that 500m setbacks from concrete production and distribution facilities and propane facilities be considered separately from the bylaw's repeal - in other words, these measures, brought into force with the initial passing of 1156-2010, may remain in force...it is still unclear to me for now.
I was impressed by Adam Vaughn in the Council meeting.  He was well informed, and calmly noted that the reason to repeal was not that it was a bad piece of legislation.  Implementation of the bylaw was the real cause of the problems.  The strange thing here is - the whole emphasis on the interim period is to meet with residents and concerned parties on the content - but the PGM Committee seem poised to follow the same implementation track when it is enacted a second time - that of enforcing two zoning bylaws simultaneously.  I don't see how implementation will be any easier at that time - except that there is now a period of about 8 months when everyone can rush their projects through.  Does the PGMC really expect that everyone will hold off on their projects for a year or so while the appeals (which will hopefully be fewer than 700) are dealt with?

I wonder what all those people who paid for zoning adjustments under the new bylaw have to say about the repeal?  I doubt there is any easy way for them to get a refund on the $1700 application fee.  The cost of the lost time, redesign work, and disruption to work crews would be significantly higher, I think.

I am amazed at the absence of this issue in the popular media.
LT

Lyndon Than and Phi Than Toronto Star Article

Cynthia Vukets, a Toronto Star Reporter wrote an article about our 'passive solar house' in the Toronto Star.  Note how she does not call our house a 'Passive House'.  I find there is a funny response from some people about the word 'passive'.  Our plans examiner at the City of North York thought the name 'Passive House' was a bad name - he thinks one should be 'assertive'.
Anyway, the article appeared in the Thursday April 14th edition of the Toronto Star, Living Section, Page L7.  About a 1/2 page, discussing our project and Passive House in general.  I liked the article - but sorry, no link - I haven't found the online version. Here is the scan, click on it to enlarge.
LT

Passive House Design in Canada Series of Articles Coming Up

Hi All,
I plan to begin a series of articles discussing Passive House design and general house design together.  I will be using our own project its specific design challenges and ideas to highlight concepts.  Here is the latest rendering of our design to date.  More to come on this.
LT

Preparing the Garden for Construction

Although this long winter seems never-ending, we know spring is just around the corner! To remind us of the greenery that is surely on its way, here are some photos of the garden in preparation for the eventual demolition of our house, and with it, much of the yard.  We spent a sweaty afternoon last June moving our beloved tree peony to a corner where we hope it will be out of harm's way during construction.  In a few weeks, we'll know if the many transplants survived the winter...
-PT

Before

After

A Buyers' Guide to HRV's and ERV's for Passive Houses in North America

HRV and ERV's
http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/book/export/html/16744

Why Stairs are Next to Front Entries

I often wondered why in so many house designs the stairs are placed in the front entry, and I was not alone in this bewilderment.  Family and friends have sometimes fumed at it.  Why would a designer place a stair to the bedrooms (a private place) next to a front door, (a very public place), sometimes so close there is hardly a place to take your coat off.  Plus, you have to tip-toe past this dirty area in order to go to bed or to come downstairs for breakfast......Sheesh!

Now that I'm the designer, here's the other side.

Reasons for having the stair in the front entry:

1. This often helps in making the top of the stair end up in the middle of the upstairs.  Why should this be so?  Because bedrooms are legally required to have a window to the outdoors for egress purposes.  (The most dangerous time when occupying a building is when the occupants are sleeping - so if there were a fire, sleepers have a window nearby as an escape alternative).  As such, all bedrooms must be placed against exterior walls.  Therefore, to make best use of space, the upstairs hall should be placed in the middle of the floor, and all the bedroom doors open from this hall.  One way this is made possible is by having the bottom of the stair near an exterior wall.  If the bottom of the stair is in the middle of the main floor, it can be a waste of space in the upstairs to create a long hallway to get to the middle of the upstairs, which will generally be required.  Now downstairs, there is already a circulatory area near the building extremity which is lightly used - the front entry - therefore, from a space planning perspective, it is often an ideal spot for a stair.
2. To put shoes on, it is nice to have a bench, but in terms of smaller houses, to make best use of space, the stair can double as a bench for putting shoes on.
3. The stair is the one place in a simple home where there is relatively more architectural interest.

Often, it also makes sense to place a stair close to an exterior wall, since it introduces an opportunity to have another entrance to the building from a different exterior grade, especially at a landing.  This is another good use of space....although space use efficiency need not always be the final determinant in design of buildings.  Check out this hardworking front entry to a Farm house - plans available on FreeGreen.com.  Stairs, full size closet, bench and shoe storage - all the needed items, plus two ways to get to it.  And, you don't really have to get your feet dirty to use the stair.  The only improvement I can suggest would be for the stairs to be in the reverse sense so the stairs to the basement are closest to the entry.  The entry is so well used, there is no space for a powder room door, or for windows.  Bringing light in from the Entry door's sidelights is therefore important.

Prices of Vacuum Insulated Panels

I was amazed to find a corporate website giving prices for their VIP's online - but I think its such a good idea.  The lack of price information on the internet is the major obstacle to optimizing designs of any products, including buildings.  Here is the link.
http://www.glacierbay.com/barrier_price.asp.  Price ranges from a minimum of about $30/SF USD, but goes by the number of panels.  Each panel is about $345, at a max of 30"x35", and $600 for a max of 60" x 70".  Glacier Bay also provides an excellent primer on this technology: http://www.glacierbay.com/support/library_docs/vacpanelinfo.asp



Given this information, I feel a vacuum insulated door with a window should be possible to market for about $2000.  I recently received some pricing for the Frostkorken VIP door and the price seems astronomical at something like 3times that number.  Major market niche is possible here for NA.
The other company providing VIPs is Nanopore.  http://www.nanopore.com/vip.html