Ross Elliott, aka “Mr. Energy”, wants to inspire a new generation of
Canadian Passive House architects, designers, contractors and engineers to build
to the emerging Passive House standard that can reduce home energy costs by up
to 90 per cent. The CEO of Homesol Building Solutions Inc. – currently involved
in 8 Passive House projects and anticipating another 30 this year – has
assembled a North American team of Passive House consultants at Toronto’s
Ryerson University starting July 31st to create a new generation of expertise
around the world’s highest residential energy design standard.
“Buildings in Canada plus their associated electricity use
currently exceed all transportation emissions combined. Why are people still
content to build leaky, uncomfortable, energy guzzling homes when we know a
better way?” asks Elliott.
“Passive House buildings can be built now, in Canada, with North American
building techniques and technology, and deliver huge energy savings in the
Canadian climate. Smart people will buy a Passive House, not only because it’s
the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do,” says Elliott. “Over nine
days we are offering the most detailed, course available in Canada on Passive
House design. Our Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) Training course is
the first in Canada being taught by people who are already Certified Passive
House Consultants.”
What also makes this course unique is the recognition by the Ontario
Architectural Association (OAA) and the Green Building Certification Institute
(GBCI) that it qualifies for 32 hours of Continuing Education credits. The
Continuing Education program is mandatory for Ontario architects, licensed
technologists and LEED professionals to increase the knowledge, skill and
proficiency of those in the green building design and consulting professions.
Passive House design represents the world’s highest energy standard for
residential and commercial construction and delivers energy cost reductions of
70 to 90 per cent. Passive House is also equivalent to the Canadian standard for
home building by 2030 – making today’s Passive House buildings almost two
decades ahead of their time. “Passive House building hits economic and
environmental sweet spots, as the buildings reduce energy costs and resource
consumption,” says Elliott. “For a 10 per cent increase in building costs, you
make back your money in about 10-12 years. If energy prices go up, that return
on investment happens faster.”
Elliott has a 30-year career as an energy auditor, carpenter and homebuilder.
His company verifies 1,200 buildings a year to R-2000, Energy Star, LEED and
Passive House standards. Elliott has Trainer qualifications from both the
Passive House Institute United States and the Passivhaus Institute in Germany.
In 2011, for the second time in five years, EnerQuality, an organization
established by the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance and the Ontario Home
Builders’ Association to promote energy conservation practices, named Elliott
Ontario’s Top Energy Evaluator.
Taking Elliott’s Passive House course on how to dramatically improve a home’s
energy-efficiency is a smart response to consumer demand. A study done in the
spring of 2011 for the Canadian Home Builders Association found that energy-
efficiency is now a “must have” feature for buyers and has become “significantly
more important” to Canadian consumers. A series of U.S. studies in recent years
reveal green features are a key factor for consumers:
- 70% of buyers are willing to pay more for a green home
- 80% of buyers would choose the most energy-efficient home
- 55% list “green” features as an important part of the decision to purchase
- 70% of homebuyers are more likely to buy green in a tough economy
- 79% are willing to pay more for a home with predictable energy
costs
Elliott has assembled a team of trainers from across North America for the
Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) Training course at Toronto’s Ryerson
University. Participants can also take the CPHC exam to gain their own
certification. Graduates learn all of the principles of Passive House design and
will learn from instructors who have designed and built Certified Passive
Houses. They will study built examples, learn materials selection and work with
the energy modeling software, the Passive House Planning Package. Elliott’s team
includes:
- Russell Richman, CEO of Russell Richman Consulting Ltd. an engineering firm
in Toronto specializing in sustainable buildings. He is also an Assistant
Professor of Building Science at Ryerson University
- Ryan Abendroth, the Certification Manager at the Passive House Institute US
and a Certified Passive House Consultant and Trainer. He is also Principal of
Passive Energy Designs LLC in Missouri
- Graham Irwin of California has worked in construction for more than twenty
years and was one of the first Passive House Consultants in the US. He has a
degree in physics with additional studies in engineering and architecture and he
is Principal of Essential Habitat Consulting
The Certified Passive House Consultant course will be held over nine days from July 31 to August 4 and August 20 to 23. “This course
offers a Canadian perspective on this new generation of sustainable buildings.
The course is of particular interest to architects and provides real benefits
to engineers, contractors and designers who want to improve both energy and
environmental skills while learning how to build the kind of home that clients
want and will pay more to buy.” says Elliott. Cost of the course is $2,250 + HST
and $250 + HST for the Certified Passive House Consultant exam. For more
information and to register contact Homesol Building Solutions Inc. at
613-278-0467 or e-mail hbsi@homesol.ca