British Columbia Advanced House
This demonstration house is a 2754 sq ft single-family home built in a new subdivision
in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia (B.C.), with recycled-content building materials in
these areas:
Waste Reduction
Waste reduction was an important consideration in the planning and construction of the
B.C. Advanced House. A comprehensive waste management program based on the three
Rs—reduce, reuse, and recycle—was undertaken to lessen the impact of house
construction and operation.
By choosing to build with prefabricated components and through the use of
premanufactured elements such as roof, walls, and floor panels, the quantity of material
wasted on the site was greatly reduced and much of the waste wood was reused at other
construction sites.
Roofing
The roof showcases a new made-in-British Columbia technology that meets all the Advanced
Houses Program criteria. Developed at the University of B.C., the roof tiles are made of a
new cement composite creating fire resistant, nonhazardous roofing products.
The main ingredients are wood waste cellulose fibers and by-products of the fertilizer
industry, which are chemically combined to create this new product. The product is half
the weight of comparable concrete products and it has some of the benefits of wood fiber
resilience.
Engineered Wood Products
Throughout the home, structural beams and floor joists are made from engineered wood
products. These products provide strength and dimensional stability, eliminate twist and
shrinkage, and can withstand loads far exceeding those of conventional lumber. In areas
where the structure requires larger beams, parallel strand lumber, which is a layered and
laminated wood product, can be used.
Site Drainage
In an effort to create a market for recycled green glass, this project used a mixture of
conventional drain rock with 40 percent ground green glass under and around the perimeter
of the house as a drainage layer.
Rubber Brick Pavers
A new interlocking paving brick made from recycled rubber tires was used for the patio and
on the garden paths.
Drywall
Recycled content gypsum wallboard (manufactured by Domtar) contained recycled gypsum
collected as scrap material from other construction sites.
Decking
The deck off the master bedroom is made with a plastic wood, which is locally
manufactured, and made of recycled plastic such as that from milk jugs and yogurt
containers.
This 2200 sq ft residence, built on a 70 ft x 130 ft lot located in a new subdivision
in Bedford, Nova Scotia by Clayton Developments, features extensive use of recycled
materials in products such as drywall, insulation, siding, roof shingles and concrete, and
incorporates the recycled content building materials listed below.
Waste Reduction
All of the construction waste on the EnviroHome site was separated, bagged and weighed.
Recyclable waste was reused where possible. Broken masonry was used in the bottom of the
chimney, and interior wall cavities were filled with drywall scraps to add thermal mass.
Wood ends were used for blocking and bridging, and other wood waste was burned for
heat. The rest went to a landfill site. The construction of the EnviroHome generated
approximately 7520 lb of waste at the site. Approximately 62 percent of this was recycled
(4641 lb), another 6 percent was reused (428 lb) at the site, and approximately 33 percent
was landfilled (2467 lb).
Insulation
A cellulose insulation produced in Nova Scotia was chosen for the wall and ceiling
cavities because of its low cost, thermal performance, and environmental benefits. This
product is made from waste newsprint, which saves energy and requires little manufacturing
energy.
Drywall
The drywall used is made in Nova Scotia from gypsum bonded with cellulose fibers from
recycled paper. There are no separate paper facings like those found on traditional gypsum
wallboard. This product also offers excellent sound control, thermal insulation, and fire
resistance.
Structural Concrete
The addition of one and a half tons of powerplant fly ash to the EnviroHome’s
structural concrete helped to reduce environmental damage by using a waste product that
has historically caused air and water pollution.
Fly ash, a fine grayish powder, is a by-product of coal-fired electric plants. Much of
this fly ash makes its way into ready-mix concrete, where it displaces up to 10 percent of
the cement content. This is significant in that the manufacture of cement is energy
intensive. The fly ash also increases the strength and workability of the concrete,
without increasing the price.
Roofing
The long life roof shingles contain a percentage of recycled newsprint. By choosing a
better quality shingle with a long life expectancy, one can further reduce the amount of
waste that goes to the landfill site.
Landscaping
Rocks from the excavation were saved and used as landscape features. A compost bin located
at the rear of the garage provides organic fertilizer. Food wastes from the kitchen were
composted and used instead of chemical fertilizers around the property.
Hardboard Siding
A durable, low-maintenance hardboard siding was used on this home. This product is made
from trees that would otherwise be left on the harvest site or used for firewood. Wood
from low-value trees and sawmill waste is broken down into fibers, then compressed under
heat and pressure. Natural components in the wood fiber provide the bonding agents. In
addition, sander dust is used as fuel, replacing oil in the manufacturer’s furnaces.
Fireplace
A high-efficiency radiant heat masonry fireplace was installed in the EnviroHome. The
refractory (the core of the unit) is made of recycled firebricks, which arrive from the
manufacturer as interlocking precast pieces. This ensures a high standard of quality
control not attainable in most site-built units.
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