2. As part of CMHC’s EQuilibrium Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative,
CHESS proudly presents a house designed to produce as much energy as produces...
The lead firm for the CHESS Project, Laebon Homes, is unique in
the Central Alberta market. It is the only high volume builder of
homes that also creates large, exclusive communities.
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

3. This year Laebon will build over 300 homes throughout Central
Alberta and are developing another 300 lots. These will include a
variety of single and multi-family projects, designed for a range of
As part of CMHC’s EQuilibrium Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative,
clients, from first time home buyers to luxury home purchasers.
CHESS proudly presents a house designed to produce as much energy as produces...
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

4. Laebon Homes currently has communities in...
Red Deer
As partLacombe EQuilibrium Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative,
of CMHC’s
CHESS proudly presents a house designed to produce as much energy as produces...
Sylvan Lake
Rocky Mountain House
Penhold
Olds
Innisfail
Ponoka
and Wetaskiwin.
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

5. CHESS...
Canadian Housing Energy Sustainable Solutions.
As part of CMHC’s EQuilibrium Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative,
CHESS We selected the a house designed to produce asof designing a Net Zero
proudly presents name as we felt the process much energy as produces...
Energy Healthy Home would be very much like the game of CHESS.
It would involve many players...
Government Trades
Industry Suppliers
Educators Engineers
Researchers Consultants
...all playing a different role but all dependant on one
another to achieve “Net Zero”.
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

6. VISION STATEMENT ...
CHESS aims to improve the quality of life for Central Alberta
homeowners and reduce the environmental impact of
communities by providing energy and resource-efficient
housing that:
Offers the healthiest possible indoor living environment
Produces useful energy resulting in net zero energy
performance
Protects and conserves natural resources
Optimizes the use of land resources and reduces
emissions and pollutants
Is attractive, affordable and adaptable

7. THE LOCATION
In keeping with Net Zero
objectives, CHESS selected
As part of CMHC’s EQuilibrium Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative,
CHESS proudly presents a house designed to produce as much energy as produces...
a lot for its demonstration
home based on two key
factors: solar exposure and
show home suitability.
In planning new communities
site orientation needs to be
carefully considered if homes
are to be designed to
accommodate solar panels.
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

8. THE TEAM
Our initial meeting
involved a team from
Laebon Homes, as well
as a variety of
consultants, suppliers,
trades and
representatives from
the City of Red Deer
Inspections, Electrical
and Environmental
Departments.
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

9. THE DESIGN CHARETTE…
As part of the Integrated Design
Process several small group meetings
as well as a weekend Design Charette
were held to brainstorm ideas and
discuss the building envelope, the
energy systems, the design of the
home, resource and environmental
issues and cost effects of various
options.
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

10. And like the game of CHESS
We have tried some strategies that have been successful,
Some things where we have had to step back and take another
look before we make the next move
Some where we will take a different approach the next time
And we have constantly been learning from one another.
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

11. The CHESS Partners
 Aardvark Controls & Energy Solutions
 ArtKtecture
 Bearden Engineering Consultants Ltd.
 Bruins Plumbing and Heating Ltd.
 Dimensions Design Resources Inc.
 EA Energy Alternatives
 Enervision
 Howell Mayhew Engineering
 Hydron Module
 Sedmek Inc.
 Solar Engineering Group
 Sustainable Works
 Western Canadian Solar Distributors
 Wordsmith Communications

12. THE SITE...
The lot selected fronts to the east and has street exposure on
the south side. Within the community, this lot showed the best
potential for passive solar design.

13. COMPATABILITY...
One important consideration in
the design of our project was
that the exterior of the home
be compatible with the
surrounding homes in the
neighbourhood and meet the
architectural control guidelines.

14. HEALTH
Making you feel great about your indoor environment
In order to ensure the highest possible indoor air quality and improve
homeowner health and comfort CHESS chose
 Natural materials that are emission-free.
 Manufactured products with no or minimal volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) or other harmful toxins.
 A heat-recovery ventilator that ensures regular air exchange while
removing harmful pollutants and excess moisture.

15. HEALTH
Hydronic heat in the home will provide
thermal comfort. It is quiet, offers
constant temperatures, can be zoned
and does not stir up dust or allergens.
Daylighting is another feature in the
home. Spaces such as the stairway will
have interior windows so they can
share the natural light from other
spaces.
The acoustic properties of materials
were also taken into consideration in
order to reduce both external and
internal noise sources.

16. ENERGY STRATEGY
Switching on to passive and renewable sources
To reduce the costs of purchased energy, the CHESS home blends
state-of-the-art technologies and with effective design principles.
 Our first goal was to lower the energy needs of the home as much as
possible.
 We focused on the building envelope and looked at building systems and
materials that would achieve maximum R-value and minimize heat loss.
 Through modeling different options and comparing initial and ongoing costs
to operate the various systems we made the decision not to provide natural
gas to the home.
 Then we looked at different passive and renewable ways to provide energy
to the home.

17. THE BUILDING ENVELOPE…
The highly efficient building envelope –
When modeled using Hot 2000 which includes increased insulation levels,
software a typical Laebon Home high performance windows and careful
will achieve and EnerGuide
attention to construction details – reduces
rating of around 75. By
upgrading the envelope we overall energy demand
achieved a rating of 87 for our
home. To accomplish this we
selected the following:
 R-54 Walls - “Emercor” Sips
panels with 2” EPS Rigid Insulation
to Outside
 R-80 “Spider” Insulation in Ceiling
 R-20 Insulation under Slab
 Superior performance Fiberglass
windows

18. PASSIVE STRATEGIES
Large south windows with adequate shading
Minimizing windows on the north
Air lock entry
3 season room on the west side
Increased thermal mass in interior

19. RENEWABLE STRATEGIES
 Solar thermal panels will be provided for both
domestic hot water and for space heating.
 The solar panels will provide heat for the domestic hot
water first and then once that is satisfied will store heat
in water storage tanks.
Heat from the storage tanks will
be used to heat the home. The
floors are concrete and will
have hydronic heat throughout.
A ground source heat pump will
provide the back-up heating for
extended periods of cloudy
weather.

20. ELECTRICITY…
Electrical requirements will be reduced as much as possible
through careful selection of appliances and the use of compact
fluorescent or LED lighting as well as infrared detectors, motion
lights and phantom load reduction strategies.
Electricity for the
home will be supplied
by a grid-tied
photovoltaic system.

21. 160
Annual End Use Energy Consumption and Production
Comparison of National Residential Housing and The Laebon CHESS Project
140
Total Annual Energy End Use
120
300
250
National Energy Consumption
100
200
Energy (kWh/m2)
The Laebon CHESS Project Energy Consumption
Energy (kWh/m2)
The Laebon CHESS Project Renewable Energy 150
80 Production
100
50
60
0
40
20
0
Space Heating Water Heating Major Appliances Other Interior Lighting Space Cooling Solar Domestic Solar Electricity
Appliances* Water Heating
Source: Energy Use Handbook Data: 1990 and 1998 to 2004, Natural Resources Canada, 2006.
* "Other Appliances" includes small appliances such as televisions, video cassette recorders,
digital video disc players, radios, computers and toasters.

22. RESOURCES
Making lower consumption a way of life
Consideration was given to the use of sustainable materials, durability,
material efficiency and water conservation.
 The home will reduce the overall consumption of wood and will verify that
all wood used is from sustainable harvested sources.
 Recycled content factored into the selection of drywall, insulation and
finishes.
 Stucco, stone and 25 year asphalt shingles were selected for the exterior
materials of the home. Interior finishes include concrete, cork, reclaimed
wood and recycled glass tiles.
 Water consumption will be reduced through the use of low-flow
showerheads, dual-flush toilets, appliances that use less water, and the
use of rain barrels to capture water for landscaping. We have also decided
to incorporate the use of a Brac grey water recycle system.

23. A landscape plan which
RESOURCES incorporates the use of
rain barrels and the
principles of xeri-scaping
with low water use and
native plants will reduce
the demands for
municipal water.
Construction waste will be reused
as landscape features and as mulch
for garden beds.

24. ENVIRONMENT
Treading gently on your part of the planet.
CHESS sought to minimise its own environmental footprint by
 Selecting materials that are produced with minimal environmental impacts.
 Buying from local suppliers to reduce transport-related impacts.
 Selecting materials that could be reused or recycled at the end of the homes life cycle.
 Future homeowners will have the advantage of
 Choosing appliances that consume less energy and produce less emissions.
 Durable finishes that are low maintenance and rarely need to be replaced.

25. AFFORDABILITY
Investing in innovation
The CHESS home strives to exceed owner expectations for
aesthetics, affordability and adaptability.
CHESS elected to create a home with built-in potential –
one that can expand and adapt to meet the changing needs
of the homeowners.
From foundational elements to finishing touches, buyers
can select features that reflect their personal convictions
and financial resources.

26. ADAPTABILITY...
 In our initial proposal to CMHC we proposed a 1200-1400 sq. ft.
home with flexible spaces for future development.
 We wanted a home that could be purchased as a starter home, by
a single person who could perhaps rent out the extra bedroom.
 It also needed to be comfortable for a couple and be able to
expand to accommodate the needs of a growing family.
 The home’s energy systems would be modelled to meet the needs
of a family of 4 with 2 teenagers living at home.
 Later, as family needs changed again, the house could adapt and
accommodate spaces such as a home office, space for an aging
parent or a even a suite for a caregiver or rental income.
 We felt that it was important that the home be easily modified to
meet barrier-free requirements.

27. ACCESSABILITY…
The main floor of the home will be 1109 sq. ft. and can easily be modified to
suit barrier free requirements. It has an attached garage as this was a
requirement of the of the architectural controls for the area.

28. BASEMENT DEVELOPMENT…
The basement can be
developed to include a family
room, an additional bedroom
and bathroom as well as
laundry and storage areas.

29. EXPANDABILITY…
An optional second floor in
the attic space can be
added to accommodate
the needs of a growing
family which could include
2 bedrooms and a
bathroom.

30. FLEXIBILITY….
Depending on the needs of the
family this upper floor could also
be developed as a larger master
suite…

31. FLEXIBILITY….
… or a rental suite or a suite for a caregiver.

32. …
The structure of the garage is
designed so the space above
the garage can be developed
into a home office area in the
future.

37. CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

38. CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

40. CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

44. THE FUTURE
In their upcoming projects Laebon Homes is considering…
Using renewable energy
to offset rising utility costs
on a 94 suite apartment
that is currently under
construction
Adding solar thermal for
domestic hot water to all
77 homes in the first
phase of their newest
community in Red Deer

45. THE FUTURE
Although not every new home will be a net zero energy
home each purchaser can make positive choices that…
Contribute actively to occupant health
Produce or reduce energy
Support resource conservation
Reduce environmental impact of the home and occupants
and select from a variety of options within their own budget that
will have a positive impact on the environment.

46. THE FUTURE
Thanks to programs such as the CMHC EQuilibrium
Healthy Housing Initiative builders and developers
across the country are demonstrating that Net Zero
Housing is possible in Canada.
As awareness increases more homeowners are looking
for ways to reduce their own environmental impact.
With government, industry, educators and researchers
working together we will make a difference in our
homes, our neighbourhoods and our world.