Project Profile: CHESS - Red Deer, Alberta
Sustainable building materials will be used for all aspects of the house including the building envelope, interior and exterior finishes and landscape products. To avoid destruction of old-growth forests, wood products are certified from sustainable harvested sources. The walls will be constructed using “Emercor” SIP walls, which use oriented strand board constructed from managed forests planted with fast-growing trees. All interior wall framing will be done with finger-joint studs, which utilize shorter pieces of wood, thereby allowing for the production of more studs per tree. Floor joists and beams will be constructed using engineered wood products, which use less wood, allow for longer spans and can be manufactured from smaller second-generation trees. Use of recycled content and sustainable sources factored into the selection of drywall, insulation and finish materials. Cork, a sustainable product that can be harvested every nine years without damaging trees, will be used for flooring in bedrooms, hallways and stairs. Reclaimed wood will be used where feasible for interior wood trims and recycled glass tile will be used for backsplashes in the kitchen and bathrooms.
The house was designed with durable materials and building assemblies so as to minimize maintenance and reduce and/or eliminate future repairs or replacement. Stone, stucco and 25-year asphalt shingles were selected for exterior finishes because of their ease of maintenance, longevity and aesthetic qualities. The benefits of SIP for exterior walls will be further enhanced by adding a 2 in. layer of expanded polystyrene insulation, providing high-insulation values and eliminating potential moisture problems.
Material efficiency is achieved through advanced construction methods including engineered floor joists, laminated veneer lumber beams and vaulted parallel chord trusses – all of which use less material than typical stick frame methods. Value engineering practices, such as framing interior walls at 24 in. o.c., the use of two-stud corners and elimination of headers at non-load bearing walls will also reduce consumption of raw materials. The use of SIP wall panels for the exterior walls will significantly reduce the amount of lumber required for the building envelope.
The landscape design is based on naturscaping principles, incorporating native and low water-use plants that thrive in the Central Alberta climate. Plants with similar watering needs will be grouped together. The use of grass has been significantly reduced and instead, incorporated greater use of gardens, artificial grass, patios and walkways, shrubs and groundcover. Rain barrels will be used for irrigation.
The CHESS home is designed as a starter home with the capacity to evolve to suit all stages of life.